The Art of Hanging Art

Hanging pictures and artwork can be tricky and intimidating, and result in bare walls...don't let that happen to you!  Here are a few helpful, foolproof tips for having beautifully designed walls!

• Never have a tall person hang your photos, as this will result in pictures being hung too high.  The center of a larger photo (or the center of a grouping of photos) or piece of artwork should (typically) be hung at an average person's eye level, which is between 5'-3" and 5''-6".

•  When laying out a grouping of photos, lay your arrangement on the floor and make a template of each photo using newspaper or brown craft paper.  Make a tracing and cut them out.  Then position and lightly tape the paper onto the wall.  Move them around until your design and layout is perfect!  Lastly, measure where the nail would be installed (the hanging hardware on every frame is different) and put the nail through the newspaper or craft paper.  This will result in a perfectly hung photo. 

• When laying out a grouping of pictures on a wall, think of them as one unit.  Use a continuous thread between the pictures, ie: different frames with all black and white photos, the same frame with all color photos, all black frames, all brown frames, all white frames...you get the idea. Even though the pictures are different and separate, this similar thread will allow them to relate and read like one.  Try this effect up the stairs = beautiful!  Start something that you can continually expand on.  You and your family are continually growing, and so should your pictures!

• For narrow walls, choose one small picture or a grouping of smaller photos.  You should follow the same rule of thumb for larger walls.  Choose a larger piece of artwork or a grouping of larger photos for a wide wall.

 

• When hanging art/photos (or a grouping of pictures) over a piece of furniture, it (they) should not be longer than the width of the furniture.  For example, the artwork shown in the photo above is in proportion with the size of the sofa, and keeps to the principle of being about 75% of the sofa's overall width and equal to the ottoman width. Too many or too large of pictures / artwork will overpower the wall.

• Try something unexpected and different...have fun with your artwork and the way you display it!  Use a combination of photos, artwork, and pieces you've collected. Make a statement!!

• Safety with Symmetry - When all else fails, using symmetry, both horizontally and vertically, is always a safe bet for a good design...you can't go wrong.

For a fun effect, just fill your ENTIRE WALL with photos!!

(images courtesy of: mod nest, the inspired room, Elle Decor, bhg, A Day's Work)