11/13/2024
On My Mind: Picture Hanging
Today, I’m thinking about picture hanging. I visit many homes where pictures are hung incorrectly. Even on decorating, design, and renovation shows, I see pictures hung at the wrong height or clusters arranged without any real form. Here’s a quick lesson on basic rules for picture hanging.
Height
The goal is to have the center of the picture at eye level. Since most adults are between 5 and 6 feet tall, the standard center height is 5 ft 6 inches. For clusters of pictures, consider them as one picture, and ensure the center of the arrangement is at 5 ft 6 inches.
High Ceilings
If you have high ceilings and want to exaggerate the height, use a picture that is taller than it is wide. To make a room feel cozier or bring a high ceiling down, use pictures that are wider than they are tall. Heavier, darker frames help keep the eye at a lower sightline, while thinner frames draw attention to the picture itself, making the eye move continuously.
Exceptions to the Rule
Consider the average height of the room’s primary users. For a child’s room, the visual height should be based on their height. Here are two ways to decide on the height:
1. Use the youngest child’s height as the lowest number and the oldest child’s height as the top. Average the two by adding them together and dividing by two.
2. Use the child’s current height as the lowest point and the average height of a child 3-5 years older (the time you expect before redecorating). Average these heights.
Notes for Children’s Rooms
• If you dislike blank space above pictures in a child’s room, use larger pictures or clusters. Full-height murals and artsy wallpaper are common in kids’ rooms and can be achieved with picture clusters.
• Baby rooms should be designed for adult picture height since adults care for the baby in that room, and the baby sees from the adult’s height. Items specifically for baby stimulation, like mobiles, should be placed in the baby’s view.
Another exception is you and your friends heights being taller or shorter than Average.
If you are a 6’5” tall basketball player and your friends and family are 6’0” to 6’6” then add these two numbers together and divide by 2 …your pictures should then be hung at 6’3” for maximum enjoyment and balance.
The same rule applies if you and your friends and family are shorter than average.
It should always be the average of the the people using the space the most. If unsure, the correct answer is always the standard 5’6”. Center.
Using these simple rules will dramatically change how your room feels…Try it!
