Where to Place a Piano: Stick It Where the Sun Don’t Shine (At Least, Not Directly On It!)

Ever seen a movie or TV show that featured a grand piano? Generally, it sits in a place of honor in the center of a gigantic room, backlit against floor to ceiling windows that are framed by heavy brocade drapes while friends and family surround it singing holiday songs and sipping from steaming mugs of eggnog. 

Unfortunately, most of us don’t have that particular Hollywood set up in our own homes. So now that you’ve bought a piano, you’ll have to consider the best place for it to live in your house.

Piano Placement: Then and Now

In Victorian times, people would place their piano in the parlor or drawing room. Families would gather in these rooms to read, relax, or entertain guests. A popular grand piano size at that time was called a Parlor Grand, and measured between 5 feet, 5 inches to 5 feet, 11 inches in length. Tradition dictated that the piano be placed so that the musician faced into the room enabling them to look at their guests, and for their guests to look back at them, while they played. 

Contemporary houses don’t often feature these types of massive rooms that can accommodate a large instrument squatting smack dab in the middle of everything. Instead, most families place their pianos in a living room or family room facing a wall or in a corner so that they’re out of the way. And of course, as any parent of a child who takes lessons knows, the last thing they want to do is have someone looking at them — or be required to look at someone — while they’re playing.

While space and a musician’s self consciousness may enter into where you decide to put your piano, the location’s impact on tuning and the life of the piano are the most important factors to consider. 

Piano Location Guidelines

There can be a lot of do’s and don’ts when it comes to the ideal piano location in your home. Sometimes it just won’t be possible to adhere to them all, but do the best you can. Just keep in mind that the two most damaging and worst environmental factors to avoid are heating/cooling vents or sources and direct sunlight.

Piano Placement Do’s

• An inside wall is always preferable.
• If an inside wall is not available, move your piano six inches away from an outside wall to provide an insulating air space.
• If the piano has to be in a spot where the sun is going to hit it, direct sunlight should be diffused with curtains or venetian blinds.
• Room humidifiers are not necessarily bad as long as they’re not kept directly next to the piano.
• To ensure optimal conditions, consider acquiring the Dampp Chaser Piano Life Saver System. This ensures the proper humidity levels to keep your piano in tip top shape.

Piano Placement Don’ts

• Avoid placing the piano in sunlight during any part of the day.
• Steer clear of placing it on an outside wall due to temperature fluctuations. 
• Keep your piano away from vents or heating/cooling sources.
• Place your piano away from open windows with breezes or constant airflow.
• Try not to put your piano in a basement or an area prone to heavy moisture and humidity.
• Never place your piano near an actively used fireplace.
• Do not put humidifiers, diffusers, or fish tanks on top of a piano.
• Steam or misting humidifiers are not recommended around pianos.

Bonus Piano Care Tips

Even though the image of that grand piano in films is stunning, unless you have a house like a Hollywood movie set, it’s best to adhere to recommended guidelines. The location where you place your piano is key to keeping it in good shape and ensuring a long life. 

Questions? Contact us for more information about piano care, piano services, music lessons and more.