Today is all about the art of leaning and layering.

 

Just kidding!  This is not about casually resting against the wall trying to look cool!  This is a decorating trick that provides an interesting, casual look.  And while some of you might think it’s just a lazy person’s way of getting out of hanging their wall decor, I promise you, it’s not!  Leaning and layering takes skill so that the look comes off as intentional, so today’s I’m sharing my tips with you so that you can create this look in your own home.

 

Why Lean Your Wall Decor?

Do you love to move stuff around your home?  Or maybe you change your mind or your decorating style quite often?  No matter the case, leaning your wall decor provides a great deal of flexibility in your design since you can easily change or move it.  It also minimizes damage to your walls, plus you never have to worry about whether something is level!!  Additionally, sometimes overhead lights or light from windows causes a glare on artwork that can be avoided if the piece is leaning instead.

In my master bedroom, I chose to lean the mirror on my nightstand so that it could reflect the chandelier.

 

But beyond the practical, leaning is also a less formal way of display objects in your home, which lends itself to my personal favorite decorating style, Casual Elegance.  Look at this room below.  Most of the objects are very formal, but look how the second mirror is casually leaning on the mantel to help offset some of the formality!

 

Tips for Leaning Your Wall Decor

• Leaning works with all types of wall decor, from art, to mirrors to architectural elements, like shutters or even salvaged doors.
• Try leaning things on your mantel, sofa table, entryway table, bookshelves or for large items, even on the floor.
• Leaning is a great option for renters since it doesn’t require anything permanent.
• If you have a heavy object that is leaning and small kids in the home, you should consider doing a combination of leaning and wall mounted, where you attach the object to the wall at the top, with the bottom resting on a flat surface.
• When leaning mirrors, always check what is being reflected in the mirror since the reflection essentially becomes the “art” in a mirror.
• When leaning something on a slick surface, put something underneath the frame of the wall art to keep it from slipping.  I like to use a small piece of rubber drawer liner because it keeps the object from slipping without damaging any of the surfaces.

 

Why Layer?

Provided you have the depth, adding in layers in front of your leaning object helps to create additional dimension and interest.  Layering also helps with creating an intentional look, as once multiple items are layered in, the object in the back looks more purposeful because it’s part of a grouping.

 

The bulletin board below could have been hung on the wall, but then it would have look disconnected the the other artwork.  Leaning keeps it casual and connects all of the elements together.

 

Tips for Layering

• When layering your leaning objects, always put the largest object in the back, working forward with smaller objects.
• Also when layering, slightly overlap one object to the next so that they feel like a cohesive unit, while still ensuring that each item is still visible.
• Don’t hesitate to mix and match shapes!
• For a more traditional look, try using items all within the same color family or within the same tone.  For a more contemporary or eclectic look, mix things up a bit!
• For your final layer, add a completely different object, like a candlestick, plant, jewelry box, lamp, etc.  Layering isn’t just for frames!

 

 

Is this a look you would do in your own home?

 

 

 

 

 

 

P.S. After posting that first photo {which my son said was embarrassing and I shouldn’t post}, I’ve realized that it’s been way too long since I photographed my living room!  I need to add that to my To Do list.  :)

 

 

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