Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

No home is complete without a piece of art or many. However, it’s far from being as simple as just hanging up a picture of the artwork. Here are designer tips on how to go about it.

While mustering up the courage to hang things on those blank walls may feel a bit daunting, you’ll thank yourself when you finally get that gallery wall up and can admire your favourite photos and paintings each and every day. Before you get started, though, keep in mind the following tips on dos and don’ts when it comes to displaying artwork.

1. Don’t rush

Take your time planning out your desired arrangement. It can be hard to visualise how a combination of art will look on the wall, so it helps to sketch out your plan on graph paper or use a computer programme to layout your art. Rearrange the pieces on the floor until you love how it looks, then cut out on paper the size of each piece of art and hang those onto the wall. This will help you visualise the final result, and provides an easy way to measure when you start hanging.

2. Compile necessary equipment

Grab the right equipment – a hammer and nails alone may not cut it. Two handy tools for hanging art are an electric level and stud finder for heavier pieces. Make sure you are using the correct mounting hardware, and don’t overdo it with heavy-duty nails if it’s not necessary – you will end up with bigger holes, which could be visible

3. Measure, measure, measure

Space everything out properly. Allow for at least four inches between frames; any closer and the art pieces can look overcrowded. And when pieces are really close, every little imperfection stands out, so it makes it essential to hang everything perfectly level.

4. Don’t be basic

Think outside the box a bit when it comes to creating a display. Blending art and artefacts along a wall, even turning the corner, provides a sense of movement throughout the space. These unique placements and groupings help capture one’s personality while adding another element to the art’s beauty that can elevate any space.

5. Let your fave pieces shine

Go ahead and play favourites. When arranging wall art, it’s always important to start with your favoured piece and build out from there. Pay attention to scale and proportion and what you want your eye to see first.

6. Use a variety of frame styles Vary your frame styles.

Don’t be afraid to mix and match frames. Most homes have a variety of finishes, so it’s always encouraged to hang what one loves, and not worry about the rest. It all comes together in the end.

7. Don’t skimp on size

When it comes to art size, aim for at least 50 per cent of the width of whatever is below the piece of art, but usually, bigger is almost always better. If a work of art is wider than the item, say a sofa, below it, that’s totally cool. Just layer some other objects on either side of the sofa to balance the width – maybe some end tables or a pedestal with a plant or sculpture.

8. Don’t break the bank

There’s no need to spend beyond your means to create a designer-worthy setup. If you cannot find large pieces that you love or can afford, grouping pieces together, even when they don’t match, create a mass of artwork that can also read as one solid focal point.

9. Consider lighting

Don’t forget about lighting in relation to the artwork you choose. Think about highlighting the wall art with a picture light or some sconces. Make sure any larger ceiling fixture in the room does not obstruct the line of sight to the pictures.

10. Hang art throughout the home

Don’t forget about less obvious rooms when hanging up frames. An example of an unusual place is having a piece sitting between the toilet tank and a wall cabinet in the bathroom. Even a space that only you will see is fair game. Some fun forgotten places are in a walk-in closet and laundry room. Why shouldn’t these places be just as beautiful and add a smile to your day?

11. Don’t go overboard

Be judicious when it comes to art displays in your home. When choosing art for a room, it’s a good idea to let one wall take centre stage, and let the rest of the art in the room play a supporting role. So, if you have a large, colourful statement piece above the sofa, you wouldn’t want to do a huge gallery wall on the opposite side of the room, since they’d compete for attention.

12. Consider wall colour

Wall colour is incredibly important in establishing a clean backdrop for a statement art piece. Selecting a clean neutral colour – it doesn’t have to be chalk-white – that doesn’t have undertones will let the art be the focus.

-The Spruce