How to Hang Art in a Chalet: The Complete Technical Guide
The right artwork can transform a room but hanging it correctly is just as important. In a chalet, features like sloped ceilings and wood clad walls that give a mountain home it's charm can make hanging artworks even more challenging.
The good news is that these features can also create some of the best places to display art.
This guide covers everything you need from the essential rules for positioning artworks, followed by the technical considerations for different chalet wall types.
How To Hang Art
How High Should You Hang Art?
For artworks on an open wall, a useful starting point is to position the centre of the artwork approximately 145–150 cm from the floor.
The measurement is to the centre of the artwork itself, rather than the top of the frame or the hanging point. This is a guideline based on comfortable viewing height and commonly used in galleries and interior design. If you're used to the imperial system it's often referred to as the 57 inch rule.
For example, if your artwork is 60 cm high and you want its centre at 145 cm:
- Artwork height: 60 cm
- Half the artwork height: 30 cm
- Centre point: 145 cm
- Bottom of artwork: 115 cm
- Top of artwork: 175 cm
Room proportions and surrounding architecture such as double hight ceilings may mean you need to adjust this so trust your eye and get a second opinion if needed.
Photo curtesy of Pinterest Norvielle Home
Hanging Art Above Furniture
When an artwork is positioned above furniture, the furniture becomes the main reference point rather than the floor and whether it is a sofa, a console or a bed, as a rule you should leave approximately 15–20 cm between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the artwork so the art feels connected to the furniture rather than floating too high.
Hanging art bove a sofa
This distance can be increased if you are worried about kids playing and bumping into the artwork or if the sofa has a lower than standard back.
Photo curtesy of Claire Collins Interiors, art by Chalet Art Store
Hanging art above a bed
Centre the artwork over the bed or headboard, rather than automatically using the centre of the wall. The artwork should generally remain within the width of the headboard.
We have a collection of Landscape Format Artworks and Panoramic Artworks that work wonderfully over a bed. The panoramic selection works particularly well if the ceiling is low.
Photo curtesy of Studio Burges
If there is no headboard, use the bed as your visual reference and ensure the artwork is positioned safely away from contact with pillows and bedding.
If you are feeling creative you could also hang a couple of artworks asymmetrically on the wall that features the bed for an interesting curated look.
Photo curtesy of Atelier Giffon
If you have a double hight ceiling above a bed or a sloped ceiling a portrait format artwork can also work.
Hanging art above a console or sideboard
Remember to account for objects sitting on the furniture, such as lamps or vases, so that the composition doesn't feel crowded. It's ok for a lamp to partially cover the artwork but be aware of the size of the lampshade so it doesn't completely cover the art.
You could try raising it to approximately 30cm, or if the piece of furniture is very low you can revert back to the 57" rule. Balancing proportions is essential for that pro finish so consider the size of the artwork as a factor.
Getting the Scale Right: this is so important
Scale is one of the most common reasons artwork doesn't look right once it is on the wall.
Above furniture, the art should be 2/3 to 3/4 of the furniture's width as a useful starting point. This measurement applies to the overall width of the artwork arrangement, so several pieces can be combined to achieve the correct scale.
On a large empty wall, consider the size of the wall, ceiling height and surrounding architecture to judge the best size for your art.
Check out our collection of portrait artworks that are great hung in groups of 2 or 3 above a sofa.
Photo curtesy of Pinterest (source unknown)
| Sofa width | Approximate artwork(s) width |
|---|---|
| 180 cm | 117–135 cm |
| 200 cm | 130–150 cm |
| 240 cm | 156–180 cm |
| 280 cm | 182–210 cm |
| 300 cm | 195–225 cm |
A small print can look lost on a large chalet wall, while an oversized artwork can overwhelm a narrow space.
When choosing between two sizes, slightly larger is often more effective than too small, particularly in rooms with high ceilings. Going too small can look unconsidered and cheapens the overall look, whilst going large feels luxurious. Thats not to say that intimate smaller artworks can't work, it just needs to be intentional.
Always measure twice and make sure it actually fits when framed!
Pairing Different Artworks
Different artworks do not need to match exactly to work together.
When placing several pieces in the same area, look for a visual connection such as:
- Similar colours and tones
- A shared subject or landscape
- Similar frame finishes
- Related artistic styles
The pieces can vary in size, orientation and subject while still feeling cohesive. At Chalet Art Store, I can curate art for you, presented in a PDF format so you can see how the artworks selected will work and flow together across your chalet.
When hanging multiple artworks together, establish the centre and overall dimensions of the complete arrangement first, rather than positioning each piece independently.
A gap of approximately 5–10 cm between frames is a useful starting point for smaller groupings such as for above a sofa. More generous spacing can be used when you want the artworks to feel more individual.
Photo curtesy of Chalet Art Store
Hanging Art in Awkward Chalet Spaces
Chalet architecture often creates spaces where standard hanging rules need to be adapted.
Sloping ceilings, exposed beams, double height ceilings, staircases and irregular walls can all affect where artworks should sit.
Photo curtesy of Atelier Giffon
Don't automatically try to align artworks with the ceiling or other architectural features. Instead, consider the visual lines of the space and how the artwork will be viewed and where it should be in relation to the furniture.
For example a lower hung piece may work better beneath a sloping ceiling rather than forcing it higher simply to follow a standard centre height.
A great tip is to mark the outline of the artwork on the wall in decorators tape so you can see what it will look like before making the purchase or hammering a nail into the wall.
Use standard measurements as a starting point, but let the space dictate the final position.
Photo curtesy of Neil Sharp and Pinterest (source unknown)
Technical Guide: Hanging Art on Different Wall Types
The correct fixing depends on three things:
- Wall construction
- Artwork weight
- Hanging hardware
A fixing suitable for a lightweight print on plasterboard may be completely unsuitable for a large framed artwork on masonry. Always check the weight rating of the fixing before installation and hire a professional if you are unsure.
Hanging art on Plasterboard / Drywall
Plasterboard does not provide the same holding strength as solid masonry.
For lightweight artworks, a suitable picture hook may be sufficient. Heavier pieces require a fixing designed specifically for plasterboard, such as a self-drilling plasterboard fixing or hollow-wall fixing.
Where possible, fixing into a timber or metal stud provides a stronger fixing point. Do not assume that a standard masonry wall plug is suitable for plasterboard.
Photo curtesy of Chalet Shop, art by Chalet Art Store
Hanging art on Wood-Clad Walls
First establish whether the timber cladding itself is strong enough to carry the artwork or whether the fixing needs to reach the structure behind it.
For lightweight artwork, fixing into sufficiently thick solid timber may be appropriate. Heavier pieces should be fixed into suitable structural timber or framing behind the cladding.
Do not assume that thin decorative panelling can support a heavy framed artwork.
Photo curtesy of Neil Sharp for Catherine Lyons Interiors
Hanging art on Stone Walls
Stone walls need extra care, particularly in older chalets where the construction can be uneven or unpredictable.
I advise against drilling directly into exposed stone or mortar without consulting a professional, as you risk damaging the stone or creating a weak fixing point.
Hanging art on Concrete
Concrete provides a strong fixing surface but requires appropriate masonry or concrete drilling equipment.
For heavier artwork, use a fixing system specifically rated for the load and concrete substrate.
Take care to avoid concealed electrical cables, plumbing and reinforcement. Again I would advice seeking a professional to do this.
Hanging art on Crépi walls and render
Ahh Crépi, the textured plaster finish commonly found in French chalets that designers love to hate. It can make hanging artworks slightly more challenging so the important thing to remember is that crépi is the surface finish, not the structural wall. What lies underneath could be a range of materials.
For anything more substantial than a lightweight artwork, I recommend drilling through the crépi and fixing securely into the solid wall behind it, using a plug and screw appropriate for that substrate and the weight of the artwork.
If the crépi is particularly thick, fragile or uneven, take extra care when drilling to avoid chipping the finish. It is unpredictable and can be very hard or it can crumble into a fine powder. For heavy or valuable artworks, professional installation is recommended.
Photo curtesy of @Hautexposure
Before You Drill
Always:
- Measure the wall and furniture.
- Establish the centre point.
- Check the artwork's weight.
- Identify the wall construction.
- Select the correct fixing for the substrate and load.
- Check for concealed electrical cables and plumbing.
- Mark the fixing position carefully.
- Check the artwork is level.
- Test the fixing before placing valuable artwork on the wall.
- Get help when needed.
For particularly heavy, valuable or unusually shaped pieces, professional installation is the safest option.
The Golden Rule to Hanging Art
Start with the rules, then adapt them to the architecture, furniture and proportions of the room. This is particularly important in a chalet, where exposed materials, unusual wall construction and dramatic architecture are often part of what makes the interior special and unique.
If you are doing more than just hanging art and need help with decorating a whole chalet then check out our guide How to Decorate a Ski Chalet for tips and inspiration.
How to Hang a Framed Picture: step by step instructions
1. Measure the wall
For hanging on an empty wall, measure the total width of the space where you want the artwork to hang. For hanging above furniture measure the width of the furniture and mark the centre point.
2. Measure your frame
Measure the height of the framed artwork. Divide this measurement by two to find its centre.
3. Measure the hanging point
Turn the frame over and measure from the top of the frame down to the hanging wire, D-rings or fixing point where the nail would go. For example, if the fixing point is 8 cm below the top of the frame, note this measurement.
4. Calculate where the fixing needs to go
If you want the centre of the artwork at 150 cm, add half the frame height to 150 cm, then subtract the distance from the top of the frame to the fixing point.