Hanging wall art at the right height
Art hung too high is the most common decorating mistake, and it is the easiest one to avoid.
Fifty-seven inches to the centre
Galleries hang so the centre of the work sits at about 57 inches from the floor, which is average eye level. It works in almost every room.
People instinctively hang higher than this, usually because they are measuring from the ceiling rather than the floor.
Above furniture, the rule changes
Over a sofa or console, leave six to eight inches between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the frame. The art should relate to the furniture, not float above it.
If that pushes the centre below 57 inches, follow the furniture. It is the stronger visual anchor.
Scale to the wall
A single small frame on a large wall reads as an accident. Aim for the art to occupy roughly two-thirds of the width of the furniture below it.
This is why sets of three exist — they cover the width without needing one enormous piece.
Hanging a set
Treat a set as one object. Space the pieces two to three inches apart, keep the gaps identical, and centre the whole group rather than each piece.
Lay the arrangement on the floor first and measure it as a block. It takes ten minutes and saves the wall.
Fixings
Framed pieces usually arrive with hardware fitted. What varies is the wall — plasterboard without a fixing behind it will not hold a heavy frame.
Check the weight on the listing against the fixing you plan to use, particularly for anything with glass.
Light and glare
A framed piece opposite a window will reflect it for most of the day. Canvas has no glass and sidesteps the problem entirely.
If the wall you want is opposite the light, canvas is usually the better format.
Renting
Adhesive hooks rated well above the weight of the piece work for lighter canvas. For anything framed and glazed, they are not a safe substitute for a fixing.
Acrylic mirrors and canvas sets are the two categories that genuinely suit a rental wall.
What it costs
Across the 20 items currently listed, prices run from $6.98 to $69.99, with the middle of the range around $32.90. That spread is worth knowing before you start comparing, because the cheapest and dearest options here are usually not the same kind of product at all.
Shipping is a flat $9.99 per order and free once the order reaches $79.00, which is set out in full on the Shipping Policy page.
Four products that show the range
The least expensive way in: L LOHAS LED 2-Pack Plug-in Night Lights, Dusk to Dawn Sensor, Soft White 3000K at $6.98. Listed with its own specification table, so the dimensions and what is in the box are on the page rather than in a description.
A step up from the basics: JOPSTDI 2-Pack White Flower Floating Triangle Shelves with Ivy & LED Lights at $24.98. Listed with its own specification table, so the dimensions and what is in the box are on the page rather than in a description.
A middle-of-the-range option: Luxturiy Black 8×10 Fluffy Shag Area Rug for Living Room & Bedroom at $42.49. Listed with its own specification table, so the dimensions and what is in the box are on the page rather than in a description.
The most substantial option: Luxturiy Grey 8′ x 10′ Fluffy Shag Area Rug for Living Room & Bedroom at $69.99. Listed with its own specification table, so the dimensions and what is in the box are on the page rather than in a description.
Coming in instead
High Style Deco is at 27 W 20th St, New York, NY 10011, open Mon–Fri: 11:00 AM–7:00 PM · Sat: 11:00 AM–6:00 PM · Sun: 12:00 PM–5:00 PM. If you would rather look at something before buying it, call +1 212-647-0035 and we will put it aside for you.
Anything already ordered can be followed on the order tracking page.
Where this sits in the shop
High Style Deco groups its range into 6 sections, so it is usually quicker to start from the group than to scroll the whole shop. These are the ones with stock on the shelf right now:
- Area Rugs — 11 items
- Wall Art — 3 items
- Lighting — 2 items
- Mirrors — 2 items
- Shelving — 1 item
- Storage — 1 item
If none of those is obviously right, the full shop lists everything on one page.
Questions that come up with this
Can I see a rug before committing?
Yes — the showroom is at 27 W 20th St, New York, NY 10011 and open Mon–Fri: 11:00 AM–7:00 PM · Sat: 11:00 AM–6:00 PM · Sun: 12:00 PM–5:00 PM. Call ahead on +1 212-647-0035 if you want a specific size pulled out.
How is a large rug delivered?
Rolled and boxed by carrier. Allow two to five business days in transit after a one to two day pack time.
What is the delivery charge?
A flat $12.95 per order, waived from $89.00.
The FAQ page covers the rest.
Related reading
Other pieces in this journal that cover neighbouring ground:
- Rug sizing for a New York living room
- Lighting a room that has no ceiling fixture
- Acrylic mirrors: where they work and where glass is still better
- Floating shelves that do not sag
The full journal index lists everything we have written so far.
In short
Art hung too high is the most common decorating mistake, and it is the easiest one to avoid. If you want to talk it through rather than read about it, +1 212-647-0035 reaches the shop during opening hours, and the contact page has everything else.