Hanging a picture over a sofa is a great way to create a focal point in the room. There are, however, a couple of simple rules to follow which will make sure it looks perfect.
Rule No 1. Get the size & proportion right.
To create the perfect balance, make sure the artwork is at least two thirds the length of the sofa. Anything smaller will look lost and unbalanced against the scale of the furniture. If your selected piece is smaller, then use two or more to create a wider group. If you go too big and exceed the length of the sofa, you will find it overwhelms the furniture rather than enhancing it.
Rule No 2. Position for harmony.
Once the size is right, you need to follow the second rule around positioning. As a general guide a good position is 8” to 10” above the back of the sofa. An image too high will look like it’s detached from the sofa and a piece too low will get lost in the sofa. Remember you are creating a scene with the art and the sofa together in harmony, not just hanging a piece on the wall. If you incorporate your surroundings to work with your art, it will tie the whole room together and create a stunning focal feature.
If you need help with sizing up a painting for over your sofa, speak to our interiors expert Fenella on 01275 341 141 who would be happy to help.
