Saturday, February 20, 2010

Choosing the Proper-Sized Photograph for a Given Wall

 

You have found THE photograph that you want, and you know just where you want to hang it.  The only decision left to make is how large to print it.  This can be a surprisingly frustrating question to answer.  So, as you are pondering it, here are a few things to consider.

 

First of all, note how much space you have overall in the area where you want to hang the print.  While it is obvious that a larger picture will take up more wall space, it also requires a greater viewing distance.  For example, hanging a large picture in a hallway may not give the viewer adequate room to step back and take in the entire image, though it may be fine for examining the details of the work.  However, hanging the image at the end of a long hallway just might provide enough space. 

 

Also, larger prints tend to be focal points, drawing the viewer’s attention to themselves and things around them.  Is where you want to hang the image the focal point of that space, or will the print be competing with something else?  This is one of the reasons you will often see larger prints hung over mantels; the print and the fireplace work together to provide a distinctive focal point to the room.  Remember also that smaller pictures grouped together perform the same function, and should be considered a single unit for decorating purposes.  (More on multiple smaller prints grouped together will be in next month’s design blog.)

 

Large prints can crowd small spaces, while conversely, a too small print can be lost in a large space.  Also consider the orientation of the photograph to understand how it will affect the look of the wall.  Vertical images emphasize height in a room, while horizontal images emphasize width.  This may seem an obvious concept, but the actual visualization of the effect can sometimes be a bit more challenging. 

 

Prints should not crowd furniture.  As a general rule, they should be no more than 2/3 – 3/4 the width of the furniture below them, and the bottom edge of the frame should sit at least 6 – 8 inches above the furniture.  Prints should generally be hung at eye level for the average person.  However, larger prints on higher walls might need to be hung higher to maintain a sense of balance.  

 

Consider the lighting in the area you wish to hang the image.  Can you light the image properly at a given size?  If not, are you willing to add lighting?  This could be something as simple as a frame light or a free-standing lamp, or as elaborate as installing track lighting.  Just as lighting is critical in the proper creation of a stunning photograph, it is also essential in its proper display.

 

While many people will consider the ramifications upon art size of having small children in the home (Can they reach it?  Will you come home to find your beautiful wedding portrait covered in small chocolate hand prints, or worse, in pieces on the ground, with an injured child nearby?), an often overlooked consideration is whether or not you have pets, especially medium to large dogs with appropriately long tails.  Though most pet owners who fall into this category quickly become aware of the “clean-sweeping” potential of these tails, and modify the items stored on top of coffee and side tables accordingly, art hung on walls is sometimes overlooked as a potential victim of the excited swooshes of a wagging tail.  The larger the piece, the more wall it covers, and the lower the bottom of the frame will be to the floor, making it more susceptible to getting knocked off the wall or to getting pieces of fur caught in the frame. 

 

With all of these things in mind, perhaps the single best thing you can do to help decide how big to make your print is to cut out a paper template in your preferred size and actually attach it to your wall (painter’s tape works well because of its easy-release adhesive).  Be sure to include the dimensions of the entire package, including mats and frame, as these can substantially increase the overall dimensions of the piece.  Leave the template in place for a few days to get a feel for how the size works on a day-to-day basis.  Make adjustments as necessary.  And remember, when it comes to decorating, there are no hard and fast rules, only suggestions.  What matters most is what looks and feels right to you.

 

Happy decorating!

 

Jodi Gaylord

City Escapes Nature Photography

www.cityescapesphotography.com

 

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