Is There a Perfect Height to Hang Artwork?
YES! There absolutely is an ideal height to hang artwork! In this article, I’m going to break down some specific instances and give you valuable tips to improve the aesthetic of your wall décor.
Are You Really Writing an Article About Hanging Artwork?
Yep. I can’t count the number of homes I’ve been in that I instantly walk in and think “that picture is too high.” Not that it really matters, but our homes are usually the largest purchase of our life and we should want to maintain and showcase that asset to its true potential. Now, I’m no Martha Stewart, but I can appreciate quality art and design (as long as it’s not that abstract crap :D). From my experience, it seems that most people generally hang their décor at or above eye level. This is good if you’re an average female, but this article is aimed at everyone else that doesn’t fall within that range. The average height of a person in the United States is 5’9″ for males and 5’4″ for females. My wife (5’10”) and I (6’3″) absolutely obliterate that average. Consequently, if we hung all of our art hanging installation at our eye level, it would look especially bizarre.
Just Give Me the Magic Number Already!
So if one doesn’t hang pictures at ‘eye level’, what then is that perfect height? In my opinion, 65″ to the center of the object you are hanging is more or less the perfect height. I’ll explain why this is the perfect height; it all boils down to “the rule of thirds”. The rule of thirds is a basic composition technique taught in art and photography courses. (I would suggest doing a quick internet search of “the rule of thirds” if you’re unfamiliar with it. (I would also suggest that you incorporate it into virtually all of your photos when possible.) Relating back to our wall art, if you do the math, it breaks down as follows:
- The average modern home has walls that are 102″ from floor to ceiling. (Note: I would venture to say most “newer” houses have 9′ walls. Most “older” (pre- 1990?) have 8′ walls, hence the average of 102″.)
- Taking our predetermined height of 65″ and dividing by our average wall height of 102″, we get .63 (roughly 2/3rds) and right in line with our “rule of thirds”.
The Exceptions
There are obviously some exceptions to the rule, one being an overly large piece, such as a 6’x8′ oil painting. On something of this size, you have to make due with what you have, in which case I would center equally between the floor and ceiling. Another common piece of art that may require an adjustment would be taxidermy or game head mounts, such as deer or elk heads. I typically install the anchor from which the mount hangs at 65″ instead of the center of the object. In most instances this will keep the mount out of the way and still at a reasonable height aesthetically. Another exception would be collages or groupings. On groupings of photos, the center mass of the grouping should be at 65″.
In conclusion, 65″ is generally the ideal height to hang artwork, but remember it’s a guideline, not a rule. Finally, if you have something you need help with, such as a large mirror or shelving, or even hangings on brick, please contact us.