I visited my sister who is also an artist in Connecticut recently and was impressed by the way she had placed her paintings in her beautiful new house. So here are a few of my tips on how and where to hang your favourite pieces.
Location can give a painting significance and presence. It’s fun to find the perfect spot! Placing an artwork opposite an entrance gives a work a certain status. In an entrance hallway it will be the first impression of the style of the house so choose something with visual impact that reflects your style. Even in a small space a larger painting can create a sense of drama. Similarly, positioned opposite the entrance to a room, a painting will catch the eye well, leading you in. At the end of a corridor or long passageway a good artwork can be very striking. Have a look at how The National Gallery, for example, has hung its greatest pieces, often on the wall at the end of an enfilade. Lounge areas can take a bold choice, above a sofa or fireplace there is often a wall space just asking for an interesting artwork to enliven the room. Also think about scale, if you have several small paintings they may look more striking grouped together rather than dotted around the room. Bedrooms are restful places, a restful or contemplative painting would work well adding to the atmosphere required of the room. If it can be seen from the bed all the better, so choose something that is not too small or too pale so that it registers from a distance or in low light. Bathroom paintings need to be able to withstand a humid atmosphere so works on paper such as watercolours need to be well sealed to avoid warping. (Also watercolours need to be protected from bright sunlight to avoid fading). If your painting can be placed for contemplation from the bathtub that would be a perfect location! One or two well placed artworks can give a fresh and interesting vibe to a kitchen or dining area. Perhaps a still life, food or drink related, either on the wall or placed on a shelf, creates a focus in a busy area. This is probably the most frequented area of the house so it is worth having something special there. If you have space above a doorway that can be an interesting spot for a painting, to draw attention to a room entrance. Or at the top of a staircase it can give a sense of arrival in a new area.
Useful tips If a painting is long or large it can often, irritatingly, keep straying off the level. If you hang it on two hooks placed a few inches apart horizontally it will be much more stable. If a painting slopes away from the wall too much it may be that the stringing is too loose. Stringing is best one third down from the top and taut. Try attaching a wedge of rolled bubble wrap behind the bottom edge to help flatten it up if it still tips forwards. A common error is to hang paintings too high. Eye level is best to view the artwork and it looks more contemporary.
