A Great Portrait Deserves a Great Spot

You've created a portrait that genuinely looks like your pet. Where it goes — and how it's hung — makes the difference between "nice print on a wall" and a piece that stops people the moment they walk in.

This is a practical guide to placing it well.

The Golden Rule: Eye Level

The most common hanging mistake is hanging art too high. The centre of the artwork should sit at roughly 145–150 cm from the floor — average eye level.

A quick way to check: if you find yourself tilting your head up to look at it comfortably, it's too high. Art is meant to meet you, not loom over you.

The exception is hanging above furniture — see below.

Hanging Above Furniture

When a portrait hangs above a sofa, bed, console, or sideboard:

Leave roughly 15–25 cm of gap between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the frame

The artwork should be no wider than the furniture beneath it — ideally about two-thirds of its width

Centre it on the furniture, not the wall, if the two don't line up

This visual connection makes the portrait feel intentional rather than floating.

Room by Room

Living room

The classic choice. Above the sofa, above a console table, or as the anchor of a gallery wall. The living room gets the most foot traffic, so it's where a portrait gets seen and admired most.

Hallway and entryway

An underrated spot. A portrait greeting you as you walk in sets a warm tone for the whole home — and hallways are often crying out for something on the wall.

Bedroom

A soft watercolour portrait above the bed or on the wall opposite creates a calm, personal feel. This is the right room for gentler styles.

Home office

A portrait of your pet in your eyeline during the workday is a genuine mood-lifter. Pop art and bolder styles work well here.

Stairwell

Stairwells are perfect for a small series — three or four portraits climbing with the stairs. If you have multiple pets, this is a lovely way to feature them all.

Lighting Matters

A portrait in shadow loses all its depth. To light it well:

Natural light is ideal, but keep the portrait out of *direct* sun — over months and years, direct sunlight fades any print

A picture light or nearby lamp lifts a portrait beautifully in the evening

Avoid hanging directly opposite a bright window, where glare can wash out the image during the day

Building a Gallery Wall

Want to make your pet the centre of a display?

Choose one consistent frame style across every piece

Make the pet portrait the largest piece, or place it dead centre

Lay the whole arrangement out on the floor first and adjust until it looks right — only then transfer it to the wall

Keep gaps even, around 5–8 cm between frames

A Few Practical Tips

Use proper wall fixings rated for the frame's weight — a framed print is heavier than it looks

Use two hooks rather than one; the frame stays level and is far less likely to drift crooked

Felt pads on the bottom corners protect the wall and keep the frame straight

Stand back and check from across the room before committing to the nail

Start With the Portrait

The right spot only matters once you have a portrait worth hanging. Upload a favourite photo and preview your pet as wall-ready art.

Create your portrait →

Where to Hang a Pet Portrait: A Room-by-Room Guide