Hanging Artwork : How High to Hang Art & More!
Whether you’re hanging a single picture on the wall or a a full gallery wall of art like in our home office:
Sources: Desk (similar) | Rug | Faux fiddle leaf fig tree (similar) | Console is thrifted | Elephant art print | Woven tray | Other sources no longer available
these tips for how high and far apart to hang art should help:
- For a single piece of art, the center of the image should be at 57″ – 60″ from the floor, which places it at eye level. The larger the piece of art, the closer to 57″ it should be.
- When hanging two pieces of artwork, one above another, treat them as one large picture – find the center point between them and use the 57″ – 60″ rule.
- For larger pieces of art hung on the same wall, use a spacing of about 2-3″ between them. Smaller pieces can be hung a little closer together.
- When hanging art pieces above a sofa or other piece of furniture, the grouping should ideally be about ⅔ the width of the furniture below it. (For example, if an art grouping is being hung over a 60″ sofa, the ideal grouping would about 40″ in length.)
- When hanging artwork over a sofa or other piece of furniture, leave 3″- 8″ of space between the top of the sofa/furniture and the bottom of the art.
Window Treatments: How High to Hang Drapes
If you’re not sure how high to hang your drapes above the window frame or how wide your drapes should be, these tips will help…
Sources: Drapes | Drapery rod | Drapery rings | Tripod lamp | Sectional sofa | Block print pillow | White tassel pillow | Rug | Acrylic coffee table (similar)
- Buy drapery panels that will either kiss the floor or puddle on it.
- To create the illusion of a taller window, mount drapery rods at least 4″ – 8″ above the window casing if space allows.
- To make your windows appear wider and let in extra light, extend the rods anywhere between 4″ and 10″ (excluding finials) beyond the window casing.
- Drapery panels should have a combined width of 2-3 times the width of the window so if you have two panels framing a window, each panel should be 1 to 1½ times the window width.
Light Fixtures: What Size Light is Best
If you want to know how high to hang your chandelier above your table or how wide of a dining room chandelier you should buy, here are the measurements you need to know…
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Dining Room Sources: Wood bead chandelier | Table & chairs – no longer available | 13″ Rattan chargers (similar) | Table runner (similar) | Glass hurricane vase Wood vases – no longer available | White wall plates | Patterned wall plates
- The width of the chandelier should be about ½ to ⅔ the width of the table it will be hanging over. Another rule of thumb to also consider is that the width of the chandelier should be about a foot less than the width of the table at its widest point.
- The bottom of the chandelier should hang between 30″ – 36″ above the surface of the table when there is an 8′ ceiling. For higher ceilings, you can hang the chandelier up to 3-4″ higher for each additional foot of ceiling.
- To determine a good width for your light fixture, measure the length and width of the room in feet and add those two measurements together – the number that you come up with is, in inches, a good approximate width (For example, if your room measures 10 feet x 15 feet, add 10 + 15 to get 25. A 25″ wide fixture would be appropriate for this space.) For rooms with high ceilings, you can add up to 6″ or more to the width of the chandelier.
- To determine a good height for your light fixture, multiply the height of your ceiling (in feet) by 2.5 and by 3. The height of your fixture should be, in inches, somewhere in this range. (For example, if you have 8 foot ceilings, 8 x 2.5 = 20 and 8 x 3 = 24. An appropriate height for your light fixture would be between 20″ and 24″ when measured from the ceiling to the bottom of the fixture).
- An overhead fixture that will be walked under, such as in the entry, should hang 7 feet or more above the floor.
Rugs: What Size Rug Should I Buy
If you’re trying to figure out the best size rug for your space, these tips should help you figure it out…
Sources: Sectional | Chandelier (satin bronze) | Tasseled pillow covers | Cream corner pillow | Rug | Acrylic coffee table (similar) | Coffee table tray (similar) | Rattan chair | Garden stool side table | Grasscloth wallpaper behind bookcase shelves (Charcoal) |
- Rugs under a dining room table should be at least 24-30″ wider and longer than the table, allowing the back legs of the chairs to stay on the rug even when the chairs are pushed out.
- Area rugs under a bed should extend at least 18-24″ beyond each side of the bed. For small bedrooms with a king bed, an 8 x 10 rug is usually best (with the longer 10′ side running in the same direction as the headboard) but if your bedroom is larger, a 9 x 12 can work too. For most rooms with a queen bed, an 8 x 10 rug is going to work best.
- For most typically sized rooms, there should be approximately 12″ – 18″ of bare floor between the edges of the area rug and the walls of the room. For small rooms, approximately 8″ of exposed floor is a good rule of thumb.
The last two (and maybe most important) rules:
- Take a few minutes to consider these measurements before purchasing drapes, lighting, or rugs – it may help you avoid making a purchase you’ll later regret. However….
- Don’t be afraid to break the rules! The rules are meant to help you, not to squash your creativity or the fun of decorating. If you’ve tried something with a room that doesn’t fit with these measurement “rules” but looks and feels right to you, go for it! Some of the most gorgeously designed rooms break every rule in the book!
Anonymous says
Kris, Is there a rule of thumb concerning hanging sconces beside a mirror over a vanity in the bathroom? What would be the appropriate height? My mirror is hanging rectangular and is 48″ tall.
Donna
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
Donna, a good rule of thumb is to hang sconces 64-66″ above the floor. Hope that helps!
Mart says
I have an 18 ft ceiling and I want to hang a quilt. the quilt is a regular size not huge so how high should I hang it?
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
I wish that I had an easy rule of thumb for you on this one but the right height to hang it would depend upon the exact size of the quilt, if it’s hanging over anything and what else is going on in the rest of your space.
Anonymous says
Hi, I really love your “rules” and I’ve book marked this site for easy reference. We are moving into a smaller home and our living room is 20 x 11 ft., which is at the front of the house with a fairly large bay window. On the short side far (11 ft wide ) wall we want to use a large mirror. What size mirror should we use? Or would it be better to use a collection of mirrors? Thanks!
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
That such a hard question to answer because it honestly all depends upon the furniture that you’ll have in the room and how it’s going to be arranged. You might want to consider a tall leaning mirror – those are great when you want to make a big impact in your space. But the size and what else you want on that wall along with the mirror depends upon everything else going on in the room.
Anonymous says
I appreciate all your tips and advice. However I would suggest you change your title ‘rule of thumb’. This is an old saying that dates back to when a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick as long as it wasn’t bigger than the diameter of his thumb. Just my two cents.
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
Soon after I created this post someone contacted me about the connection with “rule of thumb” that you mention. Before changing the title I looked into that term and found that it actually originates with carpenters who used the width of their thumbs (i.e., inches) rather than rulers for measuring things. The association with the width of a stick that a man was allowed to beat his wife with is a bit of an old wives tale according to what I was able to find. I understand your concern if that was the true origin and appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment about it.
Anonymous says
This is one of the best sites that I have found!!! Information is clear, and specific!! Thank you!!
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
Thank you both for taking the time to leave such nice comments!
Anonymous says
Thank you for this useful site.
Anonymous says
Hello Kris,
Thank you for the great information. I’m currently in the planning stages our new home and my window heights are giving me concern. It is a Cape Cod style home with a front porch that is about 8 ft high. So I’m limited to how high I can place my windows. I will have 9 ft ceiling. Our living room will be 21’L x 18.6’W, with 12′ of doors running along the back wall (only glass in room). Right now the tops of the doors/windows are about 22″ from the ceiling. Do you think this is too low? How much space between the top of a window and the height of the ceiling do you find most pleasing to look and decorate.
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
As much as I’d love to have a rule of thumb to share with you for your window dilemma, I have never worked on architectural plans for new homes – I’m always working with existing spaces – so I don’t have the expert advice that you’re looking for. It sounds like an amazing house though – I can only imagine that it’s so much fun but also pretty stressful to have all of those details to sort out. Best of luck!
Margo Lee says
Kris,
I have a window that is 66 inches wide and I’m looking for curtain panels to hang. Most standard curtain panels are around 44 inches wide which means I would need three panels to achieve combined width of 2 times the window. How do you hang three curtain panels so they look right?
Thanks! Margo
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
Hi Margo, for a window your size, I would use two 44″ panels on each side of the window. What I usually do is just hang them both on the rod and arrange them so that where the two panels meet in the middle, the edges are tucked in – you can’t even tell that it’s not one continuous panel. The other option would be to sew your two panels together before hanging them. Hope that helps!
Anonymous says
Kris,
I have a long empty wall in my kitchen where I was planning to hang a large picture collection/grouping, but do I “center” the grouping of pictures in the middle of the wall, or center it with the hanging fixture/kitchen table, which is not centered in the room? Which will look more correct?
Thanks! Lee
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
Hi Lee – it’s hard to answer without seeing your space but usually you will want to center the grouping of art pieces on the furniture rather than on the wall.
Anonymous says
Kris, what is the best size mirror to hang over a 72″ dresser in the bedroom? There is plenty of empty wall space on both sides and especially above. Any rules or suggestions would be helpful
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
Usually a mirror about 2/3 to 3/4 of the length of the dresser works best but it also depends upon what’s on top of your dresser (you can get away with using a mirror that’s not quite as wide if you have a lamp, large plant, etc. sitting on the dresser). Good luck with your mirror shopping! Try HomeGoods if you have one nearby!
Anonymous says
Hello Kris,
I was wondering if you had any helpful suggestions for me. I just recently received my grandma’s chandelier. It is approximately 11 & 1/2 inches wide & about 10 inches tall. My plan is to hang it above my twin sized bed. I have a headboard that is 52 inches tall. How high should I hang the chandelier & how far away should it be hung from the wall & headboard (that is placed against the wall)?
Thank-you,
Kate
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
Hi Kate! How great that you received a chandelier from your grandma – I love having things like that in my home that have meaning to me. For hanging it over you bed, you don’t have to hang it as high as you would if you were hanging it over a dining room table. I would just be sure that it clears your head by at least a few inches when you are kneeling on your bed. It’s hard to be sure about how far it should be hung away from the wall without knowing the layout of the rest of your room. In most cases, centering it between the head and foot of the bed or be a bit off center (more towards the foot of the bed) works. Good luck!
susan abramson says
Great blog entry. Very helpful!
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
Thanks Susan!
Anonymous says
Hi Kris, I have a couple of non-standard questions if you don’t mind. I have stacked windows (two windows one atop the other) that are over 10′ tall on a wall that is 14 ‘ tall and the ceiling is the low end of a cathedral ceiling. Would it be better to cover both windows with curtains or hang them between the two (about 6’ between the two)? The upper window is smaller and at a height that no one could ever see in.
Secondly, in the same room, I have the wall that starts at 14′ and climbs to about 22′ to the top of the cathedral. To me, this is wasted space so I am thinking of hanging large art and paintings/pictures there. Will this look out of place? This wall can be seen from as far away as 50′. Your opinion is greatly appreciated.
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
Hi! Unfortunately, this is a situation where I’d need to see a photo to give any advice – it would depend upon several things, including the size and shape of each window, whether there is any decorative molding between the two levels of windows, and the size of the surrounding wall. Usually, hanging the rods up at the top of the highest windows works best but not always depending upon the specifics of the room. As far as hanging the art, again it’s hard to comment without a photo. Most of the time I wouldn’t recommend hanging art that high but there are certain situations where it can work. Feel free to email me some photos if you want more specific info!
Page Remick says
I hate to disagree, but I disagree with pat measurements for hanging pictures. I am a trained interior designer and have been in dozens of homes where they used the 59, 61, 62, eye-height ‘rules’ and the results were disastrous.
There is no rule on height from the floor. No inches or eye-height rules work for very simple reasons. They do not take into account the eye height of a 6 foot 3 inch man who lives with a 5 foot 5 inch woman. Neither do they take into account the size of the picture and the size of the furniture in the room.
I have seen your ‘rule’ used and seen a small picture over a low case piece…and it has NO relationship to the furniture. The picture is too high for a low case piece, the case piece is too large for the small picture.
That is only one of dozens of mistakes that can happen when you use rules like inches and eye-height.
The reality is that the picture size, type, style and framing should be in relationship to the furniture below it, beside it… and in the whole room. Don’t put delicate pictures in tiny frames in a room with leather recliners and mahogany bookshelves. I don’t care whether the pictures are at 34 inches or 93 inches from the floor (or anywhere in between): the results will be wrong.
The height is dictated by whether the person in the room will be sitting, lying or standing (most of the time). The height is predicated on whether the picture is horizontal or vertical and whether there is furniture beside it or below it.
You have to look at the picture in RELATIONSHIP to where you are hanging it: is it in a hallway, or a bedroom? Over furniture, beside it, or all by itself?
Will people mostly be sitting, standing or reclining? Reclining in a futon and looking up at a picture at eye-height (hung when standing) is all wrong.
Sorry, but picture hanging is an art, not a formula.
This is also true about hanging lighting. There is no formula that works. It is all about ‘relationship’ to what room it is in, what is around it, whether people are sitting, standing or reclining…etc.
I hope this helps, not hinders. There are times that I could wish for a formula/rule, but it all comes down to developing your eye and keeping in mind that art and lighting are supposed to be in relationship to people, the room style, and to the furniture it is nearby.
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
Page,
I agree that expert picture hanging involves developing an eye for it but it can take years of interior design work to do that. 99% of people hanging pictures and lighting in their home don’t have a developed eye and aren’t going to pay for an interior designer every time they want to hang something in their homes. Yes, there are exceptions to every rule, but the average person is going to have a much better result by using these rules than by guessing and going at it on their own. Even though I’ve gotten pretty good at “eyeballing” the appropriate height for art and lighting, I still find them to be a helpful reference myself.
Christina says
Hi! I know this post was from a long time ago but I found it very helpful!! You really sound like you know what you’re talking about so I have a question for you! I’m almost done with a complete bedroom redo, I’m opting for just pillows then a large mirror over my bed as opposed to a headboard because headboard heights have gotten so ridiculously short that they’d almost be completely covered by a standard pillow, (much less a euro) anyway. I have a queen sized bed on risers and fabulous oversized (heighth and width) black and mirrored bed side cabinets on each side with relatively short matching lamps, I have about a 3 inch crown molding and will probably be putting two euros at the head of the bed leaned against the wall… I know a huge round mirror placed above the bed would be fabulous but giant mirrors can be very expensive… So my question is, how small of a round mirror over the bed do you think I could get away with and still look good? Im buying online so I really have to figure out the measurements. Thanks so much for your help!
Kris Jarrett says
Hi Christina, if I could give you a quick, accurate answer to your question I would but it would involve sketching out your space to make sure I was telling you the right thing and unfortunately I’m not currently offering design services. Sorry!
helena frontini says
I’m your 200th follower because your blog is fantastic. Thanks for the wonderful ideas.
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
Thanks for your sweet comment Helena – it made my day!
Laura says
How would you determine the correct measurement to hang a single lantern pendant over a table since it doesn’t have a typical diameter? For instance, my table is 36 X 54, so I should be looking for a light fixture in the 24-27″ range, however a square lantern of that size would be way too big. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
Hi Laura,
I would recommend using the shortest of your table dimensions (36″) for figuring out the best size for your pendant. Using the 1/2 – 2/3 rule, that would translate to an 18″-24″ light fixture. Using the other rule of subtracting one foot, you arrive at an 24″ fixture so the two rules are pretty consistent in this case. I’d go for something in the 20″-24″ range.