The way a painting is hung tells you more about its owner than the painting itself.

Most people choose the art first. The wall comes second. The lighting, if considered at all, is an afterthought. This is why so many beautiful works end up looking ordinary inside otherwise elegant rooms.

Eye level is the commonly repeated rule. The standard is 57 inches from the floor to the centre of the work, which corresponds to the average human eye level. Museums follow this. Galleries follow this. Most private homes do not.

Lighting matters more than most collectors realise. Natural light is ideal during the day, but it changes. A painting that looks warm at noon can look cold by 4pm. If you are using artificial light, adjustable spotlights at a 30-degree angle tend to reduce glare without flattening the work. Picture lights are an alternative, though they suit some periods of painting more than others.

Spacing between pieces in a grouping should be consistent. Between two and five inches works for most arrangements. More than that and the pieces begin to feel unrelated. Less and the wall looks busy.

The frame is part of the work. A strong painting in the wrong frame is a diminished painting. This is not a minor consideration.

One last thing. A piece that does not work in a space is not always the wrong piece. Sometimes it is the wrong wall.