There's a wall in my studio that I never planned. It started with a small canvas I couldn't sell — not because it wasn't good, but because it felt too personal. Then came a postcard from a friend, a photograph I took in the south of France, and a colour study that never made it to a bigger piece. Now, that wall is my favourite thing in the room. That's what a salon hang does.
The return of the salon hang
The salon hang traces back to 18th-century Paris, where paintings covered every inch of wall space from floor to ceiling. It was dramatic, layered, and deeply personal. In 2026, this approach to displaying art is having a major revival — but with a modern, relaxed twist. Interior magazines and design blogs are calling it the "everyday exhibits" trend: your wall as a living, breathing collection of who you are, not a showroom display.
Forget perfect — aim for personal
The beauty of a salon hang is that symmetry is optional. Mix sizes — a large abstract painting next to a small ink drawing. Combine media — a framed photograph beside an unframed canvas. Add non-art elements like a vintage mirror or a ceramic plate. The only real guideline is to keep the centre of your arrangement at roughly eye level, around 150 centimetres from the floor. Everything else gets to be instinctive.
Start with the piece that moves you
I always tell people to begin with the artwork they feel the strongest connection to. That becomes your anchor — the heart of the wall. Hang it first, then build outward. Lay the remaining pieces on the floor, shuffle them around, rotate them until the conversation between them feels right. If you want to be safe, cut paper templates to size and tape them to the wall before you drill a single hole.
Mixing is the new matching
The 2026 trend is clear: eclectic beats uniform. Wooden frames next to matte black metal, abstract art beside photography, oversized next to pocket-sized. What holds it all together isn't a matching style — it's the thread that you bring: a colour palette that recurs, a mood that connects, or simply the gut feeling you get when you step back and look.
Let your wall evolve
The most beautiful thing about a salon hang? It's never finished. You add what you find along the way — a flea market discovery, a piece from a local artist, a memento from a trip that changed your perspective. Your wall becomes a visual diary. Not a frozen moment, but something that grows with you.
Just start
You don't need a collection or a big budget. Start with what you have and what moves you. A salon hang isn't about impressing visitors — it's about creating a space that feels like home. And if you're looking for that anchor piece to build around? Have a look at my collection. I'd love to help you find your starting point.
