Hanging Art for Effect
This article, by the author of this website was published in 2007 in At Home With Anne Maurice.
Lots more people are buying original art or good quality prints these days and there are plenty shops where you can buy everything from wall décor to limited edition prints. Don’t be put off by cost, shop around. The overall effect of a well framed print can be as substantial as curtains or lighting and probably cheaper, or if you want to go down the DIY route there’s a wide range of readymade frames available to re-frame old pictures and photos and reflect colour accents or define areas.
Like all aspects of decorating there are a few simple rules to follow that will ensure that hanging artwork won’t undo all your efforts in selecting the colours and theme of a room. Also, the way pictures are displayed can either create an illusion of space, height or bring everything together with a cosier feel. And, like the books on your bookshelf, say something about you.
A hallway is the place to set the scene and give your visitors a good impression. The addition of a well placed mirror can add light where there is gloom whilst a row of matching framed prints or photos will add width to a narrow corridor, as well as creating interest on a long blank wall. Make sure everything is hung at viewing height – that’s level with your eyes- and that any mirrors used do not reflect ugly fittings like thermostats or heating switches. If you have a problem finding a mirror of just the right size or style, don’t forget that most picture framers can make exactly what you want. In a hallway or corridor multi-aperture frames are an excellent way of displaying photos or a collection of postcards to add a personal feel to a hall.
Moving on to the living area, art can be used to define different areas, lock on to accent colours and create a professional stylist’s finishing touch. This can be done with art you collect, prints you already have, and images that you buy specially for the makeover.
Be careful if you do collect art not to turn a living room into an art gallery. A collection of images by one artist will look great on a staircase, but can make too strong a statement for most living rooms.
Save money on buying new prints by reusing favourite images and have having them professionally re-framed or select new ready made frames yourself. Whatever you do be careful not to do too much matching to your décor. A thin cherry red frame might be just the thing to pick up colour accents in an otherwise neutral room whilst a plain wood frame with a cream mount of an autumnal landscape will add nothing and will create a bland look. The good thing about using a framer is that you can take a swatch of an accent colours and ask to look at ideas such as a matching 'under mount’ covered by a neutral top mount – cream and white are perennial favourites but most framers have access to literally hundreds of décor inspired coloured mount card.
You probably won’t have the choice of mountboard if you are buying ready framed images or frames, so here look for matching accents in the picture and frame. Whilst on the subject of colour, remember what metals are used in the room – if you have light switches, table lamps and fire surrounds in stainless steel then look at silver, pewter picture frame mouldings rather than brass or gold.
Since your living room may be your largest room, this is where to hang large eye-catching artwork, remembering the more eye-catching it is the greater the viewing distance you should allow. If your home is modern and lacks architectural features you can go for a big picture emphasised perhaps with a picture light. This gives an otherwise featureless wall a lift. A grouping of smaller pictures can have the same effect, try using no more than four – this makes hanging them much easier.
If you live in an older property with eye-catching ceiling features, pictures in a vertical row will lead the eye upwards, or if there is a small alcove or projecting wall think about hanging a small image in a 'big’ frame, remembering that rather than picture lights, a table lamp can light a picture too and add much greater emphasis. This is particularly effective where there is a lamp on a table or desk next to a seat or sofa. Here you can think about hanging the image at viewing height of someone seated and so define that part of the room. You don’t need to hang the picture centrally over the sofa, experiment with it to one side or other. This gives greater perspective depth to the area.
In addition to conventional ways of displaying art on the wall, quite large pictures can be put on a shelf just like any other accessory, and for a really casual and 'off the wall’ approach lean your picture against the wall at ground level. This gives a relaxed feel and is also useful when you can’t quite make up your mind where to hang something – simply keep moving it around until you find somewhere you’d like to hang it.
For a dining area make sure the pictures are hung to be seen whilst seated. Apart from the obvious reason, if your dining room shares your living space hanging the pictures lower will define it nicely.
A Framer or DIY?
Many people are put off using a professional framer because of cost but put this in perspective, and also shop around. A good framer will have skills with colour to help you achieve a good balance between the needs of the artwork and your taste and décor. Many will also sell prints they have framed themselves and this will be a good guide to their talents. For instance if you see a display of pictures all framed in dark mahogany with beige or cream mounts then don’t expect a great deal of imagination.
Moulding, as the wood part of the frame is called in the trade, is usually displayed in the shop as a 'corner’ or 'chevron’ and the more you see of these on show the better. If however you only see half a dozen chevrons on a display, what you are offered may be limited. In vogue at the moment deep thick bevels and wood mouldings in silver, pewter and antiqued gold as well as plain white.
If the price estimated by the framer is above your budget, say so. The framer may be able to offer alternatives. Don’t forget that a well framed picture is going to do as much for your room as curtains, lighting features and other accessories, and should give you years of enjoyment.
Many homes will have built up an eclectic mixture of pictures over the years and a makeover is a good time to take stock of what you can use, want to use, or perhaps move from another room. Just look at the artwork, discard the frames - which will probably be out of fashion in all different styles, gaping corners, and hangers past their safe age, and even if they are not going to be used in the same room it’s a good idea to reframe in similar if not matching frames. This prevents 'wall clutter’ which is all to present in a house desperately in need of a makeover.
When you’re re-framing a framer should be able to offer a range of the same moulding but in different thicknesses, and a store that sells ready-made frames will usually have a variety of sizes on offer in the same finish. Using either of these two methods you will be able bring a sense of order to your collection. Don’t worry about taking artwork to the ready-made shop, many people do, and there may well be an assistant to help you.
Try and avoid bland, meaningless artwork unless you’re prepping your home for sale. Whilst a well framed image can finish off a room remember it’s not wall paper – it’s meant to be enjoyable. This is what sets Ann Maurice apart from some designers and stylists, she uses 'real art’ rather than just designs in frames.
Framed Pictures Courtesy of Nielsen.
© 2008 Stephen Todd
