How to Hang Art: Best Tips to Hang Pictures

I’ve seen a few posts lately that suggest to me that maybe some art buyers need a little help figuring out how to hang art. There’s nothing worse than hanging a piece you love and slowly backing away from the wall with a silent prayer that it doesn’t come crashing to the ground. Never fear! I have all of the tips you need to safely hang your art in a safe way that you’ll love.

Useful tools (these will vary depending on the piece you’re hanging):
A hammer, nails, a pencil, screwdriver/drill, tape measurer, spirit level, a helping hand (optional), wall mount tape

via

Deciding what and where to hang:
- Art doesn’t live in a vacuum! That basically means that the placement of your piece should be in relation to something else so that everything is working together and your picture isn’t just floating.
- Try to align the edges of the frame with the edges of the furniture it hangs over when possible.
- Portrait (vertical) shaped images help to give the illusion of wall height. This is a great tip for rooms with low ceilings.
- Hang art at eye level. It’s meant to be seen, right? That means that the centre of your image should be about 137cm from the floor.
- If you have a very large wall, try using several smaller images in a salon style to cover the space.
- If you’re hanging multiple pieces, lay your artwork on the floor before you hang it so you can decide the best arrangement.
- Keep sets together when possible.

via

Hanging the art:
- Once you’ve decided where everything will go, you’ll want to measure out your space to figure out how best to centre your artworks.- Make a small pencil mark where you want your frame to hit and another little mark where the fixtures are on the back of the frame.
- Use the right fixtures for the size of your print. Larger pieces will need large brackets that support their weight or screws with support plugs. Bracket packs will usually state the maximum weight they can support on the package.
- Use a spirit level to make sure your picture is straight. Once it’s straight, place wall mount tape on the back of the frame to keep it from sliding around.

Do you think I missed anything? Please leave your tips in the comments! I’d love to hear your art hanging tricks.