Frames

Forget what you think you know about how art should be hung on the walls and let impulse dictate how high and far apart the items are. A little bit of asymmetry only adds to the effect, so don’t worry if your pieces don’t follow one center line.

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To be admired in this space is the way both patterns are duplicated twice in the room. This ensures coherence and balance so that no single pattern out-competes the other.

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Break up your room’s faithful symmetry with a trio of framed fabrics to add interest and a dash of eclecticism. What makes this assortment of prints compelling is that it incorporates two colors that are found in the rug and nowhere else in the room. Adding the red and sky blue was necessary for the rug’s coherence, and sneaking those colors in with more geometric patterns means the looser floral and aviary prints don’t get muddled.

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Make sure mats are wide enough. A mat that's too skinny won't set off the piece it surrounds. Here's a handy rule of thumb: For the best effect, make the mat at least twice as wide as the frame. You can go wider, but be sure the art doesn't get lost.

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Don't worry about matching frames. Take your cue from art galleries and match frames to the art, not to each other. Grouped on a wall, properly framed pieces will complement each other beautifully.

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