Choosing and hanging your wall art

I frequently get asked by owners of my photography and art, advice on where to hang them in their homes. In my hometown of Verbier, I have the opportunity to physically visit the homes and make suggestions on the surroundings. But for those further afield, I often ask for them to take an image of the room and wall space they want to hang an image on, and send it to me. Then I can survey the room then make suggestions based on my observations.

I like to ask what mood they want to convey. Perhaps it be calming, rousing, striking, or a piece to raise discussion even. Then I would look at the colour scheme. I like to pick out tones in the room. Perhaps they have several green plants and green cushions on their sofa for example. So I might suggest one of my mountain images with a lot of greenery. Is the house more traditional in style or is it modern? And what interests does the person in question have. This might lean towards a particular image. What is the view out of the window? Maybe the image is something that compliments the natural environment outside of the home. But most importantly, I would recommend choosing something that you absolutely love and start there. Your home is your sanctuary and to me it makes sense to surround yourself with things that make you happy.

CHOOSING BY ROOM
Lounge - I personally think landscapes and creative pieces work well in the lounge. Often vibrant, slightly more risky pieces can really work well here too. Choose work that sets the mood.
Dining Room - Large abstract pieces and impressive panoramic photography work well in a contemporary dining rooms, while still-life or nature landscapes will fit into more traditional surroundings. Being a more social environment, it can be nice to have something that will start a conversation, but it’s maybe better to avoid something that’s too controversial!
Kitchen - If you like to work in the kitchen, the wall art could reflect that mood. Fun and decorative, graphic pieces that perhaps reflect your personality can really work well in the kitchen too. Bringing photography and art into the kitchen will transform it from a practical working room into a cosy, comfortable personal space. You could also introduce a photographic splash-back. I have worked with various interior designers and architects to create some really eye catching splash-backs.
Bedroom - Your bedroom is your sanctuary and the one truly personal space therefore the photography and art can be more personal or something that you can relate to or have emotional attachment. I like to put unframed pieces (acrylic, aluminium, tapestry) in the bedroom because it makes it feel less formal and keeps it more open.
Bathroom - I quite like smaller more graphic pieces in the bathroom. Geometric styles are quite good and also very simple pieces.

CHOOSING WHICH WALL
In the lounge I always prefer to hang photography and art over the main furniture. For example, a landscape image over the sofa, cabinet or shelving. In the dining room I quite like to hang a panoramic shot in parallel and almost as wide as the dining table, or perhaps even a tripstych. In the kitchen smaller pieces are nicer and even some balanced on shelves. In the bedroom, behind the bed or on the side walls. I prefer not to over do it with images in the bedroom but balance with a mirror and textiles or shelving perhaps.

If possible, I try to avoid hanging artworks in areas of direct sunlight as it can cause fading and you can see reflections. I have avoided this issue in the print products I use as they are UV protected. Sometimes, sunlight and artificial lighting can influence the luminosity and crispness of your pictures so if it has a special finish that protects it, even better.

CHOOSING THE POSITION
As a general rule, try to hang the artworks so that the middle of the image is eye level. Approximately 145cm between the bottom of the photo frame and the floor will ensure that the centre of the image is at eye level for most people. Of course everybody has their own personal preference and not all homes are the same. Here is some suggestions for varying types of walls:

Hallways, kitchens and bathrooms
In rooms where you tend to stand more, pictures should be hung at eye level. This is the rule in galleries where they position the centre of a frame at the average person’s eye level, which is 145cm from the floor.

Living rooms, dining rooms and offices
In rooms where people tend to sit more, pictures should be hung at a seated eye-level position, i.e hung a little lower than 145cm from the floor. If above a sofa or desk, your image should sit around 15-20 cm above. If you have a room with a fireplace, the bottom of your picture should sit around 10-30 cm above it. If you have a rooms with very tall walls and high ceilings it may look better to hang your image higher than eye level.

CHOOSING THE SIZE
If above the sofa, dining room table, bed headboard etc it is always safe to hang an image that is 2/3 to 3/4 of the width. Often I personally prefer to print and hang at the same width. And if you happen to buy a piece that is wider, it can still look good if you balance it by placing a side table or plant on pedestal for example, in order to balance it. I always say the bigger the better! But gallery walls and tripstych are also great ideas as an alternative to one big piece.