Paintings are an essential element of any home decor. They are also a tasteful way to personalize your spaces. But to harmoniously arrange artworks and to create a well balanced and artful decor, some rules of thumb need to be followed:

1. Reinforce the existing theme

Consider the dominant inspirations in your room decor. Is the room contemporary or classic? Is the color scheme subdued and soothing or contrasted and energizing? The answers should give you a hint to which type of art would best enhance your decor. A colorful and powerful abstract painting would perfectly reinforce a creative modern decor but surely clash in a tranquil classic bedroom setting.

Furthermore, it is safer to stick to a specific theme when combining art in the same room. A figurative landscape watercolor would usually not combine well with a geometrical abstract creation.

2. Arrange the larger artworks first

It is recommended to hang the largest pieces first, as they will have the bigger impact on the room decor.

Make sure the orientation of the art fits the space created by the wall. A large horizontally oriented work of art will suit a long wide wall better. A vertically oriented painting will perfectly complement a narrow and high wall.

Secondly, always position the painting on the wall so that the centre of the painting is at your eye line.

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Consider also the size of the furniture piece when hanging works of art above furniture. In general, a painting should not be wider than the sofa below it. To create a balanced decor, an artwork should be about two-thirds the width of the furniture piece.

Lastly, creating a visual connection between the furniture and the art will create a dramatic effect. A painting with a dominant green in it will look better near a sofa upholstered in the same hue. As it is usually not possible to change your furnishing's color, you can also create more subtle visual links: place a striking red ceramic vessel on the chest bellow your vivid and passionate red abstract painting, or play with the colors of your cushions and throws, the possibilities are endless!

3. Regroup the smaller paintings and pictures

When it comes to arranging smaller artworks, remember that grouping pieces will create a stronger effect. Sprinkling various small paintings and pictures in your decor would only create a clustered and "noisy" space.

When positioning a group of paintings together, then paintings in the middle of the arrangement should be at eye level.

Looking for a formal atmosphere? Arrange your paintings symmetrically. Willing to create a more modern and dramatic space? Asymmetrical arrangements will help you create an artful space.

Also, if you wish to group together images of various sizes, place the larger pictures at the bottom and the smaller above to create well balanced arrangements.

Damien Pfirsch is the founder of www.asiannoouveau.com, an online marketplace promoting contemporary Asian decor accents and Asian furniture. Based in Bangkok, Thailand, the website gives Asian decor exporters international exposure to buyers and media looking for the latest Asian design trends.