I think you are okay with the heaviest piece off to one side, but I think the whole mass needs to shift back centered over the sofa. And think less "rows" than one overall arrangement.

Art arrangements are like sex: the tighter, the better.

So tighten up those gaps between pictures.

Hanging art collage or Salon style is difficult, but I applaud your efforts!

I usually start with the largest object in the middle, doing a symmetrical balance, or if you are willing to do something riskier, go for assymetrical balance and hang the largest (the landscape) slightly to the right, just past the hump on the sofa. Then start with the next largest, and so on. Hang them tighter than they are currently, and it will look like one big piece of art, opposed to a bunch of them scattered on the wall.

As it sits, there isn't anything calming about this arrangement, as there isn't a defined rhythm, so that's something to work on. Think about that and the balance, and you will have no problem.

If you want to save your walls, try arranging them on the floor first, then transferring them to the wall. If you have more questions, let me know - I am a master at salon style art!
zebcarlson@yahoo.com

P(too) -- scandalous! But quite right.

Consider rearranging the frames so that they don't create three distinct vertical groups. Clustering the smaller frames with similar dimensions together would probably look better. Also, the darkest painting should probably be moved far from the couch so that the wall has more balance - right now the picture and couch are both dark and low. Try moving the darkest pictures to the lightest spot (near the window) and vice versa.

good luck

"Art arrangements are like sex: the tighter, the better."

I never thought that arranging art could make me blush. Too funny... oh, and I agree.

Ooh, I don't like the comparision. It's a bit crude. Sorry.

My feeling on the artwork is that there isn't anything really unifying all of them at the moment. Even if they are "tighter". They need a common element...similiar colored frames or perhaps a large color block behind them that pulls a color that they each have or one that complements them all and that makes them all pop better.

It looks to me as if they're all landscapes. If that's true, then incorporating P(2)'s (which I found funny) and Zeb's and Jake's advice would make them look unified.

Another way to rearrange them without making holes is to get coloured paper (a roll of brown mailing paper is the right price), outline each of your pieces on the paper and stick them to the wall.

Another way to do it is on the floor.

I like to line up top edges and bottom edges and sides--but randomly.

As well, the outside edges of all the frames should form a shape: an oval, circle, square or rectangle (even a triangle, but not here). That helps "group" them better. You need a defining shape for this grouping.

The big pic isn't balanced where it is. To do do I would put the small landscape currently at the lower left up higher.

And yes, the distance between the frames needs to be about half what they are....(in spite of O at home, Fall 2006, p. 66.) Martha Stewart's and Pottery Barn's sites both have info if you want to read further....

I'd swap it with the art in the upper left corner, but that's just me.

Fun post!

You're doing a great thing while awaiting the repairman - fun!

Holly

i think the piece in question is fine, but would look much finer if it were framed. all the other pieces in the arrangement have frames which carry similar weight, so adding something like that to the landscape on the right would unify everything better.

i also like p2, zeb, and jake's advice, and would add that at the very least you should try to even out the top and bottom of the arrangement.

Frame it all

It is a little unclear, but it does seem to me that the large piece and the small square one with the white border, which appears to be just a mat, are not framed, and they both really need to be, I think. That will help the whole arrangement become more cohesive.

I think that someone should come up with some kind of PhotoShop-esque program just for arranging pictures, so people could plan them in the software and then do them.

Whatever else happens, I agree - they should all be closer to one another, and I think the large one might need to be centered left-to-right at least above the sofa.

i do think that the piece that currently hangs in the bottom corner should be centered, but not because it is the largest. it, unlike the others does not have a frame. i feel like it's missing that defining line around it. oh and to p(2) i always thought art was like sex becuase it involves getting nailed up against a wall. wink, wink:)

It would look better if you framed the big one (perhaps with a wide matting) and centered it over the sofa. Then scatter the other little pictures on other walls around your house.

If you were to tighten the arrangement, I would be interested in seeing the overall height remain below the top of the door frame. Also I believe it might feel better to keep the overall width centered with the sofa. In the photo it appears the arrangement is slipping to the right.

I prefer symmetrical or near symmetrical art clusters. I find it too distracting if it doesn't look "balanced". I use the method of laying it out on the floor first to try out different arrangments.

Trace each picture on to newspaper and cut out.Use sticky tack to play with the arrangement on the wall without nails. I think you need to group the samll ones together and agree with comments already posted, too. Good luck.

ricco--
I'm right behind you! Wait...

i have really helpful suggestion.
take away the highly colorful paintings and put them somewhere else.. arrange the other 5 framed paintings behind the sofa.
the effect will be quite dramatic in a tonal way, this arrangement will add focus to the sofa.... conversely, do the same thing but use the colorful paintings behind the sofa and find another location for the others. either way you are going to add clarity to the visual composition of the room. one solution is more lively than the other. your choice.

Patrick!

Try this:

http://kayingleside.com/paintings.jpg

I too agree that the picture should be framed. But if you don't want to frame it, I think all the other frames should be similar in tone (all dark wood rather than metal mixed with dark wood mixed with light wood frames).

I also think the largest picture should be in the middle - not necessarily centered (from side to side and top to bottom) but rather that it be the focal point of the grouping.

I agree with Rodger about the color vs. muted. Perhaps you could change the mat color on the framed pics to pick up some of the colors in the large picture and from around the room? And/or make all the smaller pictures frames and mattings match.

And, I also agree the whole composition should be tighter too (a bit up from the bottom and not going over the doorway).

Keep in mind that even though it's a picture/art composition you could also add some objects to the grouping if you rework the arrangement and end up with a "bare spot" that needs something. Some unique object, or small shelf with a figurine/chotchke (and not necessarily just one item) that ties into the theme of the pictures would work also. (e.g. I have a lot of old tools and implements hanging on my walls)

My Dad and I make a great team at this, I spend mucho hours laying out an arrangement on the floor and wait for him to show up to put the items on the wall for me.

This was a pleasant surprise for me tonight, thank you all for your posts (Maxwell too!).

It's hard to tell in this photo how high our ceilings are, and I was trying to fill the vertical space by spreading these out so much. When I look at the photo now, they do look much too far apart from each other. It isn't quite as obvious when you see it 'live' but there is still something that needs to be adjusted.

I have all weekend to try all of your suggestions - a special thanks to JC for the new arrangement idea - that was above and beyond.

Go Wolverines!!

Personally I like what you have done for the wall. As kind as it was for JC to rearrange the pics, I really DON'T like the results. I would agree w/Rodger about taking out the colorful ones and trying it with just muted pictures. Holes smoles. I never measure when I hang pictures! Do you remember that?
It reminds me when we were roommates and you would start apartment projects when I was out of town. I never knew what I would find! ;-)

I think you've done a wonderful job. I especially like the biggest piece of art being down in the bottom right-hand corner. It sets a nice balance for the taller table and fatter lamp. My only suggestion is to move the whoel arrangement over a couple inches so that it is centered on the couch. Other than that I think it has a wonderful eclectic feel that makes the room feel cozy and charming.

I'm sorry Carrie but I think you are wrong. Grouping wall art tightly together is a fairly recent trend but has several advantages. It reduces the look of clutter when there are too many pieces hung all over the place. It create one large, dramatic composition that can be seen/appreciated from any distance across the room as well as creating a focal point to approach all the pieces and then enjoy them each individually. It's a great technique in small spaces where 10 individual pieces can get lost in the clutter. Pulling them together brings a focus to the space and will make the room feel bigger.

I'm not suggesting the layout I made was the sine qua non for laying out these pieces. What you do to create this look is clear the floor in front of the wall and lay all the pieces out there. Stand on a chair or ladder to get an overall view of your layout. If you are unsure of the layout transfer it to the wall with painters tape to see how it looks. Then get your level (laser levels are great for this) and tape out a baseline across the wall.

You'll want to keep a constant spacing between the pieces to help pull the arrangement together but it can be tight 1" or 2" inches or quite loose depending on the space and your taste. Don't try to match all the frames, that will look cheesy. It's the spacing that pulls the pieces together. Here's another example I did with this technique:

http://kayingleside.com/mywalls.jpg

Only problem now is I have nothing left for the rest of my walls...

I think it looks great! In my opinion, though, i think it'd be better if the space between each piece was smaller. If the arrangement didn't extend as wide as it does now, it would form an overall shape above the sofa and look more cohesive. So, if I were you, I'd keep everything as is, but scoot everything toward the middle, so the spaces between the frames is smaller than it is now.

But Mo that's just a fabulous excuse to buy more art!

HI Reen, Quite right about the sex suggestion. I would separate the two pairs of photos that are framed the same and use them randomly rather than stacking them. I agree with #2 re centering the large landscape. I want to see the revision. Good suggestion to use newsprint to do a mock up even though I have many holes in my walls. Carry on. xoxo Go Blue!

The large piece is jarring for two reasons. One, its colors are so much more bright than the other pictures in the group and, two, it's the only picture without a frame and mat. Although I don't think all pieces in a group have to have the same frame, I do think there should be a style commonality. You might solve the problem slightly by centering the large piece. But I think it would still look a bit awkward.

I agree with the "tighter spaces" line of reasoning. I also think that the largest painting should go in the center.

After playing with the arrangement a bit on paper, I'd like to see the large piece in the middle with the four smallest pieces above and below. On each side of this group, I hang the second and third largest paintings even with the bottom of the two little paintings (the ones below the largest painting). Then, above those two paintings (the second and third largest), I'd hang the remaining two with the inside edges lined up with the ones below them. If you draw it on paper you'll see that the arrangement lines up across the bottom and forms a nice arc along the top.

Just one more idea to add to the mix. Ultimately, you have to go with whatever looks best to your eye (because it's your living room).

OR...........

Rather than putting the two littlest pictures with the darker frames ABOVE the largest painting, you could put them on either side of the two paintings above the second and third largest paintings to the right and left of the largest painting (the bottoms of those four paintings lined up with each other). How's that for a mouthful!

This might actually be my pick. It's more horizontal, in a good way.

My advice? Copy your photo, cut out each individual painting, and play with it. You'll probably find a lot of great combinations. I disagree with the people who commented that these painting don't work together. I think that almost any grouping has the potential to work together if arranged properly.

The whole arrangemernt needs to be tightened up (many smart solutions left by other posters). You might even find another place entirely for that unframed painting. It looks out of place and, no offense, is not a very good piece. Perhaps up close it is an amazing, detail rich work of art...
Get a proper length window scarf for that window and in a color that pulls color from your pillow, say a rich red or pumpkin color. Lose the tall, out of proportion, begging to be knocked over side table. Put cute lamp on table on the right side and move the floor lamp to the left side. You have a lovely place in any case, just dropping my two cents in!

I agree with quite a few of the suggestions - including the crude one! Consistant framing, centre the biggest piece over the sofa, block the whole arrangement by having the all of the edges lined up. That way it does not matter what size or shape you use in the centre - it will look unified.

The art arrangement is fine - better than fine! The problem is the window scarf - too skimpy - replace it with a longer one, clear colors and it will tie the art and the sofa together.

another thing to keep in mind... might help to keep the distances between paintings the same width apart

Part of your difficulty is that the largest painting and the small one (now upper right) with similar colors are actively clashing with your sofa (at least on my monitor). The saturation and undertone of the colors in those pictures is completely different from those of your pillow and throw, so the eye vibrates between those items and almost overlooks the more muted pictures.

I'd try moving the painting currently in the lower left to the center of the arrangement -- its outdoor tones are compatible with the other accessories -- and then surrounding it with the very muted art, pulling the arrangement in tight as suggested above. Put the two intensely blue-green pieces elsewhere.

I'm not saying your art has to MATCH your sofa, a la Starving Artists' sale at a motel -- but it shouldn't actively kick and push against the sofa.

Mo I want you to pay no attention to the comments telling you to change the art. NEVER! EVER! buy art cause it looks good with your sofa, it's not art. Art is what you like. Do you want your place to look like a home or a CB2 catalog cover? If you like the pieces on the wall then you can make them work in the space.

You got a lot of good suggestions and ideas for new layouts, try some layouts on the floor or the paper cuts ups. I like that idea, I only use the mac because I design software and all but live in photoshop. But this paper cut up idea sounds even easier. Combine the two techniques by making another version of the same room photo with the paintings removed and print that. Then you can try layouts for hours. It's sort of like those colorforms toys when I was a kid.

I got in trouble with mom cuz I allways insisted on 'improving' the colorforms pieces. I'd paint, cut and tape together pieces to make what I was quite certain were better looking pieces...

JC, I didn't tell her to get rid of her art or buy art to match the sofa; I suggested hanging the art she loves where it shows to its best advantage.

Art galleries position art so that it looks its best on the wall, pulling things together by size, theme, or general color scheme. Surely you accept that professional galleries and museums know how to hang art as art?

It's not crass, nor catalog-like, to hang the art you love in the place in your home where its beauty glows most brightly.

Wende, I read your post and I thought you were telling her to get rid of some paintings and buy one that matched the sofa,

Okaaaay... so I said explicitly:

"Put the two intensely blue-green pieces elsewhere.

I'm not saying your art has to MATCH your sofa, a la Starving Artists' sale at a motel -- but it shouldn't actively kick and push against the sofa."

and you interpreted it as "get rid of," which I explicitly did not say ("put elsewhere" would ordinarily mean "hang on a different wall," yes?), and "match the sofa," which I explicitly said I didn't mean.

Whatever.

Not having the chance to read the whole thread and see if this has been mentioned already, what I would say is:

There are only two pieces with vivid color on that wall, at least from this distance. One is large, one is small.

The small one is just above the large one and they are both on the right edge of the wall. Everything else seems to be neutral and/or muted.

To me, this looks unbalanced. You don't necessarily have to put the big one in the middle, but you need to balance it in some way if you're going to leave it where it is. The easiest way to balance something that bright, in a group of mostly muted stuff, would be to put it in the center and group the more muted stuff around it (maybe with the other vivid piece in similar tones just above it). Because I'm lazy, if this were my room, that lower-right-corner painting would be centered over the sofa.

The easiest way to balance something is not necessarily the best. A sophisticated way to balance it would be to have more colorful pictures spread throughout the arrangement, or, if possible, colorful frames that tie the muted pieces with the more colorful ones. A slightly less sophisticated way would be to have a picture of similar size and vividness in the upper left corner. Easiest of all, of course, is to replace those two pictures with ones with more muted tones that harmonize with the others, but that's a last resort.

If you have a photo editing program, I think you should print out two copies of the picture you showed here. One of them should have the pictures erased from the background: sample the wall color and paint over the pictures with it. Cut the pictures out of the other printout. Play around with the pictures on the new "blank" wall, which will be at the same scale, until you find a pleasant arrangement. Use that as your guide.

Also, I would try to get a consistent level on the edges of the arrangement. Draw an imaginary rectangle around the area, and make the outer edges of pictures flush with it, otherwise the whole thing looks too cluttered.

PS mix up the frames, too. You have two instances of identical frames here, lined up like little soldiers in what is otherwise NOT a lined-up whole. If you keep those groups together like that, you will never be able to unify the whole grouping: it's going to stick out like a sore thumb that all of the other things are not like those two groups. You can balance them by using diagonal symmetry, maybe (draw a diagonal line from an upper corner to its opposite bottom corner, and pretend it's a mirror), but don't keep them stacked the way they are.

Wait, you didn't have time to read the thread, but you had time to write all that?

Wow - more good ideas...thank you all. I'll need some time to figure out which will work. I am actually re-thinking the curtains - they're a little dark, and I'm slipcovering the sofa soon - a brighter dark berry color, and the rug is pretty bright - but isn't that how it goes, as soon as you think you're finished something else needs to be adjusted? Or is that just me????

PS - hubby was very surprised but has since given his approval, and my phone has been fixed too.

PS - I have heard two theories - one is to keep the spacing consistent, the other is to keep the outer edge consistent - imaginary rectangle with everything inside. Can anybody provide an example of each?

Hi Maureen,

SOME edges should line up----not necessarily the outer edges. The composition should look unified, but doesn't have to form a rectangle. That's why you should play with it on paper. Your eye will tell you which edges should line up.

If you study JC's second arrangement, NONE of the outer edges line up, only the bottom edges of the top row, and the top edges of the bottom row. This is what unifies that arrangement.

Also, I don't really think you need new window treatments. If you're going lighter with the slipcover, why not just remove the treatment above your Roman blind if it's too dark. I wouldn't mind seeing the blind on its own!

Now I see it - took me a while there - very nice! And what a great idea to print out a picture of the wall w/o the art, then print out the art - cut them out, and arrange away - much easier than the brown paper idea, I am much quicker with the pc and have no patience for all that scissors work.
Thanks again!