When I was narrowing down the pieces for my exhibition In the Hours of Light, choosing the photographs was only half the work. Once I had my final choices, I had to consider which photographs would flow together: did they share an aesthetic, was the light similar, and what tied them together to tell a story in the space?
I was talking with a designer this week about how people choose art for their home. Yes, you should love the piece. But just as important: where will it live? Here are the things I think about, and that are worth considering before you hang anything. And putting a nail in the wall doesn't have to be paralyzing.
Five things to consider
1. Size
If you're hanging a piece over a sofa, bed or console, a common guideline is about two-thirds the width of the furniture below it. Too small and it floats; too large and it crowds the room. If your wall is empty, step back and look at the space as a whole rather than measuring to the edges.
2. Viewing distance
How close will you be to the art when you look at it? Smaller pieces draw you in and demand attention, so they suit places where you can look at them up close, like a hallway, a reading corner or beside your desk. Larger pieces can be taken in from across a room.
3. Light
Notice how the light in the space changes throughout the day. Morning light and evening lamplight can make the same photograph feel completely different. Keep prints out of direct sun so the colours stay true over time, and away from heat sources like radiators and fireplaces, or damp rooms like bathrooms.
4. Mood
Ask what you want to feel in that room. Calm in a bedroom, energy in a kitchen, focus in an office. The right piece supports what the room is for.
5. Height
Many galleries hang work with the centre about 57 to 60 inches from the floor, roughly eye level. It's a good starting point, and you can adjust from there for ceiling height or furniture.
There's no single right wall
These are starting points, not rules. The same photograph can feel quiet in one room and bold in another, depending on the colours around it, the furniture and the light. A piece I'd picture in a bedroom might be exactly right in your office.
The best test is simple: picture the piece where you'd see it every day, and notice whether it makes you want to stop and look.
Five pieces looking for their next wall
For 52 weeks, I photographed Allan Gardens Conservatory on film, then held every roll undeveloped for a full year before seeing a single frame. That project, In the Hours of Light, closed its run at Hotel Victoria this fall, and 23 of the 28 exhibited pieces have found homes.
Five original pieces are still available:
Piece
Size (framed)
Frame
Price
The Elder
17 ¼ x 23 ¾ in
Black
$125
Revealed
25 ¼ x 35 ¼ in
Black
$245
Winter Red
21 ¼ x 15 ¾ in
White
$75
Harmony
17 ¼ x 23 ¾ in
Black
$125
White Room
25 ¼ x 35 ¼ in
Black
$245
If you have a wall in mind and you're not sure which piece belongs there, send me a photo of the space. I'm happy to help you think it through. Local pickup is available in Toronto.