Hang all pieces, regardless of size, so their centers are at eye level.
For the art lover, there may be no better experience than wandering through an art gallery or museum and lingering in front of a beautiful painting or piece of sculpture. If you love art and want to bring the feeling of an art gallery into your home, take steps to create a home environment that replicates the gallery environment. By choosing the right pieces as well as finding the proper positions for your furniture, you'll be able to create a home that makes you feel as if you're strolling through your favorite gallery.
Instructions
1. Tour local galleries to get an idea of the aesthetics. Some basement galleries have exposed brick walls, while others feature plain white walls. Take mental notes of how these galleries are set up, and determine which gallery's style would fit the construction of your home.
2. Avoid clutter. Most galleries have very few pieces of furniture, and the furniture in the gallery serves to show off the artwork. When you're setting up your rooms, ask yourself which pieces you can do without. Find ways to use furniture pieces that serve double duty, such as an armoire that serves as an entertainment center, so you can hide your clutter.
3. Paint the walls white or a light color. This allows you to show off your artwork to the best advantage, because it provides a high visual contrast. The exception would be for the brick wall gallery. Leave the bricks their natural color.
4. Select artwork and furniture for your rooms. Give each room its art period theme. Since your personal gallery is also your home, choose furniture styles and artwork that look like they belong together. For example, if you have chosen to highlight French art, choose French Provincial furniture and accessories.
5. Position the furniture so it sits away from the walls, to allow you to move around to look at the artwork. For example, lay a large throw rug on the middle of the floor, and position your couch, chairs and tables around the rug. Each sitting place should have a view of the art on the opposite wall. Leave walking space on all sides of the rug.
6. Show off artwork such as sculpture by providing it with a decorative base or tall table. Choose items that are only a little wider than the width of the base of the sculpture. Place these next to the walls, near the other artwork.
7. Hang paintings so the center point of each picture hangs at exactly eye level, no matter how large or small the picture. This replicates the way galleries and museums hang their artwork.
8. Leave at least two steps between each piece to give ample viewing space. The wider distance allows you to move between each piece comfortably and linger in front of each piece.
