Galleries present pieces for purchase and often also double as residential and commercial consultants. Artist and ArtSource gallery co-owner Nancy McClure shares a few tricks of the trade:
1. Favor the eclectic. Arrange art in an unexpected way. Pieces don't need to "match-match-match." Mix up moldings; lean pieces over a mantle; or fill up less predictable spaces, such as above doorways, for a more "boutiquey" look.
2. Maximize your space. There is no hard-and-fast rule on how much of a blank wall to fill. If something you love fits, stick it there, but keep some breathing room in a residence, using 80 percent max.
3. Size matters. Let the space determine the size, amount and shape of art. Choose larger pieces for substantial spaces, and groupings of smaller pieces in more modest spaces. For example, to keep art from being buried under cathedral ceilings, consider a big grouping, a large vertical or a sculpture.
4. Keep art within the frame of furniture. For instance, with an 80-inch sofa, you may choose two verticals or one large horizontal, but pieces shouldn't surpass the sofa's edges.
5. Stack art symmetrically. Group pieces side by side along a 60-inch horizontal center line to make eye level, and then, fill spaces above and below as desired. Don't stagger pieces or hang off-center, with exception of stairwells. A tiny piece next to a sizable one will feel lost; so use groupings to give smaller works more weight and presence.
6. Consider a montage. Think of your hallway as a gallery wall and hang art in a grid from floor to ceiling, with common spacing between. Consider an assortment of family photos with ornate moldings, or mix and match antique mirrors, antique family photos or wedding photos.
7. Love the art. Place your favorite art in the most viewed area, with preferred pieces in the living room and those less significant in less-visited rooms.
8. Take a test drive. If adding to your collection, try it on. ArtSource, for example, will let you borrow art for home preview. Take-home not an option? Fall back on the printout preview.
