Wall art has the power to completely change a room, but only if it is hung the right way. Even the most beautiful piece can look awkward if placement, size, or balance is off.
The good news is that with a few simple adjustments, you can avoid the most common mistakes and make your walls look like they were styled by a professional.
Here are five mistakes to avoid when hanging wall art, along with practical fixes you can apply today.
1. Hanging Art Too High
The Mistake: Many people hang artwork too close to the ceiling, which makes it feel disconnected from the room.
The Fix: The center of your art should be at eye level, around 57-60 inches from the floor This simple guideline keeps the piece aligned with your furniture and creates visual harmony.
2. Choosing Art That’s Too Small
The Mistake: A small print on a large wall looks lost and underwhelming.
The Fix: Go bigger than you think. Artwork should cover about two-thirds to three-quarters of the wall space above a sofa or bed. For large areas, consider oversized canvases or multi-panel sets that fill the space with impact.
3. Ignoring Scale With Furniture
The Mistake: Hanging art without considering the size of nearby furniture creates imbalance.
The Fix: Always anchor your artwork to the furniture below it. For example, if you are hanging art above a sofa, the piece should be about the same width as the sofa’s seating area, or grouped to create that effect.
4. Poor Spacing in Gallery Walls
The Mistake: Placing frames too close together or too far apart makes gallery walls look messy.
The Fix: Keep spacing consistent. A gap of about 2-3 inches between frames usually works best. Use painter’s tape to map out the arrangement before making holes in the wall.
5. Forgetting the Room’s Function
The Mistake: Hanging art without thinking about how the space is used. For example, a bold abstract in a bedroom might feel overwhelming, while a muted piece in a dining room may feel dull.
The Fix: Match the mood of the art to the room. Choose calm and soothing pieces for bedrooms, energizing colors for offices, and conversation-starting pieces for living or dining areas.
Conclusion
Hanging wall art is not just about filling empty space. Placement, size, and balance all play a role in how a room feels. By avoiding these five mistakes, you can make sure your walls highlight the beauty of your home instead of distracting from it.
Next time you refresh your space, start with the right piece of art, give it the placement it deserves, and enjoy walls that feel professionally styled.
Ready to fix your walls? Explore our full range of Wall Art Collections and create a space that feels complete.