Owning an original piece of art brings a unique quality to your home — character, personality, and a atmosphere that no print-on-demand poster can replicate. But many people are unsure how to display these distinctive pieces to their best advantage. Here are 10 practical tips to help you get it right.
Step 1: Choose the Right Wall for Your Art
Give real thought to where you want the art to hang before driving a single nail. Place it somewhere visible from multiple angles — ideally a spot that draws the eye as soon as someone walks into the room. If you're unsure where to start, where to hang art in the home is a good read before you pick up the tape measure.
Step 2: Get the Height Right — Eye Level Is Everything
One of the biggest mistakes people make is hanging art too high. The centre of the artwork should sit at roughly eye level — around 1.45 metres (57–60 inches) from the floor. If it's going above a sofa, leave at least 15 to 30 centimetres of breathing room between the top of the sofa and the bottom of the frame. In a room with low ceilings (under 8 feet), divide the wall into four horizontal sections from the floor up and hang in the third.
Step 3: The 57-Inch Rule (And When to Break It)
Eye level is the standard — but the standard shifts depending on who lives in your home. If most people are shorter, go lower. If your ceilings are higher than 8 feet, you can push the artwork up a little. The hook or nail will always sit higher than the centre of the piece, so factor that in when you're marking the wall.
Step 4: Match the Art Size to Your Wall Space
Scale matters. A small piece gets lost on a large wall; an oversized painting overpowers a tight space. A useful rule: multiply your wall's width by 0.57 to find the ideal artwork width. So on a 9-foot (108") wall, you're looking at roughly 60" of art. Measure the wall before you commit — and if you're starting a collection, expert tips for buying small art covers how size affects the whole feel of a room.
Step 5: How to Create Balance When Hanging Multiple Pieces
When hanging several works together, aim for balance. Symmetrical arrangements — where both sides of a central point mirror each other — create a clean, considered look. Keep spacing consistent between frames and maintain a consistent theme or colour palette across the group. A well-arranged cluster becomes a focal point in its own right. For more on this, why serious homes still need playful art is worth a look.
Step 6: Lighting Your Art the Right Way
Lighting can make or break how a piece looks on the wall. Natural light is great for bringing out colour and detail, but avoid direct sunlight — it fades pigment over time. For a gallery wall or a statement piece, track lighting or a directed spotlight makes the work sing. Well-lit art doesn't just look better; it becomes the room's focal point.
Step 7: How to Hang Art Safely So It Stays Up
Most frames come with D-rings already fitted — if yours doesn't, they're easy to buy and fit. The key rule: choose a hanger rated at three to five times the weight of the frame. When threading picture wire through the D-rings, make sure it's fastened tightly. A loose wire is how paintings end up on the floor.
Step 8: Don't Rush — Framing and Finish Matter Too
Take your time with this. Mismatched frames — black metal, ornate gold, raw wood — can actually add to the look rather than detract from it. When the frame, mat, and liner all work together there's something really satisfying about it. If you're unsure what frame suits your piece, how to find the perfect frame for your print will help you decide.
Step 9: Think Beyond the Nail — Creative Ways to Display Art
Not everything needs to go on the wall. Lean pieces against a wall, prop them on a mantel, shelf, or windowsill, or use a decorative easel for a more relaxed feel. Sticky tack stops art from tilting or sliding forward. Mix mediums and styles for a display that feels alive rather than arranged.
Step 10: Stand Back and Enjoy What You've Created
Once it's up, step back and take it in. Original art changes a room — it shifts the atmosphere, lifts the mood, and says something about the person who lives there. If you want to understand why that happens, how art affects your mood more than you realise is worth a read. And if you're looking for something new to hang, browse original paintings and limited edition prints by Barrie J Davies — made in Brighton and ready to hang.
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