You’ve painted the walls, installed the lighting and hung the curtains … and something’s still missing. Well, the best way to bring colour, warmth and an extension of your personality to your space is by adding wall hangings.

 The only limit to a myriad of wall hanging choices is your imagination. You can choose from art in various mediums, such as porcelain and clay plates, tile work, mirrors, tapestries and embroidery. Decorative panels in various materials such as carved woodblocks and ethnic fabric like banarsi and rilli, and even garments such as kimonos, kaftans or heavily embroidered ethnic frocks can also be used. Mounted curios, pin-up posters, personal memorabilia including family portraits, photographs and caricatures, your child’s art, certificates, travel souvenirs and mementos are some other options. Or you can even use religious art, including calligraphy, art glass and stained glass, wall plaques and sculptures.  

 Some spaces do not have straight ceiling and wall lines, so you have to adjust your art to visually fit the room and look correct.  

Add colour and warmth to your home and office with proper use of wall hangings

 The position of the hanging depends on its size and the wall’s light fixtures and furniture and the room’s overall environment. The standard height for wall hangings is where the top quarter of the image is at your eye level. If you are hanging a picture over furniture, the gap between the two should not be more than three to six inches.

 For best positioning, stick a cut-out of the piece on your wall. Observe it from a distance to make any required adjustments before hanging the piece in this position. The cut-out method is ideal for hanging pieces in a group or composition. Stick the templates on the wall and move them around to create the perfect combination.

 An arrangement can be in the form of a grid, a series, a symmetrical display or a salon style composition, and looks pulled together if the pieces have a unifying theme.

One small picture hanging alone on a large wall looks awkward. Group it with more pieces to create an arrangement in proportion to the wall space. Four small same-size pictures grouped together in a four-square gives the illusion of a larger picture.

One large picture can hang solo or be flanked by a set of two or more smaller pieces with a uniform distance between each item in a symmetrical display that is easy to achieve. A large mirror can replace the centre picture.

In a salon style arrangement, position the most prominent piece in the centre and add pieces around it. A mix of multidimensional pieces such as plates, curios, sculptures, display shelves and frames in different shapes and colours will make the arrangement lively and interesting.

 The wall hanging should suit the mood and theme of the space. An oil painting in a gilt frame would go well in a formal setting. A mirror in the foyer lets guests make a quick self-check. A living room can host personal displays like photographs of family members, children’s artwork and framed ticket stubs from vacations. In the patio, tile murals look perfect. A teen or tween’s room reflects their life and times with pin-up posters, witty quotes on tin plates, photographs of school friends, events and certificates.

 Frames can be exactly the same shape and size, thematic or an eclectic mix to form a gallery-style display. Some frames are so exquisite that they qualify as art. A collection of empty frames or a single, empty frame within an art arrangement adds a surprise element. And not everything has to be framed. You can go frameless for a clean look that lets you focus on the art.

 To hang antique and collectors’ plates, use custom-made plate-hanging hooks and clip. If this is not available locally, you can ask a carpenter to glue a hook on a wooden base at the back of the plate, or to make a frame using aluminium wire.

  Art can also be displayed on a decorative ledge or shelf nailed on to a wall instead of directly on the wall for added character. This system is ideal for displays above door or window level.

 Mirrors reflect light around a space, making the space seem larger. They add depth and style to a space, and make it become alive and interactive. Hanging an oversize mirror is a quick fix for a blank wall or a dull or difficult corner. Several smaller unframed mirrors grouped together in a grid, series or in different shapes make a stunning display.

 If you want to draw attention to unique accessories, furniture or an area in a room, hanging an art piece on the wall draws the eye towards it.

  A single large wall hanging or an arrangement on the blank space on the wall behind a bed doubles as a headboard.    Your own children are the most important artists in your life. Dedicate a wall in the house to their artwork, where they can draw on the wall itself, stick their art made on paper, or hang their framed work. 

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, December 7th, 2014