Instructor: Deborah Ogden

Art and Accessories

Artwork needs to be “married” to the furniture below

Most artwork is too high!

This art looks like it is lost, or floating

The old “eye level” ruleis not very useful—

instead make sure that art looks connected to something

Use the rule of “Goldilocks”—not too high and not to much

Too high Just right

This picture is next to a fireplace, but it looks great just above the bench, instead of higher…

Groupings of art work should have common lines or themes. This grouping is lined up at the bottom.

This grouping is lined up at the center line

Art can look like it is resting on a common line. In this case, it really is.

Artwork side by side, or stacked vertically, gives a sense of order, and can unify a grouping

Art items can be placed in a shape, such as a rectangle, a line, a square or an “L” shape, to unite the group

This art grouping forms a spiral shape. For complex groupings, lay out the art on a big piece of paper on the floor, marking all the placements. Tape the paper on the wall, hammer the nails through the paper, peel off the paper, and hang the art.

How do you know what size art work to use?

Most people tend to use art that is too small

Be brave about the size of art or mirrors

Smaller art work can look larger with large frames or wide matting

Smaller works can be grouped

Using a dramatic hanging device can add to the apparent size

Similar frames

• Art in different sizes and shapes can be unified by coordinated frames

• And if the works are similar (such as all black and white photos, etc,)

To unify different photo sizes,

frames (all one size)

have been used with

different custom mats

•These are all photos

•They are in different size frames

•The frames are different shapes

•They are unified by one frame color

•And matching mats

•Same story here, but with all black and white photos

Changing frames

Three different frames

Same artwork

Three different effects

Which do you prefer?

The frames are in many shapes

The frames are even different colors

What do the frames have in common?

What does the art have in common?

What about the background?

If the art is kind of busy, use a simple background

Frames

The choice of frame is very important

They don’t have to be expensive, but they need to fit the artwork

Even a Matisse looks ridiculous in a bad frame or the wrong frame!

The frame of the art is not a “property line”

Use your best judgment…

Art and accessories can overlap!

Overlapping and grouping help the small size of these similar items to work better

The texture of the wall helps as well

•This is great, even if we added tall flowers.

Collections

A sign collector has grouped the sign collection in the library

This keeps the rest of the house from looking like a flea market

It gives more impact to the collection

The signs can be enjoyed all at one time

These antique musical instruments have a greater impact all together in this music room

A layered grouping in a cottage-style room

Displaying a

collectioncanalso be a method

ofstorage

Lots of artwork, or busy artwork, requires simpler furnishings, simpler backgrounds