Are you guilty of hanging your art too high? Most people are. And no, I am not saying this because I am 5’ ½”. This is a common faux pas in many homes.

Ever look at something hanging on the wall and think, something doesn’t look quite right. Or why do I feel like I’m craning my neck to appreciate this piece? Or why does that look like it’s floating away from the couch? Art should actually be closer to the piece of furniture over which it’s hanging to feel grounded and part of the story. Also, consider how you will be looking at the art piece. Will you be sitting? Standing? Walking by in the hallway or climbing stairs? All these factors will determine the positioning of your art pieces.

It is actually better to look slightly downward at an art piece than looking up at it. Just like positioning your TV - you don’t want it too high or you’ll create tension in your shoulder girdle. And who wants to create tension when they're supposed to be kicking back for a relaxing night in?

A good rule of thumb is to hang art so that the centre is about eye level. Now this is for the average-height person, so if you are slightly shorter (like me) or taller (like my husband), then the art piece will still seem centred because you still have a buffer below and above that centre point. Also, if you are hanging art around a sitting area, sit down and determine the average eye level from there.