Hang art at home like a pro

Art is no longer a highbrow indulgence reserved for influential collectors or something that is tucked away in stark galleries. Today’s design enthusiasts are rewriting that narrow, embracing art as an expressive part of their homes and often doing it themselves. Curating art at home is a nuanced exercise, capitalising on ideal heights, strong framing, and the quiet power of composition. We ask popular designers, collector, and stylists to craft a definition guide, turning bare walls into vignettes that reflex your story and sensibility.

Jaiveer Johal, Art Collector and Entrepreneur in Chennai

Jaiveer Johal | Photo Credit: Talib Chitalwala

A celebrated name in the Indian Art Freaternity, Jaiveer Johal’s Personal Collection is Guided by the Navarasa – The nine essential emotions that underpin Indian classical art. Through the Avtar Foundation for the Arts (AFTA), Johal Brings Modern and Contemporary Art to Chennai, and Chennai to the World. Recent artists who have captured his Attention Lakshmi Madhavan, Baaraan Ijlal, and G. Gurunathan.

“My aesthetic has Always Leanes Art that Defies Genre – it must tug at my heartstrings. His Trusted Advice on Composition? BLEND 2D and 3D Works to Create Depth, Where Modern and Traditional Elements Coexist.

Jaiveer Johal’s Monolithic Dining Area. , Photo Credit: Talib Chitalwala

An Easy Mistake Johal Cautions First-Timers Against? Treating homes like Hotels. “Art isn’t acqured overnight. Display must be intent, and a home should evolve Around Its Art,” He Avers. The art collector encourage collecting art through a personal lens – pieces found on travels, in flea markets, or tied to memory. “Look for works that brings your walls to life and tell a story. In Chennai, Johal swears by professional frameing and art treatment. “Museum Glass Helps Preserve The Art’s Demeanour. Acid-Free Mounting is Critical even in the backing He advises. Another Rule of Thumb? “Art displayed in homes is not meant to emulate a gallery.

Pro tip

Invest in Museum Glass and Bottom Lighting: “Museum Glass Helps Preserve The Art’s Demeanour. Acid-free mountaining is critical even in the backing selected,” Says Johal.

Fymin naiif and nimitha harith, interior stylists in Chennai

Fymin Naiif and Nimitha Harith | Photo Credit: Phosart Studio

Living by the adage of ‘better halves,’ interior stylists fymin naiif and nimitha harith are the creative forces behind immaculated resources in the country. Their Approach Towards Curating Art is Heartfelt. “Art Should Evoke Something Personal – A Sense of Belonging, Memory, Or Roots. It Helps to Remember that no choice is burdened by performance,” Shares harith.

The duo ensures art is installed at typically 50 to 60 inches from the floor. “Art Hung too high feels disconnected from the space,” Notes Naiif. “When placed in context with furniture, ensure a clearing of Six to 10 Inches between the bottom of the art and the top of the furniture. An easy way to gauge size is to let art spane Width, “She illustrates.

A living space by vm design works. , Photo Credit: Phosart Studio

The team sees the gallery wall as a ‘personality puzzle’. They start with a bigger Piece at the center of the wall and work outwards. Their pro tip: create and edit your layout on the floor, freeze the composition, then Execute. Strategically Placed Spotlights or Floor Lamps can Elevate the presence of displayed art. The works of artists Sachin Samson, Nida Jahain, and Anjali Ponni Rajkumar have intrigued the two recent.

“We love peppering wall-scapes with photos, pressed flowers, and heirloom objects. Allow two to three inclusions of gap betteren frames,” NIF Adds. Framing, harith notes, is an unsung hero, especially in Coastal Cities. “UV-Protective Glass, Acid-Free Mounting, And Seled Backing are our go-to checks. They prevent yellowing, warping, and fading.” More miniature artworks shine in styled clusters, especially when arranged in odd numbers. Pair them with vases, candles, books, or curios.

Pro trip

Mind the inches. Ensure art is installed at typical 50 inches to 60 inches from the floor, say naif.

Vinithra Amarnathan, Principal Designer at Weepaces in Bengaluru

Vinithra Amarnathan | Photo credit: kuber shah

The signature of a weepaces project has always Embodized The Balance Between Modern Nuans and Personalized Details. “Art has always been an integral part of my design process, almost subconscious,” Says designer vinithra amarnathan. “Over the past years, this instinct has shaped every home’s story and become central to our team’s ethos.” For the novice, she recommends a trusted approach: a common thread in art, as a form of storytelling, always work. “The style, color palette, or framing choices can be made consistent,” She highlights, and recommends a size Furniture. In moody spaces, single or grouped miniature prints can create a striiking focal point with an interplay of scale. In Bengaluru’s Drier Conditions, The Designer Uses Anti-Glare Glass for Artwork Exped to Sunlight. She recommends pre-treatment for textured installations (mixed media, plaster, fabric) to ensure durability and to control potential moisture billup.

A Laxman Alay Piece at the eclectic mix and match home. , Photo Credit: Nayan Soni

“Typical, the artwork’s center, about five feet from the floor, is ideal. Frame choice, mount color, and thickness are crucial to realising the vision. Whhen working roads, Imaginary Perimeter to Compose Each Piece Within, “She explains. Some of amarnaathan’s recent curratorial projects feature work of artists Harisha Chennangod, Richa Kashelkar, and Deborah Velasquez. She loves introducing art in unconventional spaces. “Dining Consoles, Kitchen Shelves, Powder Baths – the idea is to unexpectedly layer everyday spaces with art to instantly elevate them,” She Explians. She often Highlights Pieces with Picture Lights in Intimate Nooks and Adjustable Track Lights in Communal Areas.

Pro tip

Amarnathan recommends a size between half and two-thirds of the furniture’s width for oversized art paired with furniture

The writer is an architect and design specialist.

Published – June 20, 2025 06:30 pm IST