First, make sure your art matches you
There are many different kinds of collectors; some want to decorate their homes, and others buy art simply because they're inspired by it. Collectors who become passionate about art will run out of wall space long before they run out of enthusiasm for collecting. Knowing what kind of collector you are is helpful in making decisions about buying and hanging art — are you buying art for a room, or just for yourself? There are no hard-and-fast rules about placement of art in your home, but we can give you a few general guidelines.

But how will it look over the couch?
Artwork provides a focus for a room and inspiration for its occupants. Although an entire room can be designed around a single painting, we usually purchase art after the room is furnished. In fact, the old joke about buying a painting "to match the sofa" is more accurate than most art buyers admit.

A common strategy in the beginning is to purchase key works for specific places in your home (above the fireplace, in a dramatic alcove, over that red couch) then fill in around them. If you've purchased your first piece without a particular space in mind for it, try hanging it in a number of places before you settle on a spot for it. As your collection grows, you may want to rotate pieces to keep the collection lively. But don't forget that delicate works on paper should be kept out of direct sunlight. See Conservation.

You are the curator of your own art collection
Remember, original art makes a statement. The quality and nature of the work is an important consideration in its placement in the home; you may choose more intimate, smaller-scale work for the bedroom than for the living room. Each piece also has a particular presence or weight determined by its scale, color, composition, and content. Try to be aware of this presence or weight as you hang the work. The placement of a single piece can affect everything else, so hang the whole room instead of individual walls. This is where installation of a collection is more art than science. Take your time, and enjoy the experience.


Next: Methods & Materials

Share this article :