PICTURE PANORAMA: 3. Placement Beautiful pictures can be a joy to use and can enhance any room if they are properly located and correctly hung. Art pr

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1 PICTURE PANORAMA: 3. Placement

2 PICTURE PANORAMA: 3. Placement Beautiful pictures can be a joy to use and can enhance any room if they are properly located and correctly hung. Art principles cannot be ignored when arranging pictures. There must be: Emphasis Harmony of line and shape Scale, or harmony of size Harmony of color Balance Limit the number of pictures in any one room, so that each picture will be/ appreciated for itself and walls won t look over decorated. A guide is to.use/ no more than one important picture or grouping, and one or two smaller ones in one room. A picture on every wall is not necessary; it is restful to have a few bare walls, and the bare walls lend emphasis to the decorated ones. ( Figure 1 Where To Hang The current trend is to hang pictures in relation to furniture groupings. The pictures should be close enough to the furniture that they appear to belong together seen as a unit, not separately. Don t hang pictures on just any empty wall with nothing near them; they need furniture for support. (See illustrations on this page.) A fireplace gives this support, too. Keep the size of the picture or group of pictures in scale with the size of the furniture it accompanies. Large furniture calls for large pictures (Fig. 1); small pieces require smaller pictures. The shape of the picture should harmonize with the shape of the wall space on which it hangs and the shape of the furniture it accompanies. A broad picture is suited to a horizontal wall space and furniture (Fig. 2a). A ( Figure 2b,Figure 23 vertical wall space needs a tall picture (Fig. 2b). The picture should also be in scale with the room and the wall space. A large room requires a massive wall hanging. But in a small room, such as the bathroom, or on a small wall areagkeep the picture small. I Pictures should be hung so that the center or center of interest of the picture is at eye level. In most cases, this means the standing eye level of the average adult. However, if the picture will be viewed mainly while sitting, hang the picture low, as in the case of pictures over a. desk (Fig. 3a).

3 Hang pictures in a child s room at his eye level rather than the adult's (Fig. 3b). If they are brought down, he can enjoy them more. As the child grows, you can raise the pictures. I Hang pictures in relation to architectural lines. If there is more than one picture in a room, all should form an even line at the top, bottom, or centers (Figs. 4a and 4b). The height of furniture and the sizes of the pictures will determine which line is best. Grouped pictures of varying sizes should follow the line of the furniture above which they are hung. If the piece of furniture forms a straight line, as pictured on the right in Fig. 5, keep the bottom of the frames on the same line; if the furniture creates an uneven line, as pictured on the left, it is better to hang pictures so the tops are on the same line. Figure 3b I «wwswxsww mm» v «w ~2~ Figure 4a The only time it is correct to stairstep pictures is when they follow a stairway. Even then, it should not be done if the stairway is in a living area. The diagonal line would attract the eye and carry it up and away from the conversation group. Figure 4b Figure 3a Figure 9 Grouping Pictures An important picture should hang alone to give it emphasis. I Small pictures are often hung in groups. The total size of the group should be in scale with the room, the wall space, and the furniture. Pictures grouped together should be similar in subject matter, color, and character (Fig. 7). The art methods used should be closely related. Don t place a delicate ink drawing beside a heavy oil painting. Similar mats and frames should be used to tie the group together (Fig. 7). Any number of pictures in a variety of sizes can be combined if the whole creates a pleasing shape and a balanced effect. When small and large pictures are grouped together, place the smaller ones either to the side or at the bottom of the larger one (Fig. 8). If pictures seem to be of unequal weight because of different sizes or varying degrees of lightness and darkness, be sure they are arranged for good balance. Pictures that have strong line movement should be hung so their lines carry the eye toward the group. Portraits, for example, should face each other. The space between grouped pictures should be less than the width of any one picture. If there is more space between them they will be seen separately instead of as a group. (See Figs. 7 and 8.) It may be helpful to use a large piece of paper to decide how to place a group of pictures. Lay the paper on the floor. Move the pictures around on the paper until you have a pleasing, well-balanced arrangment. Draw around the pictures. Then place the paper on the wall to find the spot for hanging each picture (Fig. 9). I A picture can be grouped with other accessories. These other objects may rest on a piece of furniture, or they may hang on the wall with the picture (5). The picture can be centered over the furniture with accessories on each side for formal balance (Fig. 10a). Interesting arrangements are made by placing the picture to one side for informal balance (Fig. 10b). Figure 8 Figure 5 I Consider the background against which the picture will be seen. Plain walls are best because the design in the picture is seen clearly. It is difficult to hang pictures on patterned walls the designs of the picture and wall tend to run together. Patterned walls must have either a wide mat around the picture or a very wide frame (Fig. 6). A general rule is to hang light pictures on light walls and dark pictures on dark walls. However, for balance, a dark picture looks better with dark furniture, and vice versa, regardless of wall shade. Figure 6 Figure 103. Figure 10b Every decorative object near the picture must be considered as a part of the group and take its proper place for balance. It must also harmonize in color, proportion, and mood. (Figs. 10a and 10b) I Other objects can be hung on walls in place of pictures. If mirrors, plates, plaques, or decorative textiles are used, follow the same principles for placing them as for framed pictures.

4 How To Hang Use a piece of paper cut the size of the picture to help determine the best location for the picture in relation to the furniture and other items of the grouping. To find the right spot for the nail or hook, measure from the bottom of the picture to the wire. Mark this point on your paper, then through the paper onto the wall (Fig. 11). A picture is less likely to slip out of place if it is hung with two nails or hooks instead of one. If the walls are plastered, place scotch tape on the wall before driving the nail. I ' Drive nails at a downward angle instead of + straight. At an angle, nails are not as likely to come out and plaster is not as likely to crack. Pictures should hang as flat as possible against the wall. In this way they seem like part of the wall and do not throw shadows. The picture won't tip forward if the screw eyes that carry the picture wires are placed within the upper one fourth of the frame. Place pieces of foam rubber, cork, or thumb tacks at the lower cor- Figure 11 ners to help pictures lie flat and hang straight. Hang pictures blind, with no wires showing. While it is better to hang pictures blind, sometimes it is impossible because picture hooks cannot be nailed to the wall, or because the picture is too heavy for\wall hooks. In these cases, the picture may be hung with two parallel wires from the moulding at the ceiling (Fig. 12). Wires should not form a triangle. If WRONG RIGHT Figure 12 wires must show, keep them subordinate to the picture. Paint them the same color as the wall. Avoid using heavy cords and tassels; they are decorative but are often more conspicuous than the picture.

5 I Check the placement of your pictures: Do pictures harmonize in size and shape with wall space and furniture? Do pictures form pleasing units with furniture? Are pictures hung at eye level? Do all pictures form an even line around the room? Are grouped pictures similar? Are grouped pictures arranged in an attractive way? Are pictures placed against an attractive background? Do pictures hang flat and straight, with wires concealed? References Other publications in this series: Picture Panorama: 1. Selection, Home Economics 37 Picture Panorama: 2. Framing, Home Economics 38 Prepared by House Furnishings Specialist Published by THE NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE North Carolina State University at Raleigh, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University at Greensboro, and the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperating. State University Station, Raleigh, N. C., T. C. Blalock, Director. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, The North Carolina AgriculturaI Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, or national origin, and is an equal opportunity employer M (Reprint) Home Economics 39