How High Should I Hang a Painting Over a Sofa or Couch?

Hang your painting to be flattering to both the art and the sofa.

Measure According To Average Human Eye-Height.

Make sure that the center of the painting is what you measure by.

Hang your painting so that the middle of the artwork is at 57 inches. This means that you will want the hook or wire to be hung higher, so adjust your nails or screws accordingly. The 57 inch height represents the average human eye-height. This guideline is used in many galleries and museums. Even with a sofa, this height will usually work quite nicely.

Eyeball It.

Sometimes it's just best to eyeball it.

Instead of being meticulous about measuring, eyeball where the painting should go. Having a second person to hold it up while you decide where it looks good is helpful. Do not leave too much wall space between the painting and the sofa. The size of the painting also depends. You do not want one tiny picture in the center of the sofa and wall. You also don't want a huge painting from the sofa to the ceiling. Three to six inches away from the sofa is as close as you want to get.

Bottom Line

There are all kinds of interesting places to hang a painting.

The space between sofa and painting and the space between painting and ceiling should be similar. The viewer should be able to enjoy the painting from standing up and looking at it. The size of the painting should not overwhelm the sofa. The size should also not be so tiny that the wall overtakes the painting.

References

• DIY Network: Tips for Hanging Pictures
• Apartment Therapy: How To: Hang Your Artwork and Not Screw It Up