Art brings a room to life, and is key to every successful room.

Arranging Art — *Artist: Portia Mortensen*
*Interior Design: Walsh Hill Design*
*Photography: Angle Eye*

A room with art is soulful. Art is alive…created in the mind and by the hand of the artist, and a gift to the world. Art inspires both the artist and the viewer, and has the power to awaken senses and surroundings alike. Do not underestimate its power in bringing a room to life, because without art no room is every really complete.

Where to begin? Buy what you love. Sometimes love doesn’t happen at first sight, but curiosity often does. I’ve found that my favorite pieces are the ones that made me look twice. As you are beginning or expanding your collection, keep in mind some of the following tips for arranging artfully.

Tip 1: Hang (or stack) art in a room where it can be enjoyed most often, rather than a room where no one visits. Consider unexpected places where people tend to linger like bookcases, bathrooms, and bars.

Tip 2: Hang art at your eye level, where the center of the painting sits at approximately 65” from the floor. A room feels off to me when the art is hung too high. In a dining room, consider that the art could hang even lower as you would view from a lower, seated position.

Properly scale the piece to the size and shape of the wall. A horizontal landscape looks best on a wall that is horizontal, and so it goes with a vertical piece. You can manipulate size and shape by grouping several together and/or rethinking the placement of furniture.

Tip 3: A mirror is a great friend when paired with a piece of art. Its reflection allows for multiple viewing angles and also expands the natural light in a room, casting beautiful shadows on the art.

Tip 4: Consider sight lines when installing art. For instance, in my kitchen I could have centered the painting “Farm” on the long wall behind the table and it would only have been seen from inside the kitchen. Now that it’s off center (and balanced with a few ceramic plates) it can be enjoyed from the nearby rooms as well. It ‘s as if it’s beckoning you to come into the room.

Tip 5: Keep in mind that opposites attract.

Our eyes are naturally drawn to differences – in color, in texture, and in style. The walls in a gallery are typically painted white which emphasizes the art. Of course if the art is white, then you would reverse it or or consider a contrasting texture. A painting with a smooth surface, like wax or glass looks amazing on a wall with a rough or matte texture.

Combining pieces with opposite styles can enhance the appeal of a room. Pairing a traditional landscape with a modern console or lamp is unexpected and therefore compelling. Likewise, when a traditional piece of furniture is topped with a contemporary piece of art. The opposition ultimately makes a harmonious arrangement.