Art is what makes a beautiful room feel like yours. I choose it last, once the room has its shape, and I always give it more space than people expect.
Size it to the furniture, not the wall
Above a sofa, bed or sideboard, I look for a piece, or a pair, that spans around two thirds of the furniture's width. Anything much smaller floats; anything wider feels crowded. On a wall with nothing beneath, let the art fill roughly half to two thirds of the space between architraves, windows or corners.
Hang it lower than you think
Most art is hung too high. I set the centre of a piece at around 145 to 150cm from the floor, which is eye level for most people, and line up pairs and sets to that same centre line. Above furniture, leave 20 to 25cm between the top of the sofa or headboard and the bottom of the frame, so the two read as one composition.
Pairs and sets
Diptychs and triptychs look their most considered with tight, even gaps. I keep 5 to 8cm between frames and treat the group as one piece when deciding the height. A pair either side of a mirror, bed or doorway brings instant symmetry and calm.
Let it talk to the room
I pick up one or two tones from a piece and repeat them quietly elsewhere: a cushion, a throw, a vase, the veining in a travertine table. The art should feel connected to the room, never matched to it. Textured, tonal canvases sit beautifully against limewash, plaster and warm whites.
Light it well
Good light turns a picture into a feature. A slim picture light above the frame, or a ceiling spotlight angled at around 30 degrees, will lift the texture without glare. Use warm white bulbs of 2700K so the colours stay true, and keep art out of strong direct sun, which fades pigments over time.
Hang it safely
Use fixings suited to your wall and the weight of the piece, which you will find in the Specification. On plasterboard, choose proper cavity fixings; on solid walls, masonry plugs and screws. For larger pieces I always use two fixing points so the frame stays level.
Living with it
Dust frames and canvases gently with a soft, dry brush or cloth. Avoid sprays and cleaning products, and keep art away from radiators, fireplaces and damp rooms such as bathrooms.
Kunal
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