How to Hang Pictures - The House Doctor

Throughout my career in Interior Design and Home Staging, I've noticed a common theme...many homes have too little artwork.

Whatever, the reason, be it fear of making the wrong choice, “breaking the bank” or simply lack of awareness, in most homes artwork is at the bottom of the list.

Personally, I can't live without art, and am always looking for something wonderful to enhance my design schemes. It doesn’t always have to be expensive, but if selected and hung correctly, can dramatically enhance visual appeal as well as saleability of a home. A large, important, or strategically placed piece of art can be a starting point as well as the inspiration for the entire scheme — just be sure that the subject matter of the art is appropriately themed for the room where it will be placed.

Once you have chosen your artwork, it is essential that you hang it correctly. Below are my tips for hanging and displaying artwork.

Getting Started...

1. Have all tools on hand...Hammer, nails, pencil, screwdriver, drill, pliers, tape measure, spirit level, ladder, wall mount tape. If possible work with a partner.
2. Use picture hangers that are appropriate for the weight of the piece you are hanging. Most Easyart prints come with appropriate fixings.

Bringing out the best

1. When hanging art to enhance an architectural detail or piece of furniture, be sure that it is connected to the piece you are looking to enhance (usually not more than six inches away).
2. Keep the edges of the artwork aligned with the piece.
3. Try not to allow picture frames to extend beyond the outside edges of furniture.

Making The Room Feel Larger

1. To visually heighten a low ceiling in a room use vertical pieces, art with vertical subject matter or hang art vertically.
2. Use art to add height or width to furniture groupings to expand the space.
3. Don’t hang art too high. Gallery eye-level is 54″ — 58″ from the floor to the centre of the piece or grouping of artwork.

Getting Art to Fit Your Space

1. Ideally, artwork should cover 2/3 of the space between the ceiling and the furniture piece below it.
2. Group together smaller pieces of artwork to use on large areas of wall if you lack larger pieces of artwork.

Creating a Perfect Arrangement

1. When hanging a grouping of artwork, lay it out on the floor first to decide the arrangement. Keep outer edges aligned and work toward filling in the middle.
2. Keep consistent space between frames...ideally 3″ for average size artwork.
3. Match the shape of the individual work of art or grouping to reflect the shape of the wall or furniture piece.

Star Tips...

1. Use like or complimentary frames throughout entire room. Frames should compliment other metals and wood tones found elsewhere in room.
2. Keep pairs and sets together rather than spreading them around the room.
3. Whenever possible, use accent lighting to enhance artwork, creating drama and a visual focal point.
4. Use wall-mount tape (a thin strip of foam with a mild adhesive) to keep artwork form moving over time.

Check out the House Doctor's top 5 prints at Easyart

Find out more about Anne Maurice at www.housedoctor.co.uk