As we all know, artwork (ahem photographs especially) has the power to transform a space and add personality to your home. But you could be making one of these top 3 common mistakes when it comes to DIY-ing your artwork! As a Seacoast New Hampshire photographer, I see these pitfalls all the time when I go into clients' homes when we're prepping for their upcoming photography session.
1. Hanging Too High
I see this all the time! People hang things too high that viewers have to crane their necks to just to see what's in the photo. Just because there's an empty space above your doorway doesn't mean it's the best place to hang your photographs.
Solution: Aim for eye-level placement, which is generally around 57 to 60 inches from the center of the artwork to the floor. This ensures that the artwork can be easily viewed. Consider the average eye level of individuals in your household, and adjust accordingly (think adorable kid-level gallery walls 🥹).
2. Choosing Artwork That's Too Small
Guess what? 8x10 frames are actually very tiny on walls, especially on their own! 11x14? Same thing. Most of my clients find that a gallery wall of 6 - 12 photographs is the only way 8x10s and 11x14s get displayed properly without looking too small. In this example room, the frame on the right is 11x14 (way too small for the space), and the one on the left is 24x36 (it is stunning!!).
Solution: Measure the wall space where you plan to hang the artwork, and choose a piece that complements the size of the area. Don't be afraid to go for larger pieces, as they can make a bold statement and become a focal point in the room. If you don't want your photographs to be so big, consider a gallery wall with rows or images to fill up the blank spaces.
3. Not Using a Mat Around the Photo
Think the white border around the photos is just for looks? It's not! It actually protects the artwork from touching the glass so that over time, the humidity and changes in the environment won't cause the photographs to warp or stick to the glass. Maybe not a huge deal if you have backups and backups of the digital file and enjoy re-purchasing prints and frames over time…
Solution: When framing photographs or prints, use a mat to enhance the presentation. Mats create a buffer between the image and the glass, preventing any potential damage over time. Another bonus is the mats can give the photographs some breathing room especially when it comes to gallery walls with rows and rows of photographs.
Of course each room and photograph has their own unique circumstances and there are many other components that come with printing and hanging your photographs, such as subject matter, composition, spacing between photographs, whether or not you have little children running around your home, etc, furniture integration, and more. So many factors go into the design of your wall portraits. If you're overwhelmed at the thought of figuring this all out, I'll help! I take out all the guesswork in the design so you can see everything before it goes on the wall. Plus, with our new installation service, we'll even have our team come do the hanging for you so you don't have to stare at that box of wall portraits you spent your hard-earned money on.
Reach out to www.karenw.photos/contact to get started on your photography session and save the headache of figuring this all out.