Design Public

Next on the list: Asymmetrical Arrangements. Hanging your art in small or large clusters gives a lot of interest and energy to a space, no matter the size.

Compared to working with a single piece of art or arranging your pieces symmetrically, asymmetrical arrangements do require a little extra planning. Here is a step by step guide to getting through the process:

1.) Depending on the number of pieces you plan to work with, the first step, of course, is to collect art. Find pieces that A.) Appeal to you (duh!) and B.) Have a common or complementary color palette. Too many conflicting colors can be hard on the eyes. If you are feeling adventurous add three dimensional favorites to the lineup (i.e. mirrors, plates, clocks, etc).

2.) Once your pieces are collected, find a floor or table space similar in size to the wall space you plan to cover and start playing! Work with varying configurations, keeping in mind the balance and weight each art piece has on the grouping as a whole.

3.) When you feel like the collection is just as you want it, you can either attack the walls working from the inside of the collection outward (or bottom to top if it is above furniture), or take it slow and plan your wall first (which is highly recommended for first timers). If the choose your own adventure leads you to the slow route, create templates of each piece and tape the pattern to your wall. This will give you a visual sense as to what the grouping will look like before you start hammering away. 1-2″ is typically a good amount of space between each piece.

4.) Hang! If you want your art to look straight use a level and hang each piece on 2 nails instead of one.

Tips/suggestions for asymmetrical groupings:

* If you need some structure to get started (and to keep the collection balanced), work using an invisible line through the middle of the collage and work your way up and down from it. Or, if you are hanging pieces above a table, sofa, or bed, work using an invisible line at the bottom.

* If you are having trouble putting a good number of pieces together in a clean way, work your art within a large rectangle or square.

*If you fear putting something on your walls that you are not sure you will like 5 days from now, or if you are the type of person who likes frequent change, consider a Gus Design Group Picture Rail. Picture rails allow you to rearrange your art as you please without putting additional holes in your walls. You can also layer art and objects to give the scene a very organic look.

* Some small spaces will benefit from vertical arrangement. A narrow wall, for example, is a great space to hang a number of small images in a vertical line.

Ok, so we have covered the most common forms of wall art display…a balanced collection or an asymmetrical assemblage look. Now let’s get into the good stuff (not that the other stuff wasn’t good)…my personal favorite: Using wall applications for maximum texture!