How to Make Appropriate Choices in Hanging Pictures

Hang pictures at eye level or slightly above. Adjust the height accordingly when you're particularly short or tall. Consider whether those viewing the picture will be sitting or standing. Hang pictures lower in a dining room for guests to enjoy while seated. Place pictures in a child's room at a lower level so the children can view them easily and enjoy the artistic details.

Choose a larger picture to hang in a big, empty space, rather than a smaller one. Place a table or credenza under the picture, and add a vase of flowers that mimic the colors in a painting. If the space is still too bare, add sconces on either side of the painting in a finish that blends with with the frame.

Group several smaller or medium pictures together in an interesting fashion to cover a larger space. Rather than arranging them in a parallel or symmetrical fashion, place them in staggered or stair-step positions, or hang some higher or lower than the others. Ensure that each picture is equidistant from its neighbors.

Mix and match frame styles and materials whenever possible. Combine woods like oak and cherry with metals like bronze and pewter to create a look of depth and interest. Hanging pictures with identical frames can become boring quickly.

Intersperse other pieces of decorative wall art among your pictures. Hang a wagon wheel on the wall to accompany a picture of cowboys gathered around the fireside. Choose one or two china plates to hang next to a picture of a group of people seated at a table. Include small, framed mirrors as accents among a group of pictures on a hallway wall.

Create a theme when hanging several pictures together. Choose a variety of family photographs taken in exotic locations, paintings that mimic a theme like the Southwest or the scenes from New England or several images of buildings that provide architectural interest.