Where in the House?  

Probably nine times out of ten is the living room chosen to show the "coup de coeur" you have discovered at your last visit at the gallery. You should hang the artwork in such a way that it will enhance its value, particularly if it stays alone on the wall. In such case, an error that you should avoid is to center the artwork right in the middle of the wall, especially if it is a small size. I qualify this way of presenting an artwork, a stamp effect: small stamp, large envelope... will look lost. Ideally you will place this first artwork on a smaller wall or off center on the large wall. You should manage so the eye will automatically converge on the image.

The majority of people spontaneously will place the painting above the mantelpiece of the fireplace, which is far from being ideal. I agree that the newest fireplaces are much more effective than their antecedents and that all do not use wood as a source of energy which in turn eliminates most of the particles that dirty the work hung above the mantelpiece. The fireplaces with gas, for example, are practically of no danger for the artworks. On the other hand, all release a certain concentration of heat and you should make sure that the latter does not affect the painting hung there. Several fireplaces now have a ventilation system that diffuses the heat and, the first to gain from it are the artworks.

The hall is also a place to be considered for hanging your artwork. Thus everyone will see your new acquisition as they will get in your house. The walls being usually of smaller dimensions, they will allow a better balance between the format of the artwork and the dimensions of the wall. You will also have to bear in mind the subject. Being closer to the painting it is necessary to choose a subject that could be appreciated from a short distance.

In fact you can hang artworks everywhere in the house. You will appreciate the pleasure of admiring a painting in any room you decide to hang it. Certain logical restrictions apply like in the bathroom where it’s not a good advice to install works on paper because they are more sensible to moisture; but if you insist we will be able to frame them consequently.