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Accessibility statementSkip to main content Democracy Dies in Darkness SubscribeSign in Home & GardenThe Home You Own Small space living Plants and outdoor living Renovations and maintenance Decorating Cleaning and organizing Home & GardenThe Home You Own Small space living Plants and outdoor living Renovations and maintenance Decorating Cleaning and organizing The Home You Own NEUROSCIENCE HAS ANSWERS FOR THE BEST WAYS TO HANG YOUR ART CONSIDER HEIGHT, SYMMETRY AND BALANCE FOR THE MOST APPEALING RESULT By Stacey Colino February 28, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. EST Interior designer Lee Waters arranges a collection of art at her home. (Moriah Ratner for The Washington Post) Listen 6 min Share Comment on this storyComment Add to your saved stories Save There’s an art to arranging pictures on a wall, and some of the elements to consider aren’t entirely intuitive. “It’s very overwhelming for many people,” says Anita Yokota, a licensed therapist and interior designer in Southern California, and author of “Home Therapy.” “I tell people: Bring in your whimsy — art is so personal. You can make it about proportion and cohesiveness, not perfection.” Even so, it’s worth putting some thought into it so you can enjoy the results. After all, hanging art or photos is one of the easiest ways to surround yourself with meaningful objects and memories. Advertisement Story continues below advertisement While there are rules of thumb to consider when hanging artwork, you don’t have to be wedded to them. “There’s no single best way to hang your pictures on the wall — it’s a form of communication, a way to express ideas, an aesthetic choice,” says Bevil Conway, a visual neuroscientist and artist. The first step is to think about what you’re trying to achieve, advises Conway, whose job as a senior investigator at the National Eye Institute in Bethesda means he’s routinely evaluating the way we see the world around us. Consider your goals: Are you trying to be startling and surprising with your picture placement? Are you trying to provoke curiosity or attract people’s attention to a particular artwork? Once you’ve identified the vibe you’re trying to create, let the following general principles guide you. GET THE HEIGHT RIGHT Conventional wisdom says art should be hung at eye level. But it’s important to remember that “eye level” means different things to different people. A more dependable rule of thumb, says Linda Kafka, founder of the Science in Design Academy in Toronto, is to hang pieces so that their centers are 56 to 60 inches above the finished floor. And if the art is going over furniture, aim to hang it eight to 10 inches from the top of the sofa or whatever piece is beneath it, she says. “If it relates to the furniture or architectural features around it, art won’t feel like it’s floating independently.” Whatever height you choose, keep in mind: “From a psychological perspective, if it’s a scene from nature, for example, it’s most relaxing if it’s placed so that it seems like we can step into it,” says Sally Augustin, an environmental and design psychologist in Chicago. This relates to a concept called embodied cognition: When looking at a particular piece of art, people have a tendency to mentally project themselves into it because your brain’s mirror neurons respond to viewing the artwork just as they would if you were actually in the depicted scene. Advertisement Story continues below advertisement TAKE CARE WHEN GROUPING PIECES When grouping art pieces together to create a gallery wall, “Give priority to the thing that is most special,” says Lee Waters, owner and creative director of Lee Waters Design in Midlothian, Va. “You’re looking for something that’s going to make a compelling visual statement.” Share this articleShare For a more free-form configuration, it may also help to place the largest piece in the center, creating a visual anchor for the eye. You can then build out from there, Yokota says. Don’t be afraid to mix horizontal pieces with vertical ones. It’s also worth considering whether you want people to “focus on individual works or the way they come together as a whole, as a collection of works,” Conway says. Be mindful of the spacing between the frames, ensuring they’re an equal distance from one another. A good rule, says Kafka, is to aim for two inches apart with smaller items; you can go up to three to six inches apart with larger works. But “if artwork is spaced too far apart, it disrupts the visual flow and can create tension and unease,” she says. If this all sounds overwhelming, a more straightforward solution is to organize your pieces into a grid, which immediately “gives the design structure and a sense of security because there’s order in the space,” Yokota says. The entire display might be an equally spaced, 8 feet by 8 feet. This is arguably a harder approach to mess up, since the human brain loves symmetry (more on that below). FIND A COHESIVE THREAD When arranging artwork in a group, look for one or two elements that repeat between the pieces, whether it’s a similar color palette, a certain type of matting or a particular style of frame. “You want the pieces to relate to each other,” Kafka says. In other words, they should somehow go together without being exactly alike. “When they all share this common characteristic, the brain says, ‘Oh, this was meant to be,’” Waters adds — it becomes easier to process what you’re looking at. Advertisement Story continues below advertisement CREATE BALANCE AND SYMMETRY Research shows that humans prefer symmetry. A 2018 study from the University of Vienna found that both art history and psychology students at the university level prefer symmetrical patterns over asymmetrical ones with art; this may have an evolutionary basis as well as a psychological one, the authors noted. In another series of experiments, researchers in Rome found that visual symmetry even leads to positive mood changes in viewers. This may be because symmetry creates a sense of order. If a group of paintings “is symmetrical, we perceive it as more thought-through, not random,” explains Augustin, whose firm, Design With Science, uses principles from neuroscience to create spaces that foster productivity, well-being and positive mental states. “It creates a certain comfort in us because it’s easier to survey and process.” GIVE IT A TRIAL RUN Before you commit to the arrangement you have in mind by hammering holes into a wall, “lay out what you plan on the floor in advance to get a sense of how it will look,” Augustin advises. This way, you can view it from different vantage points — straight on, from a distance and from different angles — and rearrange the pieces or their spacing on the floor to create a composition you appreciate. Consider this a rehearsal for your personal art show. Once you’ve got the right arrangement, hammer away. Stacey Colino is a writer, specializing in health and psychology. You can follow her on X at @ColinoStacey. correction An earlier version of this story stated that a piece of art should be hung 56 to 60 inches above the floor. It is actually the center of the piece of the art that should be 56 to 60 inches above the floor. MORE FROM THE HOME YOU OWN The Home You Own is here to help you make sense of the home you live in. DIYs you can actually do yourself: Don’t be intimidated by those home projects. Consider which renovations add the most value to your home (including the kitchen and bathroom), what you can actually get done in a weekend, and everything in between. Your home + climate change: Whether you’re trying to prepare your home for an electric vehicle or want to start composting, we’re here to help you live more sustainably. Plants and pets: Your furry friends and greenery add more life to your spaces. For your green thumb, find tips for saving money on houseplants and how to keep your plants alive longer. Pets can make a house a home, but stopping your cats from scratching the furniture isn’t always easy. Keeping your home clean and organized: We breakdown the essential cleaning supplies you need, and point out the 11 germy spots that are often overlooked. Plus, hear hacks from professional organizers on maximizing counter space, Maintaining your home: Necessary home maintenance can save your thousands in the long run. From gutter cleaning and preparing your fireplace for winter, to what to do if your basement floods. Contact us: Looking to buy your first home? Do you have questions about home improvement or homeownership? We’re here to help with your next home project. Show more ChevronDown Share 74 Comments Loading... Subscribe to comment and get the full experience. Choose your plan → Loading... 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