Displaying Your Antique Hand Fans

Ladies hand fans were often used by ladies to fan themselves but also have a purpose as a decorative accessory. These beautiful pieces of art are often hand painted with delicate scenes and flowers. Many of them are made from precious materials such as ivory and inlaid with gems. You can preserve and frame these beautiful tokens of the past in shadow boxes suitable for hanging on the wall. You can group them or hang one alone but always make sure you hang them properly to get the best decorative effect.

You’ve just returned from the flea marked with a great handpainted ladies fan that will be a focal point of your theme in the bedroom. Marking the perfect spot, you set a nail into the wall next to the bed sitting the handpainted ladies fan onto it. Nothing could be easier!

You take a step back to admire your handiwork. You tip your head to one side and then the other. You squint at the fan. Something doesn’t look right.

If this has happened to you – you hang something and you cant figure out why it doesnt look right, you are not the only one. Most people make little mistakes while hanging decorations – things the eye tells you dont look right but the brain cant figure out why. Below are some tips to keep in mind when hanging wall hangings on a wall:

Hanging Large Pieces:

Larger fans could be a focal point so you should be careful to place it in an appropriate area. Where does large hangings look best? Try over a couch, behind the dining set, over a fireplace or on a feature wall. A feature wall is where the placement of furniture or the layout of the home naturally guides the eye to a wall - a great place to feature fans.

Hanging Small Pieces:

Grouping smaller pieces looks nice and can make a great statement. You can tie them together by using similar types or putting them in matching frames. Hang a single smaller piece low on the wall and as close to the furniture as possible, otherwise it will seem to be floating.

Hanging In Groups:

The key to grouping pieces together is to space them properly. Each item should be spaced about 3 inches away from the items on either side. But how to you figure out which piece to put where? Try laying them out on the floor first – that way you can arrange and re-arrange until you get the perfect setup, without making a lot of holes in the wall.

HEIGHT:

Fans should be hung with the very center level with your eyes. That means the center should be about 60 to 66 inches from the floor. If you've visited a gallery you will see that the frames are not lined up by their top or bottom edges but that the pictures are all centered at the same height.

If your framed fan will be viewed from a sitting position – like from the couch or dining table, you should hang at the eye level of the sitter.

Décor hung behind a couch should be no more than 8 to 10 inches above the back of the couch.

These easy tips will have you creating a designer look in every room in your house!