What to do and not to do when hanging wall art

What to do and not to do when hanging wall art

What to Do (and Not to Do) When Hanging Wall Art

Wall art can completely transform a room. The right piece in the right place adds personality, warmth, and visual interest to your space. But hanging art is more than just hammering a nail into the wall and hoping for the best. Small mistakes in placement, spacing, or scale can make even beautiful artwork look awkward.

If you want your walls to look intentional and well-designed, here are the key do’s and don’ts when hanging wall art.

What to Do When Hanging Wall Art

1. Hang Art at Eye Level

One of the most common interior design guidelines is to hang artwork so the center of the piece sits around eye level, typically about 145–150 cm (57–60 inches) from the floor.

This creates a natural viewing experience and helps the artwork feel connected to the room rather than floating too high on the wall.

Tip: In rooms where people sit often (like living rooms), slightly lower placements can feel more comfortable.

2. Use the Right Size Art for the Wall

Scale matters. Small artwork on a large wall can look lost, while oversized pieces can overwhelm smaller spaces.

A helpful rule:

  • Artwork should take up about 60–75% of the wall space above furniture like a sofa, bed, or console.

If a single piece feels too small, consider creating a gallery wall with multiple pieces.

3. Plan Before You Hammer

Before putting holes in the wall, test the layout.

Good methods include:

  • Laying the frames out on the floor

  • Cutting paper templates and taping them to the wall

  • Using painter’s tape to outline frames

This lets you adjust spacing and alignment without damaging your wall.

4. Keep Consistent Spacing

If you're hanging multiple pieces, spacing matters.

A good rule is to keep 5–8 cm (2–3 inches) between frames. Consistent spacing helps the collection look cohesive and intentional.

5. Align with your Furniture

Artwork should feel connected to nearby furniture.

Examples:

  • Center artwork above a sofa

  • Align frames with the width of the bed or console

  • Leave 15–25 cm (6–10 inches) between the top of furniture and the bottom of the artwork

  • Make sure the wall art is about 3/4 of the size of the furniture you are hanging your wall art above.

This creates a visual relationship between the objects in the room.

What Not to Do When Hanging Wall Art

1. Don’t Hang Art Too High

This is the most common mistake people make

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