From framing to spacing, there is much to consider before hanging a piece of artwork and putting a hole in your wall.
“There are a lot of rules to follow if you go down that rabbit hole of Googling things,” says Andrea Adams, gallery director at the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana. “But sometimes it’s just how does this make you feel when you’re looking at it as a whole.”
The general rule of thumb is to hang the midpoint of a piece 60 inches above the ground, which is a happy medium for most audiences.
“From experience of hanging art in my own home, I like to try things out before I put a hole in the wall,” says Adams.
She recommends using command strips because they are removable and can easily be moved if you want to switch artwork or change the design. When it comes to matting and framing, Adams says you can never go wrong with a simple white mat and black frame.
In the gallery, Adams is very calculated and mathematical when it comes to installing art, but, in her home, she prefers a looser approach.
“I think a lot of people are scared they’re going to do it wrong or they’re not going to like it,” says Adams. “My last tip would be just do it. Just put it up on the wall.”
For more information on the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana, call 812-422-2111 or visit artswin.org.
