Having treasured artwork in your home adds a world of inspiration. But if it’s not lit in the most flattering way, the effect can fall flat.

“The correct lighting of art delivers a true rendition of the colors, subjects and textures of the artist’s intent,” said Robert Sonneman, founder and chief creative officer at SONNEMAN–A Way of Light in Larchmont, New York.

“You see what you light,” he said.

In other words, the right light can illuminate artwork the way it was meant to be seen.

“Lighting can be very enhancing to pictures and help to show them at their very best, whether bringing out vivid colors or showing the atmosphere that the artist was portraying,” said Peter Bowles, founder and managing director, of Original BTC lighting in Oxfordshire, England.

To make sure your prized pieces look like they’re simply lit from within, follow these tips from the design pros.

“Illumination must deliver an even distribution and radiance across the entire surface of the displayed art. That is easier said than done. Picture lights tend to light the top portion of the plane with light diminishing as it descends toward the bottom.

“It is most desirable to have nothing attached to or visible to the frame of the art. The best source would be a framing projector suspended from the ceiling from which the entire rectangle could be framed with even illumination. The position of the light is determined by the size of the art and the height of the ceiling from which it’s installed. This can also be achieved from a recessed adjustable or wall wash downlight set within the ceiling.

“Today’s lumen output, or brightness, is achieved with LED technology and is extremely efficient. The range of sizes and beam control options offer a broad range of optical control, as well as various color temperatures and brightness controls. Drama is created by the intensity of the illuminated object against a contrasting background.”

— Robert Sonneman, founder and chief creative officer, SONNEMAN–A Way of Light in in Larchmont, New York

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“Lighting can transform the mood of a home and change the presentation of the art piece. For example, you would never want to use fluorescent lighting, as it tends to distort the colors of the piece. If a client has a statement piece of artwork, I won’t use wall lighting to shine directly onto it. Instead, I’ll hang the lighting from the ceiling away from the artwork.

“I love the artisan-crafted lighting company Allied Makers, which has gorgeous ceiling lamps that are adjustable to light walls. I also love the library picture lights from Obsolete for built-in cabinets as well as for artwork displayed on open shelving.

“When selecting lighting to showcase artwork, it’s important not to use super bright bulbs or fluorescent lighting that will detract from the beauty of the piece. Soft lighting will delicately bring attention to the artwork without altering the color palette.”

— Rob Diaz, Rob Diaz Design in Los Angeles

Consider the Artwork Itself “Consider the style of the art and how it is framed or not framed. You don’t want the light to overshadow the art, so it should complement it in a sophisticated way, but not compete with it. For example, if you have a modern abstract piece, you will want to select a light that is also clean lined. If you have a vintage oil landscape in a heavier frame, make sure the light has more visual weight and a vintage feel authentic to the time the art was completed.

“Make sure that the lighting is proportional to the size of the art. It should not be the same size as the art itself. As a rule, the light should be approximately one-third of the size of the art piece and hang about a foot above the art itself.

“Take the colors in the piece into consideration as well as the frame. Since the frame is closest to the light, consider a light that complements the framing as well as the art. Don’t forget about the rest of the lighting in the room. For example, if all your other lighting is brass, it might look off to have one polished nickel light in there.”

— Kirsten Blazek, founder of 1000XBetter, a design and staging firm in Los Angeles

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“How the art will look during daytime, without artificial lighting, is important when deciding where a painting or photograph should be placed within a home. Direct sunlight should always be avoided, as it’ll damage the pigments in paint and prints. Similarly, halogen or any other incandescent lighting sources will damage art over time because of ultraviolet rays.

“Pin or spotlights work well in dark hallways when used in conjunction with general ambient lighting. These can be recessed or surface mounted and centered on the art, typically at a 30-degree angle to avoid glare, so it’s evenly lit across the surface.

“LED bulbs are the least damaging to your artwork. It’s important to choose bulbs or integrated LED lights with a high CRI (color rendering index). If you’re using bulbs, try a few to see how they work in your space before committing to a larger purchase.”

— Leonora Mahle, Mahle Design in Woodland Hills, CA

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“The right lighting provides a sense of intimacy with a piece of art and invites you to stand closer for a more detailed look. Lighting should never overpower the artwork. Minimal is usually best. It should always be proportional to the painting; the wider the piece, the more even light is required, thus, a long thin light is better suited.”

— Ed O’Donnell, co-founder of Angel O’Donnell studio based in London

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