Art Series: The Art Of Scale
You have probably experienced the dilemma. You are staring at a blank wall and wondering how you should fill it. What size should the display be? Should there be a piece of art or a collection? How high should it be hung? This article will provide you some general rules to help you answer these questions.
When choosing the size of the art pieces you want, think hard about the space they are going to fill. For example, if the space is a wall behind a sofa, you should aim for the display to be sixty to seventy five percent of the width of your sofa. The display should be hung high enough that it won’t be disruptive to people sitting on the sofa, but not so high that it’s difficult to admire. The ideal height is about eight to ten inches from the top of the furniture. This space could be filled with one piece of art or a collection. If you are creating a gallery, remember to also consider the space between each frame so that the collection does not become too overwhelming.
If you are looking to decorate a blank wall, subtract thirty-seven percent of the total width of the wall to find the optimal breadth of your display. For a 100 inch wide wall the desired span of the display would be about 63 inches. If the art is an irregular shape, then it would be 63 inches from the widest point. Position the center of the display to be at approximately 67 inches. An example of this application is shown with this art piece used in the bathroom concept pictured below.
Here is some inspiration and tutorials to get you started…
Read about how to make your own gallery wall, like the one pictured, here:
A safe rule when choosing art for a fireplace is to keep to a similar size as the opening as shown in this photo. Click on the image to see more of this home
Not sure what type of gallery fits your style? Click here.
Keep an eye out for my next post to learn hang a picture right the first time and reduce those pesky holes in your walls.
