skip to main content

Home Decorating

painting placement

2 years ago

I have just been gifted with many of my mother’s paintings. She has several beautiful ocean themed paintings but I don’t know how to display them without it being overkill!
I am including some pictures of potential spots in my home to display them - and a photo of the ones I need to choose from.
For now I just rested the painting above the fireplace but if I hang it there is about an inch or so above and below. The next picture I have is a spot over the staircase to our finished basement. We can fit a large painting there. I have also shown my family room as viewed from the kitchen. Excuse the mess & mismatched furniture - just focus on the wall.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

Sharon Fullen
2 years ago
To honor your mother’s art, I would not place one on a wall that is oversized. The painting on the mantle is the proper ratio. In my home, art with sentimental value is featured in small spaces such as a bright hallway and bathrooms. Powder rooms can be decorated specifically to complement the chosen art. You can also add a battery-operated artwork light which highlights the beauty and catches the eye.
Chava Shiel
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you for your response! So it seems that you think the ocean painting on the mantle works?
Related Discussions
Placement/positioning of mantle shelf
Q
Comments (10)
I have painted outlet covers using bleigh's technique. I have painted the outlet itself too, and they have held up reasonably well. I do block off the outlet openings as best as I can with popsicle sticks, q-tips, etc. before painting. If you don't want to go to the trouble, you could change out the outlet to brown and put either a painted or dark stained cover on, and it would make the outlet less obvious than the white. Regarding the cords, cables, etc. that support the electronics - is this a home that you plan on staying in for a while? If so, it isn't that difficult to either drop the wiring down the wall from the attic or up from the crawlspace, depending on your situation. I lived with the stereo / surround sound cords for about a year (and they were reasonably contained and hidden by cord chases too). Finally, they bugged me enough that we invested the time and energy to drop them down the wall. Fortunately, we have a friend who is handy with this sort of stuff who helped us (he had a wire puller device - sort of like a snake for electrical wires). If you are pretty certain that the speakers and devices are in good locations, you might look into permanently wiring them. Your room is looking well put together, and I admire you for working with the tile that you don't like. Your color and furniture choices have created a warm and inviting room!
...See More
Bedroom Tweaking, Continued (art placement, etc.)
Q
Comments (20)
Kitch4me (I always thought the "kitch" in your name stood for "kitchen," though it just occurred to me that it could mean, well, kitch, which I like even better) I've chosen the last of the two pictures to hang between the windows, at least, for now. One of these days, my artist friend will make it over to help me (re)organize my artwork, and, then, all bets are off as to where they'll end up. I did reorganize my shelves a bit. I even took iphinkmountain's advice & added some baskets at the bottom - put photo albums and my old journals (dating back to high school, I think) in them. ShawNshawN - thanks for the calculations! I absolutely generally agree with you about hanging art eye height - and since I'm 5'3" and live alone, that's the standard I use - right? I don't really care what "average" eye height is in my home. That said, not all my art is eye height. For example, I have this vignette: The lower piece is hanging quite low, but it is eye height, for me, when I'm sitting on my sofa directly across from it. Which brings up the art above the bookshelves, directly across from my bed... that's art that I see when I'm in/on my bed. The photo above, taken from my bed, is how I see the art when I have a direct view of it. Are there exceptions made to the "eye level" rule when "eye level" is generally not a standing view?
...See More
Placement of painting help needed
Q
Comments (3)
Thanks, just what i wanted to hear.
...See More
Furniture placement in dining room and kitchen
Q
Comments (3)
Nice sunroom! Is the plan to place banquet bench against the wall where the hutch currently sits? Wondering if the floor vent will be an obstacle to placement? Seems like a lot of furniture in that area with banquet & hutch, especially if both against wall. Since the plan is to paint hutch to coordinate with cabs, what about putting it in kitchen space vacated by banquet? Looks like you have 3 eating areas, bar, sunroom & banquet. The storage in hutch would be nice in kitchen. Maybe the wine console could go into kitchen too - at right angle to where banquet is now - looks like a window opening facing kitchen.
...See More
HU-187528210
2 years ago
For me, the art over the mantle is a bit small. If you want it there I’d move it to the left or to the right. And decorate the mantle with some other things to offset the asymmetry.
Chava Shiel
Original Author
2 years ago
Hmm ok - I was worried it was too big! Vertically anyway - I see the point horizontally - a wider piece might be better. I also thought some nice family photos in frames would work on the mantle but I am not sure.
Should I consider some type of multiple painting ocean arrangement on one of the bigger walls that I showed? Not sure that will work…
HU-187528210
2 years ago
I agree wider but not taller or add some accents to the mantle to offset it.
I only see three paintings. Do you have more? Show us!!
Otherwise I’d use the paintings in bathrooms and nooks in bedrooms. Places with small walls.
On large walls I’d do something more grandiose.
Maybe wallpaper. Moldings....
Chava Shiel
Original Author
2 years ago
Ya I have so many! But I was trying to focus on the ocean themed ones that I have. I actually have another one that is very similar to the one over the fireplace that was painted at the same time and framed with the same frame - but again I think it would be too much visually to display next to each other.

Related Stories

ART Beautiful new painting, now what? Artful hanging tips for the home.

By Niche Interiors

WALL TREATMENTS 7 Ways to Decorate Your Walls When Painting Is Not an Option

By Morgan Province

These wall decor ideas let you be creative when you rent, despite any design restrictions you may face

MORE ROOMS 5 Ways to Decorate Around a Flat-Screen TV

By KitchenLab Interiors

Color, Placement and Accessories Help that Big Black Screen Blend In

LIVING ROOMS New This Week: 6 Fresh Family Rooms That Feature a TV

By Mitchell Parker

Design pros discuss how they handled colors, materials and TV placement to create stylish entertaining spaces

DECORATING GUIDES How to Work With Awkward Windows

By Judith Taylor Designs

Use smart furniture placement and window coverings to balance that problem pane, and no one will be the wiser

STAIRWAYS Trending Now: The Most Popular New Stairways on Houzz

By Becky Harris

Placement, railings, newel posts and other accessories play important roles in readers’ favorite new stairway designs

HOUZZ TV Houzz TV: Create Your Own Mural Wall With Easy DIY Stencils and Stamps

By Mitchell Parker

Artist Kristin Nicholas shows us how she makes her one-of-a-kind art walls. Watch the 3-minute video

DIY PROJECTS Houzz TV: How to Paint Perfect Wall Stripes

Watch this video to see how to paint clean, professional-looking stripes wherever you want some pizazz

HOME TECH Design Dilemma: Where to Put the Flat-Screen TV?

TV Placement: How to Get the Focus Off Your Technology and Back On Design

HOUZZ QUIZ Houzz Quiz: What Color Should You Paint Your House?

By Jennifer Ott Design

Is white right? Maybe dark blue-gray? Take our quiz to find out which color is best for you and your home

Sponsored

More Discussions

looking who designed and or manufactured this vanity

9

What would you do with this table?

22

What color for sofa and love seat?

21

Tips for choosing best white window shade color

12

Help replace outdated light fixture!

1