Hello m3vk,

My first thought is to measure the width space corner to corner of the wall above your sofa. You have a vent, Bose speaker and a lamp closing down your wall space.

What you ideally want is enough border space central to the edges of the wall and corner to make your framed pictures look perfectly placed - not too cramped and not off center, so there's a bit of maths homework for you there.

As regards the stairs, you clearly have more space and you can stagger the pictures upwards, as you have drawn it. However, how easily do you want your pictures to be seen? Looks fairly shady around the stairs, as oppsed to the amount of light your living room wall receives.

All things considered, I'm sure you'll make a sound decision in due course.

All the best.

Honestly, the answer would depend a bit on the portraits -- are they giant faces, say, or more candid images in a scene? The former could be a bit overwhelming in the entryway with the stairs...

I do have a large family portrait (18-1/2"x22-1/2" with the frame) that is hung in the middle of the gallery wall that I created last year when I moved into my house. I love family photos in my living room and so do most of my family members and friends! Flanking the photos are the graduation photos of my children and they are 14-3/4"x17-3/4" with the frames. This will give you a little idea of how they are going to look even though my portraits are smaller. The rest of the photos on the gallery wall are 8x10's that I matted and placed in 11x14" black frames.

ACM, they are giant faces.

In my opinion they are too large for above the sofa. I think on the stairway wall is nice especially since you say they are large faces, they could be seen from a distance and the scale of the pieces will fill in that area nicely.

I love having the portraits above the sofa. They become the focal point of the room as they should be. Again my concerns are that they both have enough space around themselves and that they is a complementary element in the room for balance. If the portraits are such that there is space around each person and that they are not closeups, then that is another element of space to take into account. For balance, if you stand back and look at the room: is there an architectural feature, piece of furniture or grouping that provides a balance element?

Paul, can you elaborate more on a balancing element in the room? There are large windows on the opposite side of the room. Would that be the balance?

Well, I feel like giant faces looking down from on high is more... creepy?... than giant faces down at eye level. But I agree that you need breathing room around the pieces on the wall, and the couch wall may not offer enough unless you're willing to let one corner be obscured a bit by your lamp (which could be the best solution).

These are the pictures. Little guy in the corner is for scale.

This is the idea I had in mind...love oversized art...
http://www.homewithkeki.com/2015/03/must-have-monday-art.html?m=1

Yes, the windows would be a balancing element. The way the human eye organizes elements in the brain, flat pieces against the wall like portraits, mirrors, art are almost like"windows". If the windows are about the same size or larger then they would help create a sense of balance.

Looking at the portraits, there is enough white or "negative space" around each child to not "crowd" the room and each other. Having oversized portraits can be read as "modern" and the looks pf the pieces can also be a factor. Personally, as long as the sofa is a bit on the modern side, it should all work.

They are awesome pieces and will always be a conversational elements.

I'd put them on the stairs, but if you do, don't stagger them quite so much -- the bottom of the left/higher frame should line up with the middle of the lower frame.

I really like them next to each other, but think they are too large for over the couch more due to the size of the wall than the couch. Do you have another longer wall? Would they work next to each other on the staircase? Have you thought about adding them into each of your children's bedroom or along a long hallway?

Thanks acm! That is very helpful.

I think I also need to learn I can change them if I don't like them where they are. I am an overthinker!

@bev, honey, your gallery wall isn't a very good example. too messy. too tight close to each other. too many other things on the wall. just too.... you seem nice, but no.

The images might be too overbearing if placed over the sofa. The hall seems like a better location. You need some distance to view images that are this large. Any other possible wall in the home?

Ooooh, snap, keemiash.

Carla Aston, one of my favorite designers may have convinced me to try it over the sofa.
http://carlaaston.com/designed/oversized-art
I can always move them somewhere else if they prove to be overbearing. Nothing a little spackle and touch up paint can't fix.
Thanks everyone!

Bev...Holy Cow...your husband and mine had the same haircut and you and children are wearing our shirts. That was a VERY BAD time for fashion. Any Nehru suits in storage? Remember those?

Sweetie's was velvet.

Oversized is good, but all the people images illustrated are soft edged. Well like you said, it's just Spackle.

I love family portraits, but I really like them in more private spaces. Given your two options, I choose the hallway or staircase.

thanks Judy. the staircase overlooks the foyer so it's the least private of all, our hallways are too narrow for the pics (old house!), the sofa is in the family room (separate from the formal living area) so that should be the most private of my options.
It could also work in our play room but I want to try it on the main floor first. I think it would give me the most joy there since I can see it the most.
Thanks!

Then do it! Your home; your children. Do whatever and where ever those wonderful portraits work for you...not from a design statement.

We had silhouettes done of our two girls when they were little bits. We put them in our bedroom and every morning we woke up with big smiles on our faces.