According to the American Time Use Survey, the average person spends 8.9 hours per day at work. There’s no reason to spend these hours staring at bland walls each day when office artwork has the power to reduce stress, and increase one’s creativity and productivity. Wall art can transform a boring, dull workspace into one that is beautiful and calming. Best of all, this can be done simply and affordably using your own photography to decorate in a way that is unique and high-end.
Professional Photography Tips
You may already have some great photos, which can be converted to canvas wall hangings. Sometimes a simple photo, such as a family photo, can be edited to appear more artistic. Using editing software, you can add a filter or reduce the photo to black and white. It’s likely you will need to take some new photos to truly create artful office space, but even as a novice you can do it. Use these pro tips to improve your skills, and “take your photography to the next level.”
- Use a wider frame for objects in motion.
- Use the aperture f/8.
- Use the mirror lock-up function when shooting from a tripod.
- Test your lighting in advance of shooting people, so makeup and such don’t fade with time.
Choosing How and Where to Hang Photography
Art is supposed to make you feel something. This has as much to do with theme, color, and subject matter as it does with layout. For example, choosing photography that is vibrantly colored, bold, and exotic in nature will energize you. Bodies of water, such as waterfalls, will make you feel relaxed and at peace. Floral images create a beautiful atmosphere. In order to elicit these emotional reactions to the photography, you’ll need to hang it where you can see it.
It’s a good idea to choose one wall as an accent wall. For example, you can install a custom wall mural. This is artful in and of itself, and there’s a variety of options. Whatever you choose, such as a scene from nature or a primary color wallpaper, it should match but not overpower the photos on your wall which will act as primary focal points. They should draw the eye, and your accent wall should complement them.
In general, art should be hung at standing eye-level. This isn’t a rule, but rather a guiding point. You want to hang art in a way that is aesthetically pleasing and makes sense. Pinterest has some excellent boards that show a variety of ways to hang photos on the wall.
Photos and Frame Size
Your photography can be printed at home and added to frames, but if you can afford it having it printed on canvas or matte board is a better idea. Matte board comes in large sheets and can be found at any art or office supply store. You’ll need a straight-edge knife to trim your prints to fit the board.
It’s a good idea to have your photographs printed in a variety of sizes, which means you’ll need a variety of frame sizes. (Unless you’re choosing to print on canvas, which ships ready to hang.) A typical glossy photo is 8.5 by 11 inches, but you’ll want to reduce size and increase size depending on which pictures are your focal points.
Securing your photos into the frame is super easy. You can use glue or even scotch tape. Or, use a not-so-permanent adhering paper to keep them in place. Once secured, you’re ready to hang. How you arrange your photos means a lot, so brainstorm how and where and do a dry run before drilling any holes in the walls.
Liz Becker
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