I have a big blank wall over my couch, which holds three people comfortably. Do I hang two or three items over the couch? I recently hung two wall hangings, but a few people say never hang in twos, hang in threes. Is this true?

Pairs of artwork are totally acceptable. So are odd numbers. The answer isn't so much as how many, but the scale and style of what you're hanging.

Hanging two items that aren't identical or fraternal (fraternal meaning they are from the same series or feel, but not identical) could work, but I don't think pairing a Miró abstract with an antique English landscape painting each of the same size would be a good solution. If one is very small and the other is very large, that might look great. That's a good example on how scale plays into it.

Also, depending on the size of the art and your wall, stacking the art can work instead of side by side.

D. Scott Tjaden is a designer and owner of Tjaden Interiors, 4733 McPherson Avenue, St. Louis; finelivingstl.com.