How to Hang Artwork: A Complete Guide to Placement, Height and Light
Hanging artwork well transforms a room. But most people place art too high, too close to furniture, or without considering how light will affect it over time. This guide covers everything you need to know — from the right height to hang a picture, to protecting original works from sun damage.
What Height Should You Hang Artwork?
The centre of your artwork should sit between 145 and 155cm from the floor. This is roughly eye level for most adults, and it's the standard used by galleries worldwide for good reason — art at eye level invites you in rather than asking you to look up at it.
If you're hanging art above furniture, leave 15 to 25cm of space between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the frame. Close enough to feel intentional. Enough breathing room to avoid looking crowded.
How Much Space Should Be Around a Piece of Artwork?
Negative space is one of the most underrated principles in hanging art. Whether the work is large or small, it needs surrounding space for the eye to settle on it.
A cluttered wall dilutes the impact of even a beautiful painting. Generous space around a work concentrates attention — and lets the piece speak for itself.
A single small work, given room and a deliberate position, can hold a wall just as powerfully as a large canvas. Scale matters less than intention.
How Do You Protect Artwork From Sunlight?
Direct sunlight is one of the most common causes of artwork deterioration over time. UV exposure causes pigments to fade and colours to shift — gradually and often irreversibly.
If a wall in your home catches direct sun, look for works that are either varnished (a protective layer applied directly to the painted surface) or framed behind UV-protective glass — which filters the wavelengths that cause the most damage
Of all the traditional drawing media, charcoal is the most stable in bright rooms. If you love light-filled spaces and original works on paper, charcoal is worth considering.
How Do You Adjust the Height of a Hanging Painting Without Moving the Hook?
This is one of the most practical tricks in art hanging — and most people don't know it.
If your wall has a fixed hook, or you're limited in where you can place a new one, you can adjust the height of the artwork by changing the position of the wire or string on the back of the frame.
Moving the wire attachment point “higher” on the frame drops the artwork lower on the wall. Moving it “lower” on the frame raises the artwork higher.
It's a small adjustment that gives you far more flexibility than most people realise — particularly useful in rentals or rooms with limited wall options.
What Are the Key Principles for Hanging Artwork?
To summarise, the principles that make the biggest difference:
1. Hang at eye level — centre of the artwork at 145–155cm from the floor
2. Allow breathing room above furniture — 15–25cm between furniture and frame
3. Prioritise negative space — give each work room to be seen
4. Consider your light— choose varnished works or UV glass for sunny walls
5. Use the wire trick — adjust string position to fine-tune height without a new hook
These aren't rules to follow rigidly. They're principles to make your own. Once you understand why they work, placing art stops feeling like guesswork — and starts feeling like confidence.
And that's when a home starts to feel like itself.
*Bison Art offers original paintings, drawings and works on paper for everyday spaces. Browse the current collection at Bison Art
