Best Practices and Rules for Hanging Pictures Above Furniture

When decorating your home with artwork and wall accents, one of the most impactful display spaces is the area above your furniture. Hanging pictures in living rooms, bedrooms and offices helps introduce your personal style. But there are guidelines to follow for an attractive, functional arrangement.

Read on for the top rules and best practices when hanging pictures above furnishings like sofas, beds, dressers, desks and more.

Table of Contents

Allow Proper Clearance Above Furniture

The correct spacing or clearance between your pictures’ framing and the furniture below is a key rule for optimal placement. Having artwork too low or high above furnishings looks awkward. Follow these tips:

For sofas and chairs, keep around 8–12 inches of clearance from the furniture top to the bottom of the frame. This prevents bumping into the art.
Above beds, allow a minimum of 12 inches, but ideally closer to 18 inches, clearance from the mattress. This maintains an intimate feel while preventing collisions.
For dressers and desks, consider the height of the furniture itself, but generally allow around 8–10 inches of space above.
Over particularly tall furnishings like shelving units, increase clearance to 12–15 inches, so art doesn’t get lost.

Measure carefully and hold frames in place to judge the ideal clearance for your furniture items and room proportions.

Hang at Proper Height on Wall

The overall height of the picture arrangement on your wall is another important factor. Hang pictures above furnishings according to these guidelines:

In living rooms, center artwork roughly 60 inches from the floor to align with seated eye level.
For focal pieces like above beds, hang central art about 24–32 inches down from the ceiling to create balance.
Above other furniture, hang pictures in their “zone” of the wall, around 50–60 inches high for bedrooms and offices.
Consider existing architecture, like moldings, when choosing height. Use these features to help anchor frames.
For galleries spanning a whole wall, vary heights pleasingly but keep them centered around 60 inches.

Measure your room’s wall height and imagine lines dividing it into vertical zones to find the optimal level for your arrangement.

Select Properly Sized Art

The size of the artwork matters as well. Size pictures above furnishings proportionally according to these principles:

Larger scale furnishings and rooms call for appropriately sized statement art pieces.
Small rooms and furnishings are best complemented by smaller, more intimate framed pieces.
Allow 2–4 inches between the edges of frames and sides of the furniture for balanced breathing room.
Above beds and sofas, art should come within 6–10 inches of the ceiling for cohesion.
For offices and dressers, opt for appropriately sized pieces that don’t overwhelm the furniture visually.

Hold up pieces to test out different sizes above your furniture before hanging them to find the best fit.

Use Appropriate Mounting Hardware

Studying your walls and using suitable hardware is critical for hanging success.

For drywall or plaster, use drywall anchors and screws. For brick or concrete, use masonry anchors.
Distribute weight across studs whenever possible, using through-bolts for large or heavy pictures.
For galleries or clusters, use keyed hardware that allows grouping frames on a mounted rail or grid.
Check hardware load ratings and use heavy-duty options for supersized art. The hardware should exceed the frame’s weight.
Install hanging wire on frames for easy mounting and to keep pieces straight. The wire should be around 1/3 down from the top.
Use picture rails or decorative ledges for a seamless mounted look, especially with ornate frame profiles.

Choosing hardware suited to the frame’s size and your wall type prevents accidents and lets art shine.

Illuminate Art Properly

Essential to exhibiting artwork is lighting it attractively. Follow these rules for lighting above furnishings:

Use dedicated picture lights or directional shades to precisely highlight frames.
Install sconces with flanking arrangements to cast even light from both sides.
Layer ambient and accent lighting to prevent shadows and glare on pieces.
Avoid placing furniture with art directly under ceiling fixtures.
Use dimmers and smart bulbs to control brightness and play with lighting effects.

Proper overhead lighting, wall sconces and accent lamps together build an ambience perfect for showcasing cherished artwork.

By honoring these essential rules for clearance, height, scale, hardware and lighting when hanging above furnishings, you enable curated art displays that elevate any living space. Arrange and exhibit your beloved artwork with confidence using these best practices for stunning, functional results.