Welcome back to our blog series with CEO Ann Priftis, where we explore the practical side of collecting—from care and display to placement and preservation.

Whether you’ve just acquired a new piece or are rethinking the layout of your current collection, how and where you hang your art matters. The right placement not only enhances how a work is seen, but also ensures it’s safely and thoughtfully installed.

In this post, Ann shares simple, expert-backed tips for hanging art in your home or business—so your collection always looks its best.

Let’s dive in.

Tips for Hanging Art in Your Home.

Did you just acquire a new piece of art or have artworks in your home that you’ve been meaning to hang?  Maybe you want to re-arrange the artworks already hanging in your home.  

There are some easy tips to keep in mind when hanging art in your home or business to ensure it looks amazing and is safely installed. 

Choose the right location: When scouting wall space, take into consideration aspects of the room such as ceiling height, proximity to natural and artificial light, wall details like chair rails and wainscotting. 

Map it out: Use blue painter tape or a pencil to map out the points on your wall where your considering hanging. This can help you visualize the final installation. 

Use the right mounting height: In general, 57” from the floor is where the center of the artwork should be. Artworks hanging over furniture should visually have a relationship with the composition: a maximum height of 8”-12” distance up from furniture is a good rule of thumb. 

Leave negative space:  Art needs to ‘breathe.’.  Make sure your art has space around it (or is hanging in a group of pieces that are carefully clustered) so the visual impact of the piece extends past the frame and connects with the overall aesthetic of the room. 

Be mindful of furniture: When hanging an artwork over a couch, for example, take into account a sitter’s head and be sure they won’t be leaning against the frame!  When placing a sculpture, think about how the work is positioned on a table or shelf - do you want the piece to be seen from all angles or just a specific side? 

Consider lighting: Artwork of any medium should never be in direct light (natural or artificial); this is even more important if the work your hanging is a photograph or work on paper which are more susceptible to light.  In-direct lighting sources and lighting that can be adjusted are best. 

To take all the guess work out of the process, Off Piste offers free on site consultations and virtual previews to help place artworks and map out room designs. Just reach out to your Whistler Contemporary, Mountain Gallery or Sun Valley Contemporary Art Consultant and request a free consultation!

Ann Priftis

CEO

Thoughtful installation is an often-overlooked—but essential—part of caring for and enjoying your collection. By considering placement, height, spacing, and lighting, you ensure that each piece not only looks its best, but remains protected over time. Whether you’re creating a gallery wall, spotlighting a single work, or placing sculpture throughout your space, a few intentional choices can make all the difference. In our next post, we’ll continue exploring the many ways you can enhance, preserve, and connect with your collection—at home and beyond. Have questions about placement, or want help envisioning your space? We’re here to help. 

Let’s keep the conversation going.