12 Inventive Ways to Display Your Art
Discover these simple but artful ways to hang your prized pieces in a way that’s sure to grant them the attention they deserve
Kate MacDonald
18 September 2016
Houzz contributor and head curator at Rise Art which showcases, rents and sells great contemporary art from both established artists and emerging talents, hand-picked by experts.
Houzz contributor and head curator at Rise Art which showcases, rents and sells great... More
Hanging artwork is an art in itself. Rather than simply knocking a nail into the wall or placing a piece above the fireplace, check out these ideas for doing things a little differently.
See more in this series Art in the Hallway | Art in the Bedroom | Art in the Kitchen | Art in the Nursery | The Dos and Don’ts of Hanging Art Above a Fireplace
See more in this series Art in the Hallway | Art in the Bedroom | Art in the Kitchen | Art in the Nursery | The Dos and Don’ts of Hanging Art Above a Fireplace
Be creative with clipboards
Art is a crucial addition to any home office, as it has the potential to inspire creativity and relieve stress. I think it’s also the perfect space in which to get a little inventive with your hanging, but in a way that makes it easy to swap things around. Placing your artworks on clipboards offers you the chance to chop and change the pieces as often as you like, and is a clever combination of corporate and creative.
Make sure you measure the wall space and leave equal gaps between the clipboards for a neat hang. You can also add cuttings and images for reminders and inspiration in an arty take on a notice board, but make sure you always have some core artworks you love to keep you bright and motivated all day.
Check out more photos of contemporary home offices
Art is a crucial addition to any home office, as it has the potential to inspire creativity and relieve stress. I think it’s also the perfect space in which to get a little inventive with your hanging, but in a way that makes it easy to swap things around. Placing your artworks on clipboards offers you the chance to chop and change the pieces as often as you like, and is a clever combination of corporate and creative.
Make sure you measure the wall space and leave equal gaps between the clipboards for a neat hang. You can also add cuttings and images for reminders and inspiration in an arty take on a notice board, but make sure you always have some core artworks you love to keep you bright and motivated all day.
Check out more photos of contemporary home offices
Think asymmetry
Hanging your artworks asymmetrically is a great way to draw the eye, especially when used as a feature within the small or overlooked space of an alcove or hallway. This style works particularly well with petite artworks, making it an even easier technique to pull off. This is also a great way to use a small space in its entirety, opening it up, lengthening the wall and adding some real personality.
Lay out the works on the floor and make sure you’re entirely happy with the final composition before you hang them, because changing the arrangement later won’t be an easy task!
Hanging your artworks asymmetrically is a great way to draw the eye, especially when used as a feature within the small or overlooked space of an alcove or hallway. This style works particularly well with petite artworks, making it an even easier technique to pull off. This is also a great way to use a small space in its entirety, opening it up, lengthening the wall and adding some real personality.
Lay out the works on the floor and make sure you’re entirely happy with the final composition before you hang them, because changing the arrangement later won’t be an easy task!
Make an entrance
A door frame can offer a surprisingly good backdrop for displaying your art and hangable decorative accessories. The vertical territory surrounding a doorway is great for an array of petite pieces, mixed objects, or even a long-panel artwork.
Doorways into a light space at the end of a long walkway or stairwell are optimal for an arrangement like this, and some width on either side also helps. This gives you an opportunity to really see and appreciate the work as you approach. It’s a really quirky, fun and inventive way to make the most of a space that’s not often considered, and an ideal area to mix art with other hanging pieces and mementos you’ve gathered.
To keep it stylish, decide on a unifying theme, colour palette or style to tie everything together, and be mindful of the setting – it won’t work when entering a formal dining room, but it will to brighten up the way into a study, casual living room or bedroom. I could easily picture this idea in a light, bright summer house setting.
A door frame can offer a surprisingly good backdrop for displaying your art and hangable decorative accessories. The vertical territory surrounding a doorway is great for an array of petite pieces, mixed objects, or even a long-panel artwork.
Doorways into a light space at the end of a long walkway or stairwell are optimal for an arrangement like this, and some width on either side also helps. This gives you an opportunity to really see and appreciate the work as you approach. It’s a really quirky, fun and inventive way to make the most of a space that’s not often considered, and an ideal area to mix art with other hanging pieces and mementos you’ve gathered.
To keep it stylish, decide on a unifying theme, colour palette or style to tie everything together, and be mindful of the setting – it won’t work when entering a formal dining room, but it will to brighten up the way into a study, casual living room or bedroom. I could easily picture this idea in a light, bright summer house setting.
Overlap for effect
Making a statement with your hanging helps to further the impact of your artworks, and adds some creativity to the space. Be aware, though, that an arrangement like this may look effortless, but it will take a fair amount of preparation.
Choose your artworks first, coordinating them by size and colour palette, and then decide on how exactly you want to frame and hang them. As before, lay the works out and perfect the measurements, ensuring each artwork overlaps evenly before hanging.
With minimal works like these, a large white mount coupled with a thin frame allows for a more industrial style of hanging. Why not try using chain instead of rope for an even more edgy feel, or upcycling old drawer knobs as pegs for a vintage style? It’s a look that will definitely stand out and, with the right artworks, make a big impression on a room.
Making a statement with your hanging helps to further the impact of your artworks, and adds some creativity to the space. Be aware, though, that an arrangement like this may look effortless, but it will take a fair amount of preparation.
Choose your artworks first, coordinating them by size and colour palette, and then decide on how exactly you want to frame and hang them. As before, lay the works out and perfect the measurements, ensuring each artwork overlaps evenly before hanging.
With minimal works like these, a large white mount coupled with a thin frame allows for a more industrial style of hanging. Why not try using chain instead of rope for an even more edgy feel, or upcycling old drawer knobs as pegs for a vintage style? It’s a look that will definitely stand out and, with the right artworks, make a big impression on a room.
Utilise a unit
Built-in structures and shelving units can often double up as multi-purpose displays for an artwork or two. Their seamless interaction with the space ensures that any décor you add will also blend in. Placing your artworks up high helps to draw the eye upwards and stretch the height of the room.
Casually propping your artworks on a ridge like this also adds a modern, urban feel and works especially well within a contemporary space. Without the need for nails or fixtures, feel free to move your artworks around or change them as and when you please. Different shapes and sizes also work well together with this ad hoc style.
Built-in structures and shelving units can often double up as multi-purpose displays for an artwork or two. Their seamless interaction with the space ensures that any décor you add will also blend in. Placing your artworks up high helps to draw the eye upwards and stretch the height of the room.
Casually propping your artworks on a ridge like this also adds a modern, urban feel and works especially well within a contemporary space. Without the need for nails or fixtures, feel free to move your artworks around or change them as and when you please. Different shapes and sizes also work well together with this ad hoc style.
Contemplate picture shelves
This hallway doubles up on slim picture shelves in order to display lots of artworks mixed in with photographs. On a clean white backdrop, they really stand out, but don’t make this busy part of the home feel at all cluttered.
This hallway doubles up on slim picture shelves in order to display lots of artworks mixed in with photographs. On a clean white backdrop, they really stand out, but don’t make this busy part of the home feel at all cluttered.
Prop for a relaxed look
Whether you’re going for grandeur or minimalism, propping an artwork on the floor is a foolproof way to draw the eye and set the tone of a space. Large statement works look stunning when framed in glass, filling the space almost to the ceiling, while more petite works leaning casually in the corner of a room, like this, work very well when colour coordinated with the furnishings.
Whether you’re going for grandeur or minimalism, propping an artwork on the floor is a foolproof way to draw the eye and set the tone of a space. Large statement works look stunning when framed in glass, filling the space almost to the ceiling, while more petite works leaning casually in the corner of a room, like this, work very well when colour coordinated with the furnishings.
Dabble with a salon hang
A salon hang (hanging art all over the wall) is always a fun and effective method of grouping works together in an ad hoc manner, allowing you to mix different types and sizes of artworks and also to incorporate different frame styles and colours.
Once again, plan it out on the floor first; cut out newspaper pieces to act as the artworks, so you can easily move them around and decide on your preferred layout before hammering nails into the wall. This is a look that always makes a big impact.
Discover more about how to create the perfect salon-style wall
A salon hang (hanging art all over the wall) is always a fun and effective method of grouping works together in an ad hoc manner, allowing you to mix different types and sizes of artworks and also to incorporate different frame styles and colours.
Once again, plan it out on the floor first; cut out newspaper pieces to act as the artworks, so you can easily move them around and decide on your preferred layout before hammering nails into the wall. This is a look that always makes a big impact.
Discover more about how to create the perfect salon-style wall
Sharpen with a grid
If you own a selection of artworks that are all the same size, a geometric hang is a striking approach. Whether it’s a series of family photographs or a collection of artworks from a favourite artist, make sure the hang is precise and symmetrical – there is no room for shoddiness here! The trick is to be consistent in the frame style and colour, and to be very exact with your measurements.
This look works well in a room that’s fairly neutral, so the statement wall of matching prints or pieces really stands out. This style of hanging can also look great with children’s artworks mounted and framed to match – a great way to make a space feel personal and to capture those talents and memories with interiors-savvy panache.
If you own a selection of artworks that are all the same size, a geometric hang is a striking approach. Whether it’s a series of family photographs or a collection of artworks from a favourite artist, make sure the hang is precise and symmetrical – there is no room for shoddiness here! The trick is to be consistent in the frame style and colour, and to be very exact with your measurements.
This look works well in a room that’s fairly neutral, so the statement wall of matching prints or pieces really stands out. This style of hanging can also look great with children’s artworks mounted and framed to match – a great way to make a space feel personal and to capture those talents and memories with interiors-savvy panache.
Get in line
An alternative way to use this idea is to divide one artwork between a number of frames. Here, a panoramic beach scene is split between eight frames and lined up so the discrete images become one. This would work just as well with pieces in more conventional dimensions, too – and if you’re blowing up one of your own photographs, it could also be a more affordable way to display one huge image.
The trick is in choosing the right frames – be sure to pick something that will blend into the background rather than break up the photos. Here, white almost disappears against the pale scene and walls, but with darker images, you might pick out a dominant hue and use that for your frames instead.
An alternative way to use this idea is to divide one artwork between a number of frames. Here, a panoramic beach scene is split between eight frames and lined up so the discrete images become one. This would work just as well with pieces in more conventional dimensions, too – and if you’re blowing up one of your own photographs, it could also be a more affordable way to display one huge image.
The trick is in choosing the right frames – be sure to pick something that will blend into the background rather than break up the photos. Here, white almost disappears against the pale scene and walls, but with darker images, you might pick out a dominant hue and use that for your frames instead.
Employ an easel
Easels aren’t just for artists, they can also make for a fun and stylish plinth on which to place your favourite pieces.
Here, the easel takes pride of place, and the artwork fits perfectly atop the stand, but there’s a plethora of ways to use an arrangement like this. Try nestling the plinth into a corner, surrounded by bookshelves or houseplants, or prop a panoramic piece to overhang the edges of the stand to make more of a statement.
Change your artworks as often as you like and move the easel from room to room. You can also use several easels grouped together, or have one stand out on its own, as here.
Easels aren’t just for artists, they can also make for a fun and stylish plinth on which to place your favourite pieces.
Here, the easel takes pride of place, and the artwork fits perfectly atop the stand, but there’s a plethora of ways to use an arrangement like this. Try nestling the plinth into a corner, surrounded by bookshelves or houseplants, or prop a panoramic piece to overhang the edges of the stand to make more of a statement.
Change your artworks as often as you like and move the easel from room to room. You can also use several easels grouped together, or have one stand out on its own, as here.
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Upscale with a frame
Framing will automatically elevate the most basic of artworks, even postcards, and is a great method to breathe new life into something. If you own prints that are valuable, you should definitely use archival materials, but if not, then consider using off-the-shelf frames and mounts to save on cost.
Here, pin-up-style artworks are elevated to gallery status with the use of simple but elegant golden frames and a hanging arrangement that fills the wall from floor to ceiling. For photography, consider using alternative materials, such as mounting the image in acrylic for a sleek, contemporary feel.
How have you displayed your artworks? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
Framing will automatically elevate the most basic of artworks, even postcards, and is a great method to breathe new life into something. If you own prints that are valuable, you should definitely use archival materials, but if not, then consider using off-the-shelf frames and mounts to save on cost.
Here, pin-up-style artworks are elevated to gallery status with the use of simple but elegant golden frames and a hanging arrangement that fills the wall from floor to ceiling. For photography, consider using alternative materials, such as mounting the image in acrylic for a sleek, contemporary feel.
How have you displayed your artworks? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
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Picture shelves, and propping. Excellent.
Our client had a sculpture of a neck tie that had been covered with metal. In order for the tie to be touched we decided not to frame it behind glass. Instead we formed a ' frame' by simply painting a rectangle on the wall in contrast to the wall colour. There was also a painting of fabric draped over a piece of wood. We mounted the picture onto a small ladder that we fixed to the wall. This not only extended the painting beyond its original boundaries but also enhanced it to fill the wall space. Both treatments were simple and inexpensive but very effective.