 Choosing art is a very personal and intimate experience. But so often it goes horribly wrong. There are some principals of design that stand firm regarding the use of art as room decor despite the personal tastes of the viewer. Size, scale and placement of art does matter and using these "rules" makes a difference regardless of the art you are displaying.
A great piece of art can be just the thing that unites a space. It may be the foundation for the rest of the room and can often be the origin of a colour scheme for the entire room. It is easier to match colour to art, fabric or another accessory than it is to match these items to a paint colour on the wall.
Large scale, colourful art is an ideal method to create a focal point in a room and can be used to define conversation areas. Art is also the way to create mood and atmosphere in a space. One dramatic piece can accomplish this or many smaller pieces that are grouped together is also highly effective.
The most common mistake that people make with art is poor 'placement'. Often, people hang their art too high on the wall and the art gets lost in the space. It can look like it isn't related to the rest of the room. Keeping art lower on the wall and including it as part of a grouping will create better flow visually and create intimacy as well by drawing the eye down. It also grounds a room better when art is placed lower, especially when there are taller that normal ceilings. Wall art should be seen at approximately eye level, you shouldn't be craning your neck-it should be in your natural vision range.
 A good rule regarding art placement is to mount the piece so that the centre sits at 5' from the floor or at good viewing height. This will generally give you the right placement. However, if the art is being placed in a dining area, it probably should be hung lower than this so that it can be at viewing height when seated. When placing art above a sofa, hanging it about 7" above the sofa height should give you a good visual. Placing art in unusual spaces such as stairwells can be tricky.
It is worth it to consult with a decorator/designer when you are faced with hanging art. It can be time consuming and costly to "undo" wall damage resulting from multiple nail holes caused by do-it-yourselfers. Getting an expert to help will save the headache of guessing and will save money in the long run by getting it right the first time.
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Article Submitted by The Frugal Decorato
