centering artwork with half height wall

last year

So I have this little TV nook with a couch and I am hanging some art above it with 2 lamps on either side. The challenge is that on one side there is a hip height wall so technically the sofa can never be centered on the full length of the wall.

I more or less have the sofa centered to the wall as if the center did not consider the half height wall.

I had an interior designer help me with renders for the space and she told me to hang the art and lamps centered to the entire wall (including the space above the little ledge/half height wall) However I am doubting this approach as everything I see online says its almost always a rule to center/anchor the art with the sofa, which would imply that the lamps and art are not centered with the full wall.

Her comment was: "For me it always looks better when its centered on the surface its installed on , because I feel this is what my eyes notice first. But if you already have a gut feeling it might bother you with the sofa, maybe it's a good idea to do it according to the sofa"

What does everyone think?

Please note that I am not actually using this photo of my dogs :D

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Comments (12)

jck910
last year
last modified: last year
Draw an imaginary line up from the edge of the half wall. Try centering it minus that small width. Your sofa is practically wall to wall. I think what is throwing it off is the art has a very noticeable center - up between the dogs
Lyn Nielson
last year
I'd center it on the wall. (think of that side thing is kind of like an end table)

same with the lights... treat them like sconces, they are too high if the person holding them is the height you plan to install.

Center the art at eye level center. for me that is 65" off the floor... same with the lamp shade.
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shirlpp
last year
Use blue painters tape to help visualize.
chloebud
last year
Try the painters tape shirlpp suggested to see what looks best to you. Make sure the art isn’t hung too high in order to connect it to the sofa. Spacing can be different when hanging art over furniture (vs distance from floor with no furniture involved).
PRO
lisedv
last year
You're not hanging the frame with the dogs but you didn't mention the size of what you're planning...
ilikefriday
last year
I would center it with the sofa.
chispa
last year
last modified: last year
I eyeball all my art and place them where it feels balanced, so they might not end up actually centered on a wall and/or furniture.

It is just a small nail hole, or two, in the wall. Pace the art in one position and if it bothers you after a few days, then move it to the other one, or move it up/down a few inches so it feels balanced!

Some decisions in life aren't that difficult or important ...
Lyn Nielson
last year
the lights will be there for the duration... the sofa may change.

you may decide to put a chair there, even a desk.

Center on the wall.
Nova
last year
last modified: last year
I'd center the picture above the furniture it is placed for. I never center a picture above my couch and side table combo. It is meant to be a picture for the couch and it looks better centered above the couch like the rendering from @lisedv. If you ever get a smaller couch, you can still center it between the half wall and the regular wall just like you are doing with this large one.
User
last year
last modified: last year
Center art over the sofa. Paint the orange wall the same dolor as the rest of the room. Use the shelf corner for a plant. Use a picture light and not those wall lights.

https://www.amazon.com/ZitoStory-Operated-Wireless-Paintings-Rechargeable/dp/B0DSRPQ6PM?th=1
Kendrah
last year
Center the lights and the painting on the sofa.

If it were just a painting centered on the sofa, I can see how it would be thrown off by the half wall. But the paint, sconces, and sofa really help anchor and define their the place independent of the full wall width.
Design Fan (NE z7a)
last year
Add narrow floating shelves or picture ledges over the left side of the 1/2 height wall. Your couch will be more centered on the back wall. Then center the lights and art over the couch.