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Tips on Hanging Artwork

Hanging artwork or pictures around the house may be the most popular way to decorate a home. Doing that however can sometimes be the scariest, due to having to put a nail into the wall. It seems so permanent so there’s always that fear that you may be doing it wrong. Here are some tips to remember when it comes to hanging artwork.

Always be sure to first figure out what weight limit the nails will need to be. Do this, but at the same time, try to avoid using larger than necessary nails. Those kinds of nails always leave bigger holes in the plaster and there’s a chance you’ll find the top of the hook peaking out over the frame of the artwork, which never looks good. Having your nail hook showing is a big distraction to have. Always go with the smallest nail possible.

This may seem stupid, but always note if the artwork says “do not hang on a wire.” If it says that simply don’t hang it on a wire. You’d be amazed how many people do so anyway. If the piece of artwork comes with two hooks on the back while saying don’t hang from a wire, here’s what you do: use a laser level or yard stick, make sure it’s level and come to terms with putting two tiny holes in your wall. Trust the manufacturer, and don’t put wire between the hooks!

When it comes to measuring, if the artwork is small and light, there is no need to find a stud. Studs are only needed for the larger pieces of work. Try to measure up from the floor or down from the ceiling. There is no guarantee that the wall, floor, or ceiling are straight and even, but it’s always worth a shot.

A good tip is to never center the artwork between the piece of furniture and ceiling. This generally results in the artwork being hung much higher than necessary. The large, heavy frames generally used in traditional settings or with oil paintings are best to be hung with the bottom around six inches above the back of the sofa. It’s been recommended that skinny and small frames to be hung so the bottom of the frame is 10-to-12 inches above the sofa. If the artwork appears too small or large when these measurements are used, then perhaps your artwork is not the correct size for the space at hand. You can solve this by grouping artwork together in the space.

That’s all I got. Just remember to relax and don’t fear messing up!