You might have more room for art than you think.

A friend of mine was visiting from Auckland recently and was lamenting the fact that her love of art did not quite fit with the amount of wall space available in her small apartment.
It made me smile because I hear a version of this quite often in the gallery.  “I love it, but I do not have anywhere to put it.

I completely understand. Our homes are already full of the things that tell the story of our lives, and artwork is often part of that biography. There are photographs of people we love, things we have collected, furniture we have inherited and pieces of art that have meant something to us along the way.

So when the walls are already spoken for, where does another piece fit?  I thought I would put together a few ideas for thinking a little differently about hanging and displaying art when space is limited. Not because I think every empty space needs to be filled, but because sometimes it is just a matter of looking at the space differently.

Look up

We often instinctively hang artwork at eye level, but there are no hard and fast rules.
Hanging a piece a little higher can draw the eye upwards and make a room with low ceilings feel taller. It can also make use of spaces that might otherwise be overlooked.

Narrow vertical spaces can work particularly well for tall, slender artwork, while two smaller pieces stacked vertically can sometimes work where a wider piece simply cannot.
And an awkward little gap does not necessarily need to be filled with something small. Sometimes a long, narrow piece is exactly what the space needs.

Look beyond the obvious walls

There are plenty of places in a home that we do not immediately think of as somewhere to hang art.

A small piece can sit on a bookshelf or shelf alongside books and objects that already have meaning. Larger work can sometimes be leaned against a wall rather than hung, creating a much more relaxed feel.  The ends of built-in cabinetry can provide an unexpected little gallery space. Pillars, stairwells and other architectural features can also offer possibilities.

Of course, anything leaning on a shelf or floor should be secured appropriately, particularly here in New Zealand where we occasionally get a reminder that walls are not always as stationary as we would like them to be.

Think in groups

A collection of smaller artworks can sometimes make better use of limited space than one large piece. But this can work just as well with medium-sized pieces too.

Rather than spreading individual frames around a room, try bringing them together into a tighter grouping. Seen as a whole, the collection can have the visual impact of one larger artwork without needing a large uninterrupted wall. This can also be a lovely way to build a collection slowly over time.

You do not have to find a giant wall and fill it all at once. You can start with one piece that you really love and allow the collection to grow around it.

Let the frames do less

When space is tight, simple framing can help.  Uncomplicated frames and a degree of consistency between pieces can reduce visual clutter and allow the artwork itself to become the focus. That does not mean everything has to match. I actually really like collections that have evolved naturally over time. But if a room already has a lot going on, quieter framing can help the artwork breathe.

Remember that art can move

One of the advantages of owning art is that it does not have to stay exactly where you first put it.  A piece that has lived above the couch for seven years might look completely different in a bedroom, hallway or study.

Sometimes we simply stop seeing things because we have become accustomed to them.
A seasonal re-hang can be surprisingly refreshing. Move a few things around, swap pieces between rooms, or bring something out of storage that you have not looked at for a while.  You might discover that you have more wall space than you thought.

And there are other walls in your life

If your home genuinely has no room left, perhaps there is another place where you spend a good deal of time. A home office, studio or workplace can be a wonderful place for artwork.

We tend to think about art as something for living rooms and bedrooms, but why not surround yourself with things that inspire you while you work?  There is something nice about having a piece of art that you see every day simply because you spend time at that desk.

When you redecorate, think about reframing too

Sometimes the answer is not new artwork at all.  If you are changing a room, it can be worth looking at the artwork you already own with fresh eyes. A different frame, mount or orientation can completely change how a piece sits within a space.

I do not think our homes need to be filled with art simply because we have empty walls and I don't think every available space needs something hanging on it.  But if there is a piece you love and you have been telling yourself that you don't have room for it, perhaps it is worth having another look.

Sometimes it is not a question of finding more space.  It is simply a matter of seeing the space you already have differently.