We attempt not to handle absolutes here, however when it comes to how high to hang a picture,we do have some solid recommendations. We also put the question out to our Framebridge community and you all had some excellent viewpoints,too. Here we answer all of your queries about how high to hang frames.
The Eyes Have It
We recommend hanging your art so that the vertical center (the middle of the frame) is 57″ (inches) above the floor,or at your eye-level if it’s in a corridor or entrance where you’re typically strolling past it. That chooses single pieces ( pictures,paintings,posters) along with arrangements like gallery walls. Museums and galleries use this guideline and if it’s good enough for them,it’s certainly sufficient for us!
Measure the height of your piece or arrangement,divide in half and add that number to the 57″ to mark where the top of your frame should be. Take a look at our suggestions for hanging with a hanging wire,sawtooth hanger,or corner brackets (on large pieces) for a completely lined up frame
corridor with patterned wallpaper and small picture framed in gold frameVia @emilyley including the Richmond frame.
What if I’m hanging a frame above furniture?
What height to hang frames depends upon what’s around them,too. If you’re hanging frames above furniture like a sofa,bed,or desk,we recommend the bottom of the frame should be 7 – 10″ above the top of the furniture.
living space with sofa and two photos in wood frames Via @teenwolfd including American Hardwoods
As far as width goes,whether it’s a single large piece or a full gallery wall,some say it ought to cover about 2/3 of the width of the sofa,headboard,etc, however we believe there’s some wiggle space and even created our Triptych gallery wall in king and queen size to fill most of the width of a headboard or couch.
How about hanging photos in rooms with high ceilings?
We believe the same guideline uses– 57″ off the ground for the vertical center of the piece. Naturally if there’s space,you can stack more pieces up from there!
living space with framed photos in white frames
Via @elizabethbeardesigns including the Marin
What about hanging gallery walls and multiple frames?
Think of a gallery wall or grouping of multiple frames as one huge piece. Whether you’re hanging a predesigned gallery wall (ours come with extremely useful life-size hanging guides which allow you to line up the whole arrangement at the same time) or are getting imaginative with an diverse gallery wall of your own,the same rule uses– 57″ or eye level to the vertical center. For example,when hanging 3 pieces vertically,the center of the middle frame would be at eye level.
gallery wall of framed photos on wall in living space
Via @rebeccaprus
Is the 57″ eye-level rule set in stone?
There are obviously exceptions to every rule and all of your framed art and pictures should work within your existing space. The circumstances are as distinct as your design and there are lots of ways to hang your art. Have particularly low furniture? You may need to adjust. Actually big art work? It may need to come down a bit. Typically we see instances of art hung too high instead of too low.
A determining tape and level are vital, however a second set of eyes is also extremely useful to have
when finding the right height to hang a picture.
As constantly if you have any questions about getting your art up on the wall,our team of designers is happy to answer them.