The No-Fail Rules for Hanging Art and Drapes Like a Designer

By Jami Campbell of Jami Campbell Interiors

There are a number of no fail design rules that many designers follow when curating a space. There are rules when it comes to rug sizes, walkway room between furniture, and how much room to leave between the bottom of a light fixture and the top of a dining table. I could go on and on. Some rules are meant to be broken and some are tried and true and are best to be followed religiously. 

There are also rules when it comes to the art of hanging wall decor. Here is a quick breakdown of those rules.

General Rule for Hanging Art Above Furniture

Hang art 4-6” above the furniture piece below. For example, in a bedroom, hang your art 4-6” above the top of the headboard. 

Rules for Photo Grids and Groupings

Photo grids…one of my favorite, big impact wall art options. Photo grids are a great solution when you have a large wall you aren’t sure what to do with. Oftentimes though, when trying to pull off a set of photos whether it be a grouping of 3, 6 or more, people will hang the art too far apart. In these types of structured grids, it is typically best to leave 2” between the frames. While you are dealing with multiple frames, you still want the eye to look at the art collectively as if it were one piece. Hanging them too far apart takes away from that goal. The 2” rule also applies if you just have a couple of frames you are hanging in a space. Note: the center of your grid should be approximately 57”-60” from the ground. 

If you are hanging a larger single piece of artwork, you want to hang it at an average eye level or typically so that the center of the art is 57”-60” from the ground. 

Leaning Art for a Casual Look

If you are going for a more casual and relaxed look, don’t forget the option of not hanging the art at all but leaning it. I love this look above a mantle or on a console table in a foyer. To go one step further, you can also lean a smaller additional piece of art against it. This gives you a layered look and can really make a space look intentionally designed and curated. Love this look paired with an oversized mirror and art! 

Rules for Hanging Drapes

While not wall art, there are important rules when hanging drapes as well. Always opt for high and wide. For most ceiling heights you want to hang your rod 2-3” down from the fold of the ceiling and 10-12” outside of the window frame itself. This helps your windows seem bigger than they are and makes ceilings feel taller. Never let your drapes cover up your window but let them sit nicely just on the outside of the glass and have them just kiss the floor. 

Pro tip: Don’t use the same type of art all over your home. While you may love abstract, try to mix in a photography piece or a framed sketch! This helps give your home interest and character.  

*All photographs credit: Jami Campbell

ABOUT WRITER