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Design Dilemma living room

Dimensions and centering of artwork above sofa

14 days ago

Thinking about getting minimalist textured wall art like this:

Here's my living room. Sofa is 7 feet wide and there are 7 feet between my sofa and the ceiling.

I've always read 2/3rd of the width of the sofa for the art, so somewhere around 50-60in width considering the two pieces and the spacing between them.

However, how about the vertical centering and distance? I'm reading 8 inches above the sofa, but that seems far too low considering how much ceiling space I have.

Should they be centered between the sofa and the ceiling?

Rule of thirds?

Featured Answer

HU-954817888

13 days ago

Jan…why do you feel the sofa is wrong? And, just curious….you do give good advice but your posts are often rude. Is that just your business schtick so you stand out in people’s minds as being knowledgeable? You seem to spend a lot of time answering all these posts but sometimes I just cringe when you lay into people. If you don’t have the patience to be polite to people who ask for help on this forum, why do you answer?

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Comments (7)

PRO
JAN MOYER
14 days ago
last modified: 14 days ago
You don't "center" between sofa and ceiling"

The art has a relationship with the COUCH, your eye level, not the darn ceiling. It's nearly irrelevant.

Hang them very close together ( 1 1/2 to 2" ) and 6 to 8" above the couch cushions.

Not like the inspo pic.: )

You could consider something other than these, you have enough black. One really generous pice with more interest......would be a lot nicer.
Liam R thanked JAN MOYER
Liam R
Original Author
14 days ago
last modified: 14 days ago
Here's what I've never gotten about the 8" rule - aren't people's heads touching the piece when they lean back? I just measured and my head extends 10" above the cushions... and I'm only 5'8"!
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Huge improvement, IMHO! Looks much more inviting. Now move the clock, and put the two watercolors somewhere stacked where folks can see them up close. If it were me, I'd put them to the left of the bay window (as you are looking at it). That way I could always see them when I came downstairs or was passing from the front door into the living room. You can always move them later and group them with other art you acquire. You could also place the art closer to eye level to the right of the bay window, then folks would see it as they were sitting on the couch and it would be illuminated by the lamp in the evenings. Oh, and sorry to be so nit picky, but I'd move the furniture just a wee bit closer together to make the living room more intimate. Again, just my .02, your home is lovely and I really dig the wood floor!! And the art! And the clock! And the wall color! Etc.! :)
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PRO
JAN MOYER
14 days ago
last modified: 14 days ago
People slouch.........You want grease on the wall from your head, or whomever? You have the wrong sofa.

You haven't bought them yet, why are you hanging a thing you do not yet own??

I SAID 6 to 8 inches, did I not? : )
PRO
RappArchitecture
13 days ago
Agree with Jan's first post (except for the all caps :-), but not the comment about black. Art is very personal, and it doesn't matter what we think about the art, the only thing that matters is what you think. If you like it, buy it.
chispa
13 days ago
Design rules are guidelines for those that have no knowledge of design and for the average space. I don't follow rules for hanging art and hang it where it feels and looks pleasing to me.

No one will die if you hang the art and then decide to make a few more holes to move it up or down a few inches until you are happy with it.

The inspiration photo definitely has the art hung much higher than 8" above the sofa, and it looks good to me!
PRO
JAN MOYER
13 days ago
I did not say there was anything "wrong" with your sofa, unless you consistently need cushioning directly behind your head....in which case it would seem to mean the back on yours is low, no matter the art hung above that sofa.

Caps are simply emphasis , not shouting. I'm simply telling you a good proportion.: ) It's your art, your home, hang as you like.

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