How to Hang Paintings
Interior Designing Quotes
from local interior designers
So you've found the picture of your dreams and you'd love to hang it on your wall... but you're not quite sure how to go about it? Read on for some great advice on hanging pictures and paintings.
The first thing you need to consider is: Where will you hang your painting?
The obvious answer is probably 'a wall' but, as always, there's more to it than that. Ideally, the position should be out of direct sunlight (to prevent fading) and not too close to a heat source. If you intend on hanging a painting that is quite heavy you may also need to consider taking advantage of a wall stud to help support the weight. You can find wall studs either by using an electronic stud finder or by rapping your knuckles along the wall until you hear a solid backing (the knock will be a lower pitch and may seem slightly muffled in comparison).
Things to consider when choosing a place for your picture include the size of the picture and how well it will fit on your wall; the colours in the picture and frame and whether they will compliment your room and its furnishings; the style of the frame (modern or traditional) and whether it will suit the room; and the height at which you plan to hang your picture.
Allowing a fair amount of wallspace around a picture is important. Unless it suits the style of the room, try not to crowd your picture with close furniture and tight walls. Think of your wall as an exhibition space - typically an art gallery is nothing but clean, empty space that lets the art do the talking. Try to recreate this in your home.
Colours in our homes are important for creating a mood or atmosphere, whether it's homely and warm or sterile and contemporary. When selecting artwork it is good to have an idea of what colours suit your room and to go from there. If you've already chosen the artwork then think of how you can use it to complement your room. Perhaps a blue in the painting matches the blue in your curtains. Or maybe the bright yellow and green in the photograph contrasts well with a dark purple feature wall. If a pictures colours work well in your room then no matter what the subject is, it will look amazing. If you're not sure how to go about making these decisions yourself, then consider hiring an interior decorator to help out.
Deciding on what height to hang your painting is pretty uncomplicated. Typically a position that lets the center of the image sit at eye level is most suitable. If an image is set above eye level then it can seem intimidating and uncomfortable; if it is set below then it might be lost in the rest of the rooms furnishings. Typically people choose to just eyeball the correct height for their painting, however if the painting is going in a tight space or if you plan on having a series of paintings next to each other it's advisable that you use a tape measure to accurately position the painting.
So you've found the perfect place and the perfect picture, now you need to get it on the wall! The tools you'll require are a:
- Measuring tape
- Picture hanging hook (or two if the picture is wide and has a central support/cross brace in the middle)
- Hammer
- Pencil
- Level
- Eye screws & hanging wire if the frame doesn't already have them
First, if you need to, attach the hanging wire to the frame using eye screws. The eye screws should be positioned 1/3 from the top of the frame, with the wire having not so much slack that, when pulled tight, it will be visible above the frame. Simple!
Next, hold the painting in the position and at the correct height you'd like it to be hung. Use your pencil to make a small mark on the wall at the center top of the picture.
Now, to work out where you need to hang the hook, use your finger to hold the picture's wire up and then measure the distance from your finger to the top of the frame.
Finally, measure that distance down the wall from where you made your original pencil mark and mark in a new spot. This will be where your hook will go.
So with the hammer, nail your hook into the wall in that spot and, voila, you're ready to hang your painting.
Once you've hung your painting on the hook (being careful not to damage the plaster with the corners of the frame) use the level to make sure it is straight. And that's it, you're done.
Interior Designing Quotes
from local interior designers
