Vertical Landscape and Nature Photography
There are subjects in nature that often beg to be captured vertically. Towering waterfalls, trees, forests and slot canyons are a few of my favorites that immediately come to mind. As a photographer, it is critical to choose the orientation that presents your work in its best light. When decorating your home, it is equally important. If you have a space that you just can't seem to fill and would like my help, I frequently work with homeowners and designers to enhance all kinds of unique space with original photography art. I enjoy speaking with current and future collectors to help bring our natural world inside their homes. Until then, let's dive into some rules of thumb when displaying vertical artwork in your home.
Where To Hang Vertical Photography Prints
Look, it happens to everyone at some point or another. You have a horizontal piece of art that you absolutely love but aren't sure where to display it. After agonizing over it for weeks, it ends up hanging awkwardly at the end of a long hallway, leaving you with that feeling like a stranger peeking through the bathroom stall door in a public restroom. What? This has never happened to you? You need to get out more.
Ok, maybe hanging vertical art isn't as serious as your stalker from the local coffeeshop peering into your porcelain palace, but it is a challenge that many find difficult to navigate. Maybe you've sought out some inspiration and tried to find out how others make their vertical prints work – at your local art gallery, while out shopping at West Elm or over at your friend’s house... you know the one with the annoying dog that likes your leg a bit too much. Don't worry, if you’re still not sure where or how to hang your vertical photography art prints, you’ve come to the right place.
There’s an art to displaying your art artfully. If you can forgive or indulge the wordplay, this article will uncover some of the best ways to make use of vertical photography art prints in your home and provide some ideas for you to try out in your space.
Make The Most of Your Accent Walls
Accent walls can be the bane of the interior designer’s existence. And no two accent walls are identical, which can further complicate the matter. But these spaces are prime real estate for vertical photography or fine art prints. Abstract photography, even when originally presented in a horizontal format by the artist, can often be rotated and displayed vertically as well.
Regarding the nature of accent walls – vertical artwork can be a real game-changer. It offers a unique opportunity to infuse your personality and creativity into your living space. You might begin by evaluating the rest of the room’s aesthetic. Your choice of art or photography should harmonize with the existing decor, so consider the mood you want to convey and how you might achieve that look.
Scale and placement are crucial. A large, dramatic piece can dominate the room and become a focal point, while smaller works may be better suited to intimate spaces. In most cases, the artwork should hang at eye level for comfortable viewing, and it should also be well-lit to accentuate the overall appearance.
Corridors, Hallways & Traditional Spaces
Oftentimes, these liminal spaces get overlooked when it comes to design or wall decorations. Adding a vertical photo or frame or two can really liven these spaces up in ways that horizontal displays cannot.
You can even arrange multiple vertical pieces to create a visual journey and guide the viewer’s eye through an interior space. The size and scale of the photos or artwork should match the space’s dimensions to complement instead of overwhelm.
These transitional spaces are a great opportunity to showcase something special that expresses your unique style, whether you gravitate toward the modern, traditional, or an eclectic style all your own.
You can also craft a gallery-like ambiance with a thoughtful mixture of vertical photographs, paintings, and other decorative pieces. Doing so is a great, low-effort way to transform these spaces into decorative delights.
Above or Beside A Fireplace
Ah, the fireplace. The hearth. The heart of the home. On or above a fireplace’s mantlepiece is another great location for a striking vertical photograph. The juxtaposition of artistry and the cozy ambiance of a crackling fire can create a tranquil atmosphere that draws family and guests together.
If there’s no space above or on top of the fireplace, you can achieve similar success by flanking both sides of the masonry with vertical pieces. This creates a soothing, symmetrical appearance that can provide cohesion and continuity in an interior space.
Aside from the firelight, lighting fixtures are integral to enhancing the allure of hanging artwork or photographs. Because homes are so nuanced and varied in terms of layout and design styles, it really boils down to how well you know your space and making the most of the resources at your disposal.
Your Favorite Armchair
Who doesn’t have a favorite armchair at home? If you don’t have one yet, go out and get one so you can hang some vertical art or photography next to it and look very stately and dignified sitting in your chair beside your decorations.
If you’ve got two armchairs next to each other or facing each other, hanging vertical art or photography between them can help create a sense of balance and natural flow through the interior space as well. Making vertical paintings and/or photography work is all about matching the energy of an existing space, or accentuating that energy and letting it flow uninhibitedly.
Even if you don’t have a favorite armchair and you’re hesitant to splurge, hanging vertical work near seating arrangements of any sort is a great way to add depth to your living space without adding more furniture or clutter to shelves.