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I blog here: http://blog.designpublic.com/ and here: http://thebubbreport.blogspot.com/ I also have a Masters in Landscape Architecture from UVA. I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta.

How to Arrange Artwork in an Artful Way (8 comments)

Art and photo display ideas

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Victoria, a.k.a. sfgirlbybay, is a master at arranging art, and I've been admiring the way she switches things up and makes seemingly disparate pieces work together for years now. I think we should all channel our inner Victorias and give it a shot. If at first you don't succeed, take it all down and try something different.

Before you get started, here are a variety of very different examples of ace art arrangement. Some work because of a white wall, some work because of a peakcock wall. Some work because of perfect symmetry, some work because they completely reject symmetry. Some work because the pieces are all somewhat uniform, some work because the pieces could not possibly differ more. Some work because of traditional picture nails & wire, others work because of binder clips and a piece of string.

We can learn a lot about doing it ourselves by figuring out what makes these work. I'm still trying to study them and figure it out myself! Please let me know in the comments how you approach hanging your artwork.
The bold wall color here makes the art pop. Note how they have mixed in mostly white works with landscapes that pull from the colors in the room.
PEACOCK HUES
Here minimal nails are involved. All it takes is a string and some binder clips. I do this with my holiday cards on my mantle every year.
beautiful blue wall color
A picture shelf is a great way to give uniformity to your arrangement. Note that they have stuck with black and white photographs, mats, and frames. The varying sizes of mat white space keep it interesting.
by Roger Hirsch Architect  
Several lines of picture rails keep the hallway photos organized.
by Carly Sax
Here a variety of pieces mix well; letters and postcards fill in space between framed artwork.
bed
I'm trying to figure out why this works so well. I think it's the balance between height and width - some are wider than they are tall and vice-versa, and they are placed just right in relation to one another.
frames
This is just eclectic as all get out, and I don't even think I can even try to explain why it works!
LOVELY
This is some sort of black and white Hollywood glam family tree arrangement
dominomag- eclectic blue bedroom
Don't forget that objects you might not usually consider as art can make for a delightful arrangement.
by Dufner Heighes Inc
A collection can be playfully arranged in a symmetrical grid pattern of frames to take on the appearance of art.
framed photos
Don't forget about white space. The art stands out here because it's not too crowded.
by Audrey Matlock Architects
This group all fits into a perfect large square. Put up painter's tape to mark your boundaries and then put up the frames within it to get this effect.
by Coburn Architecture and Interiors
This one takes it to the next level. Add a grid of tape within the square to line things up properly.
by CL3
by Interstice Architects Inc.
Grouping frameless stretched canvases together gives a just enough of a feeling of uniformity.
easy electic hall
From Victoria, arranging master and the one who set the Keep Calm and Carry on Trend. Note how these pieces float within the white frames and glass against the white wall.
sfgirlbybay  
by Dumican Mosey Architects  
Lettered Cottage Guest room
by Bosworth Hoedemaker  
by Gina Willman, ASID, W Interiors
Nina van de Goor's Home
by Amy Lau Design
I had to include one of my early attempts at arrangement from my shabby eclectic phase. Don't worry, this has changed since this was taken. For some reason I always seemed to include some crazy huge ashtray, a favorite purse, and an album from my teenage angst, in this case, The Smiths - Meat is Murder.
Bench o'stuff

comments

star_dust says:
Great collection. My favorite is the one by Coburn Architecture and Interiors. Gorgeous display in a perfect location.
xojy says:
We love the rail technique so we can move pieces around without wrecking the walls.
becky says:
star dust, I agree. that one took some effort, and it paid off!

xojy, that's great! I didn't realize how big your pieces were until I understood the scale from seeing a couch there! Love that big Y!
karen1974 says:
xojy- I love your display and the big letters are so cool!
May I ask where did you buy them?
dana29 says:
I like the Amy Lau photo but can't figure out what is the display on the wall...
photos? something else? help...
dana, I cheated. I think it's one piece, or a series, and when I look really really closely, it looks like it's made of glass blocks. It has a blown-up pixelated look, doesn't it?

I tried to see if there was more info on her website, but there's not!
emma_g says:
I also think it's glass. Beautiful!
becky says:
OOps, that was me, becky, helping turquoise get her houzz account going up there! I forgot I was logged in as her when I left that comment.

Becky
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