The Art of Hanging, well, Art

Ok so anybody can stick a nail in the wall to hang a picture on the wall, right? Maybe not always centered, but you get the idea.  As a designer, I've picked up a few tricks to get the most out of my walls.....

In a space that's a little on the small side, consider hanging a bunch of very similar pieces of art to help fill the space and make it feel larger.  

Ok the next photo is a little overkill in my opinion, but still not bad to look at.  I think the antlers and branches on the table are a bit distracting from the simple symmetry that could've been created.

Ok let's talk about gallery walls, which could be related to the topic above.  But the vignettes above are simplified to not overwhelm an already tight space.  A gallery wall really has no rules.  I like to get a good mix of art, like maybe an abstract, some photography, mixed with some words.  I sometimes like to lean all these different art pieces on a ledge for a super casual look.... See below

So maybe you don't want to go quite as casual as the photo above.  You can still create a killer gallery wall!  Aside from mixing up the type of art, throw in a clock or mirror.  Be deliberate about how you're going to handle the frames and mattes.  They don't need to all match, but make sure there isn't just one odd man out.  Ten black frames and one wood frame might look like a mistake.  Just be aware of the details because they really do make all the difference

Now that I've gone on about clusters of wall art, let's take a minute to talk about negative space.  When you have a well accessorized room, it's important that your eye has a break.  I truly believe negative space can impact design as much as a decorated space.

The last thing I'd like to go over is hanging heights.  Nothing screams bachelor pad like a bunch of super high pictures (most likely of Bob Marley).  You want the art to be at eye level, but because that can vary so widely, 63" is thought to be a good midpoint for art.  There are exceptions to every rule though.  When hanging art over a console, or something similar, keep the art low, so it is incorporated with the furniture.

Photo Credits: hgtv, http://www.dreambookdesign.com/2012/09/design-inspiration-monday_10.html, http://www.drivenbydecor.com/2014/10/gallery-wall-how-to-design-tips.html, potterybarn, http://www.highfashionhome.com/room-ideas/living-room/roman-peace.html, http://www.housetweaking.com/2013/07/11/his-hers-nightstands/, http://jennywolfinteriors.com/residential/#!/hamptons-cottage

Accessorizing Your Home

As an interior designer, my biggest pet peeve is when a space is left unfinished.  I recently toured a fabulous home, literally jaw dropping!  But it wasn't complete.  The architecture and finishes were stunning, but there were probably 5 pictures hung on the walls! No candles, sculptures, anything!  And this was a multi million dollar home, but I felt they looked a little house poor ( which is not the case).  I don't know why the design was never finished, but in our much more humble homes, I'm sure many of us can relate.  It is difficult to polish off every last space, but you will be so happy once it's done.  Maybe you don't know how to finish off your home besides hanging a piece of art or a couple picture frames, and that's ok!   Here are a couple ways I think you can accessorize your space...

Gallery Walls are a great way to fill a wall, and it doesn't need to just be art.  You can place clocks, mirrors, or any interesting object.  The key is to keep the spacing uniform. 

So maybe you don't have a large wall to fill. Maybe the problem child is the awkward medium size wall, in which I would suggest stacking some art vertically like the pics below.

Next would be selecting a variety of accessories.  You want them to be related in some way, like the image below, most of the accessories are of the same color tone.  But they also need to different to have interest, and this is where you can play with things like scale and texture.  In the photo below, I feel that they are able to get away with so many objects because the artwork behind it is so simple.  Your eye has a rest with the neutral canvas that the accessories don't feel overwhelming.

Lastly, I think words or letters here and there can add interest, subway art is a great example of this.  With words I think you need to seriously restraint yourself from going nuts.  But I do like them in the right setting.  I will have another accessorizing post because this is a seemingly endless topic!

Photo Credits: apartment therapy, http://www.11magnolialane.com/2014/06/02/diy-photo-gallery-wall/, http://www.domainehome.com/simple-home-design/, http://www.preciouslyme.com/home-decor/angie-hranowskys-home-4688, http://www.bloodandchampagne.com/page/8/, http://www.veranda.com/designers-ideas/ralph-lauren-home-accessories, http://brabournefarm.blogspot.com/2012/02/little-tables.html, http://www.nellhillsblog.com/?p=2163, http://www.thehouseofsmiths.com/2011/05/large-address-subway-art-for-gallery.html, popsugar.com