The Art of Cluster Hanging

Cluster hanging is pretty popular right now. I've been giving it a go for about 18 months, but I stopped short after hanging about 6 frames. Now I look at what I've done and I'm not entirely happy with it. In fact, I think I want to take them down and start from scratch! The other thing is that when I started hanging the frames, every frame had a photo in it. Now, I'd like to mix photos with art and even a few plates and who knows what else.

So the question is - do I begin to hang them again, without a complete collection of items to hang, or wait and collect the items and then begin to hang? I have mostly larger art in frames, and I've sort of neglected the smaller pieces. Here are a few things I've discovered can really make or break a Cluster Hanging...

1: Don't make it perfect.
Below: In this room by Liza Giles, I'm loving the variety and closeness of frames. The way that all the space between frames are different sizes and some frames almost touch makes the whole arrangement a piece of artwork in itself. The fact it's not perfect makes it perfect. And the contrasting wallpaper really adds to the overall look of the Cluster Hanging.

Designer: Liza Giles. Image posted by Decor8 on Flickr.

2: Themes can look awesome!
Below: A beautiful example of a curious collection of items with a bird theme hung abstractly on a gorgeous contrasting colour. Not the mention the juxtapose between the ornithological theme and the cat is absolutely beautiful! Very Wes Anderson/Royal Tenenbaums...

Trish's house. Image posted by Bird in the Hand on Flickr.

3: A collection can look great, even if you don't hang it.
Below: A beautiful collection of pieces stacked together can be really beautiful - especially if you rent and can't put hooks in the walls. These ones are on the floor but groups of frames look great stacked up on dressers or credenzas too - especially mixes of small and large pieces.

Image posted by Aunty Cookie on Flickr.

4. Don't be afraid to combine shapes, colours, textures and objects.

Below: I love hanging decorative plates, and combining plates with other objects (such as shelves) and frames is a wonderfully interesting way to display precious things.

Image posted by Saidos de Concha on Flickr.

I better take some of my own medicine and post some pictures! :)