apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

57" on center seems low to me (I'm 6'-1" though.) I seems strange to me to be looking down at the top of the frame for smaller items. Is this the standard?

I have ten foot walls in my house and 57 inches definately would be too low for my taste...I think that, as a rule, its flexible. In my opinion, nothing frustrates me more than looking around a room and seeing a bunch of pictures bulletted all along the precisely same site line.

A while back ago I wrote a post on my blog about suggestions and some diagrams on how to hang art in groupings. Maybe this will help:


http://designformula.blogspot.com/2008/01/making-picture-wall-collage.html

What about some sort of "salon" style arrangement with a mixture of frames and styles. It seems like he's worried about the pictures looking "lost" on the wall, yet he has a lot of small pictures. Here are a few inspiration pics, feel free to dig through my "art arranging" folder on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16399967@N07/sets/72157604102105964/

RE the staggered art issue: I think it comes down to trends in home styling. Methods for hanging are are larger/longer term trends I think. Staggering photos reminds me of something that was popular in the 80's, something my mom USED to do, and even she doesn't do it anymore. I'm not trying to slag your BF, just saying it looks dated, for lack of a better explanation. A lot of things change and look dated, that's just the cycle of style/trends.

And if he doesn't accept that, tell him I own an art gallery and I say "no!" ;)

I think if they are staggered like steps, the focus goes to the frames and the geometrical space they create, rather than focus on the images within the frames. Its too much geometry. Either a salon-style (which breaks up any repetition and/or recognizable shape-making), or gallery style (whether its 57" or a bit higher - but heavens, don't let him centre them at the height of the wall or go close to the ceiling!) would do.

I would recommend much larger frames and deep mat to add some drama and size to the photos, and also to focus the eye more on the image itself. This may help solve the too-much-wall-space argument.

What if he had the pictures matted in large frames, but instead of just throwing them in a a frame, matte them off-center or somehow different in each frame. Then he could hang the frames in a straight line, but the contents would still have some visual interest and not be so linear.

I prefer groupings to straight lines of frames, but I also strongly oppose "stairstep" style (I didn't know it had a name). First, I think it looks dated. I can't really defend that further, other to say, I remember seeing this a lot in the 1970's (and maybe 1980's), mostly with brass-accented oak frames.

Also, I think that the diagonal line of the "stairstep" is a tough concept because it leaves odd empty spaces -- the eye doesn't rest -- you either follow the frames up to nothing or down to nothing. As opposed to another type of grouping of frames that has an balance to it.

If he's open to stair-stepping, then it sounds like he's open to grouping in some way, so why not encourage him to think about different kinds of groups? I'm not sure why you think his art isn't groupable. As a general principle, I would say that, if you like everything you have, then you can find ways to group it that are meaningful to you and somehow compatible visually. As people suggested, that might entail some reframing. It sounds to me, based on the sizes you've given, that salong-style groupings might work.

Also, as far as height goes, I kind of agree that 57" might be too low. This isn't a gallery; it's a home. If tall people tend to enjoy the art and/or the ceilings are high, a higher line and/or a taller arrangement could make sense.

Finally, you're already playing around with cut-outs to test potential arrangements. There's nothing wrong with committing and hanging, and then changing your mind later. You're just putting small holes in the wall; it doesn't have to be a long-term "right" arrangement.

57" is the gallery standard for hanging in professional galleries or exhibitions. But, in a home, depending on the arrangement of furniture, height of ceilings, etc., I would say there can definitely be exceptions. As for staggering...unless he's placing them up a staircase, I'd say it's a no-go.

I agree with grid. The human eye is drawn towards shapes, before content. We also read from left to right and up to down. If he steps the art, the eye will move up....to down :( and then what will you be looking at?

In addition, it's uneasy to look at. Even to an untrained eye. I think you should help him work out a balance for your own peace, as well as company you may have at your home.

The art should lead the eye, not the frame arrangement.

as a general rule people hang their art too high, not too low, and as far as i am concerned nothing looks worse, except maybe the staircase arrangement your boyfriend wants.
I love the idea of a "salon style" arrangement that others have suggested. Keep an open mind about what goes together, the frames do not have to match, the work doesn't have to look similar! When you get together a grouping of the smaller pieces treat them as one large piece with the group 57" on center (you can go up to 60".) This way some of the pieces will be higher up on the wall but nothing will look too high.
but most importantly take your time! You do not have to have perfectly hung art in every room in your home. If you can make a nice grouping in one place, but end up with nothing that will work for another it is ok! and it gives you the chance to keep an eye out for something to add to your collection.
Also, keep in mind that holes can be spackled and painted. If you don't like what you come up with, you can change it!

Why not let him try it his way and live with it for a while and see how he likes it? If someone was telling me not to do something in my home in the way that I felt was aesthetically pleasing to ME....well...that wouldn't go very well.

You wouldn't want him to end up doing it your way and resenting it/you, would you??

In the end, he may end up agreeing that it doesn't look right, and at least will be able to say that he tried it his way. Not that you nagged and forced him into it.

It's his art and his house, why do you care?

hey, I would care. If I have to look at it too.

maybe suggest that he go to a photo gallery or frame shop and see how they hang collections next to each other. if there were graphic elements in each photo that connected in a stair step pattern - maybe ok (and if the frames were nearly invisible). stair stepping is arbitrary and will create too much visual clutter if aformentioned feature does not exist. but if you're doing substantial or decorated frames - they will definitely look better with some space between them and continuity where you hang them. when frames of different sizes are being used, i think it is best to stick to a similar center line, top line or bottom line, depending on the other elements in the space.

It seems as Click Chick is a "bit" too controlling here. Let's go down the list:

"I can't seem to verbalize why staggering is wrong." ~ That is because it isn't. Staggering can be very effective in tall thin spaces and spaces where you want to lead the eye to a feature. It is also fun and conversation generating as it makes people look for a connection.

"His argument is that he has too much wall space to fill and one picture per wall just isn't enough." ~ I agree. It looks odd to see displays where one picture / one wall. It isn't necessary to spread them out like that so a "tour" of his pictures is a clockwise jaunt around the house (57” on center). Also, this way of thinking inhibits future purchases because he (or you for him) with be thinking "which picture will we group this with"?

"I would encourage groupings if they were groupable, but they're not." All pictures can be grouped if you think outside of the box. The concept here is to place a pleasing view for both for close and distant viewing. Pictures should encourage thought, not provide an answer. It is also fun and conversation generating as it makes people look for a connection.

"...but then I have trouble convincing him to stick to the 57 inches on center philosophy..." Says you! Come on now that is a bit too much. Art will find its place on the wall, don't hold it back.

"For now - he's only managed to hang something in the bathroom..." No surprise here. You have intimidated him into feeling like a fool for trying. Back Off!

"He also thinks art above the sofa should be even higher." OK, what do you personally have to lose if he is right?

"Before you all decide that I'm a nag - I realize that it's his home and he can do what he wants - I'm just trying to encourage good design."

1. You are a nag.
2. You don't seem to realize that it is his home.
3. You would be a nightmare if you lived together.
4. Good design is too broad for you to have all the answers.

(Point of Reference)

I have over 500 pieces of art hanging on my walls and I don't think I followed any of Click Chick's "rules".

I didn't intend to be so direct in my post above, but the biggest points I was trying to get across is "Art will find its place on the wall, don't hold it back."

Forget the rules and feel the space.

I HATE STAIR STEP STYLE:<

Stair steps look like metal storm doors from the fifties. And art in a room where one sits (as opposed to hallways) should be lowered to relate to seated viewers and furniture. pkswede's post is admirably thorough.

Thanks everyone for your comments!

Sorry... I was busy and unable to check in to find my question posted until just now!!

I love the walls of 'salon style' groupings everyone shared. Thanks for the reference!
He doesn't have near that much art. And the reason I think they are hard to group is they are odd sizes of rectangular and neither small or large. They are just big enough to be too big to group - and though he thinks his walls are large, they are broken up all over the place.
But I like the paper cut out arrangement we have so far.

Next let me defend myself to Frank in Virginia and aladywhoknows.
Please realize that my account of the dilemmia was certainly a condensed version and the series of conversations that led to my question didn't exactly go the way it is transcribed. Therefore, I'm decidedly NOT a nag and your (Frank's) following three points are null and void since you don't know me.
And you don't know my man. He ASKED me for help. His reference for art placement is his mom's house. He trusts my style... he's just not ready to embrace it completely because it is foreign to him (man's man - stereotypical mechanical engineer personality!! he gets mezmerized just watching me put on eyeshadow! )

Anyway all. Thanks again. We're making progress and Now I have more ideas.