New to choosing art? You’re in the right place. I worked at The Met for over a decade and picked up a few things along the way: from watching technicians install some of the world’s most valuable artworks, to knowing what my curator colleagues hung in their own apartments across the city. Steal my tips as you select your nursery art:
Picking a place:
● Above the crib: choose a piece (or a balanced trio) wide enough to relate to the crib below it. As a rough guide, art that spans about two-thirds the width of the crib feels intentional. Hang it high enough to stay well clear of little hands once your child can stand and reach. (Professional framing will ensure well-installed hardware for the safest installation!)
● Above a dresser or changing table: a single medium-to-large piece grounds the furniture and creates a focal point. Plus, the infant can gaze up at the artwork for the first year plus…
● Above a Bookshelf! We love a literary moment. Hanging a Name Print above the child’s library indicates ownership over the space, and provides an appropriately phonetic artwork for learning letters.
● Above/Near your glider: from nighttime feeds to bedtime reading, the glider or rocking chair is the staple piece of your nursery. Adorn it with an alphabet or name print to make your time there a bit more engaging.
The Question of Size:
When in doubt, size up. Slightly larger art almost always reads as more polished and intentional than a piece that's a little too small.
Coordinating Color:
The artwork you select doesn’t have to perfectly match your wall color; rooms feel more collected when the art introduces its own palette. Pull one or two colors from your anchor artwork into the room's smaller accents: a blanket, a pillow, a basket, and let the walls hold their own.
The Pre-purchase Checklist:
● Does this piece mean something to us specifically?
● Is it the right scale for the wall it's going on?
● Is it human-made— not mass-produced or computer-generated?
● Does it give the room a color story I can build around?
Nursery artwork is your child’s first introduction to culture and creativity. It helps form their world, and also introduces them to the world beyond.