| It’s really hot to hang art groupings salon-style on a wall. It takes a lot of confidence to start nailing up art in a seemingly hodge-podge kind of way, and you may feel held back by a lack of cohesive art to choose from (or so you think). But really, you need very little to unite an odd grouping of art. Just the idea to do it and the decision to hang 5+ pieces close together make a girl seem really arty and bold. |  |
I’ve had a grouping of plates on the wall of my dining room for several years. Lots of nails, so I felt really committed. I still liked it, but sometimes you just need a change. And I was ready for something different, something bolder. I’ve done lots of salon groupings lately for clients, and I’m really loving the importance it can bring to a seemingly disparate group of art pieces.
I cleared my wall and moved this buffet to the other side of the room. I figured I’d need more weight on that side after I finished what I was planning to do on this side of the room.
I started with my favorite, one of the larger pieces. I placed it toward the bottom of my planned grouping, a little off-center so it wouldn’t look symmetrical. I laid out all my art on the floor first to experiment with placement. I didn’t want this grouping to look over-planned, but also not haphazard.
I started adding more art, working one side first. I spaced the frames about 1 1/2 to 3 inches apart, not being too perfect.
I continued on with the other side. Salon-style groupings are supposed to look as though art was added over time, continually stacked up and out. No measuring or exact spacing between frames! And no straight lines between or around artwork. Just keep the the art grouped close enough to where, when you step back and look at the grouping, it looks like a “whole.”
All of my artwork here is vintage, but not at all valuable. I don’t think I spent over $10 on any of these pieces. They are all landscapes or florals, so they work together without competing too much with one another.
I really think this makes a bigger statement than any of these pieces made alone scattered throughout my home. You can do this with all kinds of art, photographs, children’s drawings, portraits, etc. It’s nice to have a common theme, but not necessary. Most of my frames here are antique gold, but a few are off-white and the styles are all different. Why not try something like this for yourself? Just hanging the art close together creates a whole new piece of art – reminding us that the whole is often greater than the sum of its parts.
Photo Credits: Southern Living, The Decorologist (formerly StoneBrook Staging).
I think that change in your dining room is beautiful and makes a different kind of impact. I like that you moved the buffet across the room to balance the weight. That grouping gives a whole, new feel in that composition rather than scattered throughout. Great job!
I really like your “new” dining room. Do you think the Salon Style would work in my kid’s bathroom with the miscellaneous pieces we were looking at last week? Or does the space need to be bigger for this idea? The Boston museum of art poster, Barbados shack, child’s batik print…That’s only 3 items…I might be able to come up with more…kid’s art, etc. I know that “matchy-matchy” is out, but somehow the grouping has to work together, right? That’s where I lack my confidence. In what ways does it need to “match”? I like the Salon Style though — glad to know it has a name!
Amy, I actually thought of a small version of that for your bathroom – the child’s batik and Barbados shack work, we need a third piece. The art poster has a different look that probably would best work alone by itself. See if you can come up with a funky third piece.
I like any kind of decorating that doesn’t involve exact measurements – that’s MY kind of decorating! Plus, this gives me the idea that I could possibly pull of something like this (with the help of a few garage sales.) Great post!
I noticed that you did not use any horizontal pictures in your grouping. Would including one (or more) throw the eye flow off? I have one of a waterfall that I would love to use in that style grouping, if it would work. Thanks for keeping us thinking and not stuck with the same thing year(s) after year(s)
Faye – You mean I don’t have any vertical pictures? It’s only because the landscapes and florals I owned just happened to all be horizontal. A couple of verticals thrown in would work great. Your waterfall would be beautiful in a grouping, I’m sure.
I just came to you through the Colour Me Happy link and I just love this wall. It’s beautiful. I’m looking to do something like that in my family room — just need to find the time to collect all the pieces! thanks for sharing. Carol
thank you, carol! glad you like. 🙂
I adore Salon Style. I am waiting for the front desk to ring me. I am going to need some help with this project.
I have downsized. All of the art is going up no matter what. I have donated, tossed and given away tons of things. The art remains. I have been stepping over it for days. I can’t wait to see what we come up with. There are not a lot of walls left. We are going to have to be very creative.
your rules are dumb, and have no coherence. it seems this is some way to advertise your idealized self image.