Expert: Jennifer Pierce - 9/20/2009

Question
Hi Jennifer,
I have two large framed pieces of art that I would like to hang on the stairwell but I have no idea of how high to hang them or how far apart. If you can offer some insight, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Lora

Answer
You're right, it's hard to know where to start when you want to hang art in a stairwell.  You can't just hold stuff up and ask someone to look at it, and you don't want to have to move it once you've hung it, so you need to get it right the first time.

In another question I counseled the questioner to lay the artwork out on the floor in front of the long hall where the questioner desired the art to be hung.  This really won't work in your case, but what I would do is create a scale drawing of the stairwell and of the two pieces you want to hang.  It does not need to be a 3-D model or anything, just a proportionate drawing of the wall in question (with the stairs indicated), and then cut out two squares/rectangles (the shape of the artworks).  Graph paper is extremely helpful here.  Once you have a drawing of the wall and the stairs (this is called an elevation in interior-design language)and two little mock-ups of the art, you can begin to play with the location of the art to see how it looks best.

It is helpful to use crayons to mock up the colors and rough shapes of the artworks and of the stairs; for example, if the stairs are wooden, color them in the drawing with a crayon that matches the woodtone; if the art is a landscape. rough it out in crayons.  It doesn't have to be anywhere near perfect, it just needs to approximate the look so you can get a better idea of how it will look in life.

To address the height to hang:  Ideally, one hangs pictures at the approximate eye level of a 5'8" person.  However, the eye level is going to change as the person goes up the steps, so that "rule" isn't very helpful here.  You will want to make sure the art isn't too high to be seen.  Try it with both pictures at the same level and then try them staggered up the stairs to see which way you like it best.

Once you're happy with the placement, use your scale drawing to determine exactly where you will need to place the hangers.  

I hope this is helpful and also saves somebody from throwing their back out hanging pictures in several places on the stairs before they're happy with the arrangement!  Good luck.