It’s an old trick, but a simple mirror (like in the living room of a suite in 530 River Avenue) can make a space feel bigger.
Displaying your favourite pieces of art or treasured pictures is a major part of making your apartment feel like home. There are countless ways to add character to your walls with pictures, art, mirrors, or other décor.
While keeping your walls nail-free is a priority in a rental, that doesn’t mean you have to give up your vision for picture-perfect walls – you just need to get creative.
Look for Inspiration
Before you head to the home improvement store, do some research. Look on Pinterest or other design inspiration websites to see how other people are decorating their spaces. You might find something you want to copy, or you could mix a few ideas together. Try searching keywords like “wall art ideas” or “wall art design.”
Although there are some hard and fast design concepts you should stick to (see the next section), don’t get bogged down by trends. If you want to break the mould and create a design that’s out of the ordinary, go for it.
Beyond looking for inspiration on how to hang art or which art to choose, you can also look for frames that act as art themselves. Have fun with how you frame your pieces, from rustic, homemade DIY frames to elegant antique options.
Try to hang pieces about 55 or 60 inches off the floor, whether you’re in a living room or the bathroom like this one at 530 River Avenue.
Hanging Guidelines
No matter what look you’re going for, there are a couple recommendations to stick to when decorating your walls.
Hang pieces about 55 to 60 inches from the floor to the centre of the piece. This is around eye level for most average-sized adults, so it’s easy for you and your guests to look at whatever you’re hanging on the walls.
However, that measurement may change depending on the other features of the room. If there’s a high couch or table in front of the piece, leave some space in between them. If the ceilings are low, you’ll want a bit more room between the ceiling and the top of your piece.
Lean art on a piece of furniture, like at the desk in the bedroom of 530 River.
Hang Safely
Put away the hammer and nails and choose something that won’t leave permanent marks on your walls.
Use command strips or hooks for hanging heavier pieces. Sketch or measure out where you’d like to put them before you stick the hardware onto the wall to avoid having to reposition.
If you have a bigger piece of art or a large mirror, you can lean it against the wall from the floor. Smaller pieces can go on top of surfaces like bookcases, mantles, or taller furniture.
Another fun option, if you have some extra space, is to set up an easel and display your art on it. It not only brings attention to a special piece, but also makes it easy to switch out pieces if you’d like to show different items.
Watch For Balance
While you’re decorating, look around the room and evaluate the other furniture to see any gaps. There should be a consistent amount of décor and negative (blank) space throughout the room.
If you’re looking for more design inspiration, read our blog on decorating for small spaces.
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