I'm five-feet-two-inches tall and my husband is six-feet-four-inches tall. Should the art on our walls conform to his eye level or mine?
Quite frankly, both of you are off the charts. And though I don't mind a man on his knees, that's no way to view art. The rule of thumb is based on a person five-feet-six-inches tall, for whom eye level is approximately five feet above the floor. The art should therefore be hung where the five-foot mark hits the painting two-thirds up the canvas. Some art consultants base where to hang on the size of the piece and the ceiling height of the room, so all the rules go out the window. In the end, it is your space and your art. Perhaps you can compromise by hanging two or more pieces on top of each other so that both of your needs are met. Consider, too, how the famous Barnes collection near Philadelphia is hung - all over the wall at random heights. This kind of display is sure to delight small children and basketball players.
Architect and interior designer Dee Dee Taylor Eustace is the president of Taylor Hannah Architect Inc. in Toronto. Have a design question? E-mail style@globeandmail.com.