Art hung too high is one of the most common styling mistakes in Australian homes. It floats above the furniture, disconnected from the room. Get the height and spacing right and even inexpensive prints look intentional. Here’s how to hang art properly, from a single frame to a full gallery wall.
The basic rule: centre at eye level
Galleries generally hang art so the centre of the piece sits around 145–155 cm from the floor, roughly average eye level. Use this as your starting point for any wall without furniture under it. Measure to the centre of the artwork, not the top.
Hanging art above a sofa
- Leave about 15–25 cm between the top of the sofa and the bottom of the frame. Any higher and the art disconnects from the sofa.
- Aim for the artwork (or group of artworks) to be about two-thirds the width of the sofa.
- Centre it on the sofa, not on the wall, if the two aren’t aligned.
Hanging art above a bed
The same principle applies: leave roughly 15–25 cm above the bedhead, and aim for about two-thirds of the bed’s width. Choose lightweight pieces and secure fixings above a bed for safety, and avoid heavy glass frames.
Above a sideboard, console or mantel
Leave 15–25 cm between the furniture and the frame. You can lean art on a mantel or sideboard instead, layering a smaller piece in front of a larger one for a relaxed look.
Creating a gallery wall
- Choose a thread. Consistent frame colours, a shared colour palette or a single theme keeps a gallery wall cohesive.
- Lay it out on the floor first. Arrange the frames until the balance feels right, with larger pieces towards the centre or bottom.
- Make paper templates. Trace each frame on paper, mark the hanging point, and tape the templates to the wall. Adjust until it looks right, then hang through the paper.
- Keep the gaps consistent. Around 5–8 cm between frames works for most gallery walls.
- Treat the group as one piece. The centre of the whole arrangement should sit at eye level, or 15–25 cm above furniture.
Hanging in hallways and stairwells
In hallways, keep to the eye-level rule and space art evenly along the wall. On stairs, follow the angle of the staircase, keeping the centre of each piece at a consistent height above the step below it.
Fixings and safety
- Use fixings rated for the weight of the artwork. Plasterboard needs wall anchors or a stud.
- Check for hidden pipes and cables with a stud finder before drilling.
- Use two hooks for wider frames so they stay level.
- Renting? Picture rails, adhesive hooks rated for the weight, or leaning art on furniture avoid holes. Check your lease and your state’s rules on hanging pictures before drilling.
Choosing the right size
Art that’s too small for a wall is the second most common mistake. If a single piece looks lost, go bigger, add a wide mat, or group several pieces together. A large, simple artwork almost always looks better than a small, detailed one on a big wall.
FAQ
How high should a picture be hung?
On an empty wall, centre it around 145–155 cm from the floor. Above furniture, leave 15–25 cm between the furniture and the bottom of the frame.
Should art be hung at the same height throughout the house?
Keeping a consistent centre line throughout a room or hallway makes the home feel calmer and more considered.
What size art should go above a sofa?
About two-thirds of the sofa’s width, either one large piece or a group that adds up to that width.
Plan the whole wall. Put your art, wall colour and furniture together on a Design it Yourself style board, using Taubmans colours, Carpet Court flooring and homewares from leading retailers.
Cover photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash.