Interior Styling · Framing & Hanging · Wall Art Guide

How to Frame and Hang
Your Art — Expert Tips

Frame sizes, groupings, placement heights, lighting, and protection — everything you need to display your prints exactly right.

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In This Guide

1. Choosing the Right Frame Size
2. Curating Sets and Gallery Walls
3. Highlight or Blend?
4. Lighting Your Artwork
5. Protecting Your Prints
6. Final Tips

Few decisions shape a room as much as how you hang your art. A well-placed print transforms a blank wall into something that feels considered and personal. A poorly placed one — wrong height, wrong scale, wrong light — can make even a beautiful image feel like an afterthought. These tips cover the essentials, from choosing the right size to protecting what you hang.

"Hanging artwork doesn't have to be daunting. With thoughtful planning, you can transform your home into a curated space that's uniquely yours."

1. Choosing the Right Frame Size

The relationship between print size and wall space is the single most important factor in how art reads in a room. Too small, and it floats uncomfortably. Too large, and it overwhelms. Here's how to think about each size range.

Small Frames

Best for

Bathrooms, hallways, bedside tables, shelves.

Tip: Small frames look lost on large walls. Group them with other small pieces to create a cohesive arrangement — or simply place them on a shelf rather than hanging at all.

Placement: At eye level, or just above the feature it complements — a shelf, console, or bedside table.

Medium Frames

Best for

Kitchens, home offices, as part of a gallery wall.

Tip: Medium prints offer the most versatility — pair them with larger pieces or let them stand alone in smaller rooms.

Placement: Centre at eye level — approximately 145–150cm from the floor to the centre of the piece.

Large Frames

Best for

Living rooms, dining rooms, above a sofa or bed.

Tip: Large prints anchor a room. Avoid cluttering the space around them — let them breathe.

Placement: Leave at least 15–20cm between the bottom of the frame and the top of the furniture beneath it.

Mont Blanc du Tacul and Aiguille du Midi photography prints on a desk — small frame display

Small prints displayed on a desk — an alternative to hanging that works well for smaller sizes.

2. Curating Sets and Gallery Walls

🖼 Pairs of Two

Best for: Flanking mirrors, windows, or furniture for symmetry.

Tips: Use a consistent frame style or colour for cohesion. Align the top edges of both frames for a polished look.

Spacing: 5–8cm between frames feels balanced without looking too tight or too loose.

🖼🖼🖼 Groups of Three

Best for: Staircases, long walls, or above sectional sofas.

Tips: Arrange in a linear or triangular pattern. Varying frame sizes slightly adds visual interest without disorder.

Spacing: About 5–8cm between each piece for balance. The central piece should sit at eye level.

Set of three triptych prints hung above a large sofa — Aiguille du Midi pink sunset, Chamonix Prints

A triptych of three prints above a wide sofa — the most effective use of a large living room wall. The centre print sits at eye level; all three are evenly spaced.

💡 Gallery wall planning: Before drilling any holes, arrange all the frames on the floor to test your layout. Once happy, cut paper templates to each frame's size, tape them to the wall, and live with it for a day. The painter's tape test takes five minutes and prevents a lot of expensive mistakes.

💡 Collage and eclectic walls: For a gallery wall with a mix of sizes and styles, keep the visual centre of the whole arrangement at eye level rather than any individual frame. Use a mix of frame styles for an eclectic look, or uniform frames for a cleaner, more contemporary feel.

3. Highlight or Blend?

Before choosing where to hang a print, decide what role you want it to play — focal point or supporting element. Both approaches are valid; the mistake is being unclear about which you're going for.

Making Art a Focal Point

Choose: Bold colour, striking composition, or strong black-and-white contrast.

Light it: Use accent lighting to draw attention and separate it from the wall.

Place it: Where the eye naturally travels — above a mantel, at the end of a hallway, or centred on the largest unbroken wall in the room.

Give it space: Clear the surrounding wall. A statement piece loses its impact when surrounded by clutter.

Blending Art into the Room

Choose: Subtle, tonal pieces that echo or complement the room's colour palette.

Frame it: Avoid overly ornate frames — a natural wood or simple profile frame integrates more quietly.

Place it: To complement existing furniture or architectural features without competing with them.

Consistency: Matching frame styles across multiple pieces helps the whole wall feel considered rather than assembled.

4. Lighting Your Artwork

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Natural Light

Avoid direct sunlight on prints — UV exposure causes fading over time. Position art away from windows in direct sun, or use UV-protective glass or acrylic in the frame.

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Accent Lighting

Picture lights, track lighting, or wall-mounted sconces work well for highlighting specific pieces. Aim the light at a 30-degree angle to minimise glare and avoid harsh shadows.

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Ambient Room Light

Warm bulbs enhance the colours in warm-toned prints; cool light works better for black-and-white or blue-toned images. Match the tone of your lighting to the tone of the art.

5. Protecting Your Prints

🖼 Framing: Frame prints to protect them from dust, humidity, and handling. For archival longevity, use acid-free mat board and UV-protective glass or acrylic. Our prints are on 200gsm premium matte paper — they hold up well, but framing significantly extends their life.

💧 Humidity: Avoid hanging prints in bathrooms or kitchens without a frame — high humidity causes paper to warp and colours to deteriorate. If you want art in a bathroom, frame it behind glass and ensure the room is well ventilated.

🧹 Cleaning: Dust frames regularly with a soft dry cloth. Never spray cleaning products directly on glass or acrylic — apply to the cloth first, then wipe gently. The print itself should never be touched with cleaning products.

6. Final Tips

Measure twice, hang once. Use a tape measure and a spirit level. One slightly crooked print makes the whole wall look off — it's worth taking the extra two minutes.
Test the layout with painter's tape. Before drilling, mark out each frame's dimensions on the wall with tape. Step back, live with it for a day, then commit.
Balance the room, not just the wall. Consider the scale and proportion of the artwork relative to the furniture and the room as a whole — not just the available wall space.
Hang at eye level. The standard rule is 145–150cm from the floor to the centre of the piece. Above furniture, measure 15–20cm from the top of the piece to the bottom of the frame.
Stay true to your style. Art is personal. Rules are useful, but the most important one is that the piece means something to you. Start there and the rest follows.

Frequently Asked Questions

The standard rule is to hang the visual centre of the piece at eye level — approximately 145–150cm from the floor. When hanging above furniture, ignore the floor measurement and instead aim for 15–20cm between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the frame. This makes the art feel connected to the furniture below it rather than floating above it.

5–8cm between frames is the sweet spot for most gallery walls — close enough to read as a cohesive group, far enough apart that each piece has its own presence. Tighter spacing (3–5cm) works for a more editorial, grid-based look. Wider spacing (10cm+) starts to make the arrangement look like individual pieces rather than a curated wall.

Black frames work best with bold, high-contrast images and modern or minimal interiors. Natural wood (oak, ash, walnut) suits warm-toned alpine prints and Scandi or rustic spaces. White frames work well with lighter, moodier prints and bright contemporary rooms. Silver frames add a slightly cooler, more gallery-like quality. The most important thing is consistency — if you're hanging multiple prints, matching frame styles across the group reads better than mixing.

Glass is heavier but gives clearer, sharper results — better for large statement pieces. Acrylic is lighter and shatter-resistant, making it better for larger frames or locations where glass breakage is a concern. UV-protective versions of both are available and are strongly recommended for any print exposed to natural light, as UV is the primary cause of colour fading over time.

Yes, but with care. Frame the print behind glass in a sealed frame to protect it from humidity. Ensure the bathroom is well ventilated — extract fans running during and after showers significantly reduce moisture buildup. Avoid hanging art directly above a bath or shower where steam and water are concentrated. Prints on our 200gsm matte paper are not moisture-resistant on their own, so framing behind glass is essential in this environment.

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Giclée Quality

200gsm premium matte FSC-certified paper. Pigmented archival inks. No glare, true colour.

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Standard Sizes

All prints are sized to fit standard frames available at most home stores — no custom framing needed.

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Ships Worldwide

Printed locally in 32+ countries. Production 1–2 days, delivery 3–9 business days.

Fine Art Photography · Ships Worldwide