When hanging art and photos in your home, one of the first questions that arise is “How high should art and pictures be hung?” While your first instinct may be to hang things at eye-level, this can lead to odd-looking end results, especially if you’re on the tall or short side. Here are three important considerations to keep in mind to help you decide how high to hang your art.
1. The standard height for hanging art in a gallery is 60 inches. If you’re hanging a photo on a wall with no furniture or architectural details on it, of if you’re installing art in a lobby or other open area, 60 inches from the floor to the center of the piece is a good guideline. However, oftentimes, there are additional things to consider when choosing how high to hang your art.
2. If there are other elements at play in the room (as we mentioned above, things like furniture, architectural details, windows, light switches, etc.), those all need to be kept in mind when placing your art. Art hung over a sofa, for example, needs to be hung in relation to that sofa. If the piece is large and the ceiling a standard 8-10 feet, place it equidistant between the top of the sofa and the ceiling, and adjust from there.
3. The function of the space. If you’re hanging art in a high-traffic hallway, or if you have young children at home, it can be wise to hang art higher, to prevent it being knocked off the wall by curious hands.
Need help deciding where to hang your art? Contact ILevel for a consultation.