The Complete Guide to Hanging Wall Art in Your Home: Pet Photography
- Brooke Arseneau
- Mar 26
- 3 min read
How to choose the right sizes, layouts, and placement for a polished, designer look when displaying your pet photography.
One of the biggest mistakes people make after investing in beautiful artwork is not knowing how to display it properly.
When artwork is sized and placed correctly, it can completely transform a space.
This guide will walk you through the key rules and techniques to help your artwork feel impactful, balanced, and beautifully integrated into your home.
1. The Golden Rule: Size Matters More Than You Think
The Ideal Width Rule
Your artwork should be approximately 60–75% the width of the furniture below it.
Examples:
Sofa (84” wide) → Artwork should be ~50–63” wide
Queen bed (60” wide) → Artwork ~36–45” wide
Console table (48” wide) → Artwork ~28–36” wide
This creates visual balance and makes the artwork feel intentional.
2. How High Should You Hang Art?
The Eye-Level Rule
The center of your artwork should sit around 57–60 inches from the floor.
This mimics gallery and museum standards and feels natural to the eye.
Above Furniture Rule
When hanging art above furniture:
Leave 6–10 inches between the bottom of the frame and the top of the furniture.
Too high = disconnected
Too low = cramped
You want the art to feel anchored to the piece below it.
3. Best Artwork Sizes for Common Spaces
Above a Sofa
Best options:
One large statement piece (30x40 or larger)
Two medium pieces side by side
A gallery wall
Avoid: small single frames
Above a Bed
One large horizontal piece works beautifully
Or 2–3 pieces evenly spaced
Keep it calm and balanced
Hallways
Use a series of evenly spaced frames
Keep consistent spacing (2–3 inches between frames)
Entryways
A strong statement piece works best
Or a small curated gallery wall
4. How to Create a Pet Gallery Wall That Looks Intentional
Gallery walls can either look like a designer feature…or completely chaotic.
Start With This:
Lay everything out on the floor first.
Choose Your Style:
1. Symmetrical Grid
Same size frames
Clean, modern look
2. Organic Layout
Mixed sizes
More relaxed, storytelling feel
Spacing Rule
Keep spacing consistent:
2–3 inches between each frame
Anchor Piece Rule
Start with your largest or most important piece in the center, then build outward.
Pro Tip:
Think of your gallery wall as one large piece, not many small ones.
5. How to Fill a Large Wall With Pet Photography (Without It Looking Empty)
Big walls need presence.
You have 3 strong options:
Option 1: One Large Statement Piece
Best for a clean, high-end look
Ideal sizes: 30x40, 40x60, or larger
Option 2: Multi-Piece Wall Art (Triptych or Series)
2–3 pieces side by side
Keep spacing consistent (1–3 inches)
Option 3: Gallery Wall
Great for storytelling
Mix of close-ups, wide shots, and detail images
6. The Power of Scale in Your Home
Large artwork doesn’t just fill space it creates emotion and impact.
This is especially true with pet photography.
A large, well-placed portrait:
Becomes a focal point
Tells a story
Keeps your pet’s presence alive in your everyday space
Small prints tucked away don’t have the same effect.
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Hanging artwork too high
❌ Choosing pieces that are too small
❌ Inconsistent spacing in gallery walls
❌ Not aligning art with furniture below
❌ Trying to “fill space” instead of designing intentionally
If you’d like help designing artwork for your home, I guide my clients through this entire process. From choosing the right images to selecting sizes and layouts that fit your space perfectly.
Because your memories deserve to be seen.
For my Pet Portrait Style Guide join the Brookes Photography email list. Subscribe below.
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