There are people in this world who won’t hesitate to correct your grammar, spelling or punctuation. (Have you met my husband?). He is compelled to right all writing wrongs: he will re-place your misplaced apostrophe, un-dangle your dangling participle, remedy your relative pronoun. Okay, honey, I appreciate that it’s your quest - we all make mistakes, we can all learn.

I have to admit, as a decorator I am similarly compelled to correct decorating wrongs when I see them. Like my husband (the self-titled Chief of Grammar Police), I can’t help myself. It’s one of the most common decorating mistakes, but it’s also one of the easiest to fix. So if I see something, I have to say something.

TRIGGER WARNING

The topic I’m about to discuss is a common source of disagreement among couples who share a living space. I don’t want to stir the pot, but here’s the deal. I am FINE with being the bad guy, delivering the news that one of you doesn’t want to hear. Are you ready?

(ONE OF) THE MOST COMMON DECORATING MISTAKE(S)

Here’s the truth: you might be hanging your art too high. When I'm in a client’s home and see photos, paintings or other artwork that’s hung too high up on the wall, I feel a tug at my soul. Yes, I might be in your home to suggest a paint color palette or to help you choose a kitchen backsplash, but if I see artwork that is hung too high, I won’t hold back. I can’t hold back. As the self-proclaimed Chief of Artwork Police, I promise I’ll be gentle about it, but I’m going to tell you the truth.

SIZE AND PLACEMENT

Let’s be honest. Taste in artwork is subjective. I could do an entire blog series on color, style, aesthetics, subject matter, and taste. So I’ll stay focused on size and placement for now.

When deciding where to hang a piece of art, I first consider the size of art. I like to look at the available wall space as if it were a frame around that art. If the empty wall area that frames the art is too large, then the art will look too small for the wall. If you’ve seen the Mona Lisa at the Lourve, you’ve experienced what it’s like to see a postage stamp-sized piece of art displayed on a huge empty wall. The Lourve can get away with it because, well, they’re the Lourve. They’re not your living room.

Conversely, if your art fits on the wall, but has no breathing room at all between wall edges, corners, door or window trims, then the art is too big. Bigger art can make a room look bigger, but if it’s crammed into a space, it has the opposite effect and can make your walls look cramped and cluttered.

What if all you have are smaller pieces of art? Consider creating a “gallery” grouping and treat the grouping as one larger piece when deciding where to place it. And remember - each individual piece in the grouping should relate to the next. Don’t hang them too far apart from one another - 2-3” is usually right.

USE COMMON SENSE (or THE UNBREAKABLE RULES)

Rule 1 - Artwork should not be in the way. If you brush up against a picture frame as you pass by or sit down, then it’s in the wrong place. As you use a stair railing, you shouldn’t be grazing an art frame with your knuckles - it’s either too big or needs to be hung higher (yes, you can hang art too low!).

Rule 2 - Artwork should be visible. Scale is important. Family photos, especially, can be tricky. If the heads of people in photos are so small that you have to get close to view them, then they are best placed on a bookshelf or desk, rather than hung on a wall. Groupings of smaller pieces can also work in hallways, where you can stop and admire each piece. Choose larger visuals for above a fireplace, bench or sofa - places you can view from varied distances.

Rule 3 - Hanging hardware is not permanent and should be unique to each piece of art. Just because there was a nail on the wall when you moved in does NOT mean that’s in the right place (or even the right type of hardware) to hang YOUR art. And if you move your furniture, remember that the art probably also needs to move too. Fill in the holes with spackling compound, touch up with paint, install new hanging hardware. It’ll be alright. Speaking of hardware, be sure to have the right tools on hand - see below for a list of our favorites.

HOW HIGH TO HANG?

Now you know the unbreakable rules, there are basic guidelines to help you determine how high to hang your artwork. Like everything that requires a creative eye, there are general rules and guidelines for decorating. Yes, some rules and guidelines can be broken - other rules (Rules 1-3 above) should not.

That said, there are three artwork height guidelines based on where your art will be hung: Seating, Relative and Gallery.

SEATING HEIGHT. As you sit reading this, look up at the nearest piece of art. If you have to tilt your head up more than 45 degrees to admire it, it's hung too high. The general rule is this: in a living room, family room, library - anywhere you sit and have conversation - place the art so when you're sitting, you only have to look up 45 degrees to comfortably view it.

Sofa

Over a sofa, the general rule is to use Seating Height (as you sit, the art is viewed at a 45 degree angle). Assuming the size of your art is large enough in relation to your sofa, the bottom of the artwork should be 6-12” above the top of the sofa. Some decorators get even more specific and say 8-10” above. I say it depends on the size of the artwork, the height of your sofa and, to some extent the height of your wall. In a typical home where ceilings are 8-9 ft high, as you sit on your sofa, there SHOULD be overlap between you and the artwork. No, you’re not going to hit your head on the art. No, it’s not too low.

RELATIVE HEIGHT. For artwork that is placed over a piece of furniture, the furniture, art and wall size should relate. What does that mean? It means that you should consider a) the size of wall that frames both the furniture and the artwork and b) how the shape and size of the furniture relates to the artwork above or nearby. All of these considerations together will help you determine whether the art is right for the space, and if it is, how high it should be hung.

Headboard

Over a headboard, we use Relative Height. First you have to determine if the headboard is low enough or the wall is high enough to warrant artwork above. For example, a headboard that is over 54” high likely needs nothing above it. In fact, artwork over a tall headboard might even compete for attention rather than working in tandem with the bed. But for shorter headboards and tall ceilings especially, artwork above can extend the eye upward to provide drama in the room. Again, depending on the size of the art and the height of the headboard, we typically leave 6-10” between the top of the headboard and the bottom of the art. But let’s say you have a large square piece of art to place over a really low headboard? How that art relates to the large wall is actually more important than its relation to the low headboard. Placing it 6-10” to a headboard that’s only 30” above the ground would actually bring your eye downward instead of providing a strong focus in the room.

GALLERY HEIGHT (or PASSING height). You’ve probably heard that your artwork should be at “eye” level in the hallway and in other areas of your home where you are passing by. The “standard” for gallery height is to place the center of your artwork 57” up from the floor. This is a useful guideline, but it’s just that - a guideline. What if you and your partner are not at all the same height and "eye level" means something different to each of you? Compromise! Start with placing the center at 57” and nudge it an inch or two until you are both happy with the height.

Bench

A bench placed in a passageway or foyer is subject to both the Relative and Gallery Height rules. A big blank wall over a bench screams out for a large piece of art, art grouping or mirror. A large square piece, or art with a vertical orientation brings your eye from the bench upward, creating a focal point in the room. The width of art above a bench should not exceed the width of the bench (again, a good rule of thumb is 2/3rds the width of the bench). How high you place the art over a bench depends on the height of the art. If you use the Gallery Height rule, but the art is so tall that the bench will sit in front of the art, then raise the art so it’s 8-10” above the top of the bench. If the artwork is so deep that when you sit on the bench, you might touch the art, then bring in a different piece of art that makes more sense for the space.

HOW TO FIX COMMON MISTAKES

So what if you now realize you’ve mistakenly placed your art too high? Maybe it’s WAY up there, between the top of your head and the ceiling. I’m not going to judge - we all make mistakes and it’s going to be okay.

First, make sure the size is correct in the first instance. If it’s too small in relation to the wall or the furniture nearby, substitute the art with a piece that’s larger, or bring in additional smaller pieces to create a grouping that together, form a larger piece. A good rule of thumb is for the artwork to be 2/3rds the size of the furniture below it. Just make sure that as you gaze up toward your art when you’re sitting, you’re not craning your neck to see it. It should be an easy 45 degree tilt of the head to admire.

As you walk down the hall, does it seem like those people in that portrait up there are looking out over a cliff, gazing into a far-off horizon? If so, bring 'em down so the center of the portrait is at eye level. And are the people in the portraits large enough to discern? As you walk through the hallways of your home, you should be able to easily view the art or photos as you pass by.

OUR FAVORITE ARTWORK HANGING TOOLS

Ready to hang your art? Be sure you have all of the supplies you need. Below are my top 7 must-have tools if you’re going to install your own artwork. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

1) A Self-Centering Measuring Tape - WHAT? It’s just like it sounds. No need for a calculator. Measure your wall, your sofa, your art, then look below the top measurement to see your center point.

2) A Self-Leveling Cross Line Laser Level with Horizontal and Vertical Lines

3) A Magnetic Stud Finder - Look Ma, no hands! Seriously our favorite analog tool ever. This little powerhouse fits in a pocket, takes no batteries, and never fails to find the nails in the studs behind the wall.

4) A Picture Frame Hanger Tool/Picture Hanging kit - This this little yellow hanging tool is a game changer for hanging lightweight artwork and framed photos.

6) A Rolling Tool Tote Bag with Telescoping Handle - Keep it all together and look like a pro at the same time. We love our rolling bag. Plenty of room for our tools and hanging hardware.

7) A Curved Claw Hammer. Make sure yours feels balanced in your hands. It’s the most important tool!

Armed with this knowledge, take an objective look at where your art is hung now, then remember Rule 3 - Hanging hardware is not permanent; it can be moved. Rehanging your artwork at the right height will make your home look more polished and feel more inviting. You'll see your art in a new light. You’ll feel better and so will I. - Dawn