Size Matters
Anyone who tells you size doesn't matter is lying - at least when it comes to choosing the proper size painting for your home. The size and orientation of the piece of art could mean the difference between looking like you've got your home perfectly designed and looking like everything was just kind of thrown on the wall without a thought given. There's actually a lot of knowledge behind choosing the right size piece of artwork for your home.
The Size
Would you put a 5 foot tall painting in your small hallway? Of course not! So why do so many people put the smallest little painting in the center of a huge, empty wall with nothing else surrounding it? The size of your painting and the placement are huge factors when it comes to decorating your home properly. When choosing a painting to buy, look at the dimensions and then think about how much space you have to hang it in your home. But also be thinking about the other decorations in your home as well. If you've got a big mirror placed over your fireplace, you won't want to have a huge painting taking up the other wall entirely. Make sure that the size you choose works with the other decorations in your home to balance everything.
The Orientation
This may seem silly but it's also very important. Choosing the right orientation for where you want the painting to be hung is almost as important as the size. Once again, it's all about balance. A narrow wall, like at the end of the hallway, should not have a horizontal painting because it will only make the wall look smaller and shorter. Choosing a long, thin, and vertical piece of art will be much more pleasing to the eye. Horizontal paintings often look best on a wide wall so it doesn't make the room look crowded. Want to decorate your living room with some artworks? Place a horizontal painting over a sofa to complement the sofa and add color and interest to the wall just above it.
Diptych and Triptych Paintings
If you're unfamiliar with these terms, I'll clarify a little for you. Diptych is a word used to describe two flat pieces of art - like a painting - usually connected by a hinge. So really, it's two paintings that are usually of the same style/theme created by a single artist and then hinged together or placed one next to the other. A triptych is the same thing, except with three paintings or pieces of art. Typically these types of paintings are used to take up more space - something very useful if you are looking to add more decorations to your new home. Something to keep fresh in your mind when buying these types of artwork is to make sure you're using them in a section of the house that is not already crowded with decorations. Since these take up much more room than a single painting, you'll want to ensure that there's not too much going on for the eye to handle. They look best hung alone on a wall versus hung next to other pieces.
Although choosing painting size and orientation is really up to you and which piece you want, just remember these tips to ensure that you are hanging them in the correct place in your home. With the above information, you will truly let the artwork shine and keep the attention off of anything else.