What to hang on the walls of a room is often the last decision people make when staging and styling a space, but that doesn’t mean it should be an afterthought. In fact, what you hang on the walls (and where and how much) can take a room from meh or even blah to WOW! We’ve recently added a new collection of artwork to the store that really helps illustrate this — new photos by award-winning photographer Jeanne Miller Wood. More than two dozen of her canvases and framed photos ranging in size and price from $20 to $150 create a mini-gallery area of the showroom. We painted one of the display walls black, which really sets off the artwork; it’s a great example of how wall color can create a sense of grandeur. We paired the artwork with a few different mirrors and floral sculptural pieces on the walls and some modern furniture options. The result is drama in the best possible way!

If you are looking around your space now and realizing it’s time for a change, we have some suggestions for you and tips on some of the common pitfalls to avoid. Let’s start with what you hang on your walls:

1.     Make It Personal. Pick items that are meaningful to you and make you happy.

2.     Celebrate Your Family.  If you hang family photos, give them special attention and make them look worthy. Don’t just stick them in some cheap frames and create a collage. Go for something more substantial. Many of the big box stores sell stock frames that are affordable and come with wide mattes that really set off the photos or whatever object you’re framing.

3.     Look for “Found Objects” to Display as Art. Carved wood pieces and antique moldings are popular. Macrame tapestry is a nostalgic trend. One of our designers said she tried once to talk her husband into hanging the front of an old Jeep on their walls. Our point is to think outside of the box here. We have several unexpected wall décor items around the store right now, including several of these decorative doors and shutters.

4.     Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall. Mirrors make excellent additions to just about any room., because they can move light around the space. We have a few choices in the store that have great architectural and decorative features. If you have an empty wall to decorate, consider a large leaning mirror. This is an especially good option if the wall is opposite a window or two. It will make your room feel bigger and brighter!

Now let’s talk about how you hang items on the wall:

5.     Hang Artwork at Eye Level. This is a general rule, but the No. 1 mistake people make when hanging their artwork (photos, painting and images) is that they hang it too high. Of course, eye level is different for everyone, but our advice is to be mindful as you’re deciding where to hang something and consider the size of the room, the height of the ceiling and what will be underneath the art before you go hammering nails into the wall.

6.     Strive for Balance. Be careful not to hang too many “heavy” pieces all in one area.

7     It’s OK to Have Blank Space. Don’t feel like every area of wall space needs something on it. When you hang too much on the walls, it can easily lead to visual overload. You eye doesn’t have anywhere to rest.

Now that you know what to look for and how to hang it, if you need inspiration, come into the store. We have a wide variety of art and other objects to hang on your walls.