How to Hang Art
Browsing and comparing art for your home or office doesn’t have to be the only enjoyable part of buying art. Once you get your art home, finding the best place for it can be a fun time too.
Here are our 8 simple steps to hanging the art you buy:
1. Get the height right
As a rule of thumb, hang the painting so its centre point is 150cm (60 inches for ye old folk) from the ground. This will help ensure it is at eye level for the ‘average’ viewer and consistent around your home. This is height is often used by galleries too, although they may place paintings a little lower to accommodate a seated audience. Sticking to this method will help you avoid the most common mistake with paintings, hanging them too high. But hey, it’s your house so if you have really high ceilings, are really tall (or conversely vertically challenged) measure it up to suit your needs.
2. Hanging Method
Using 2 D-Rings on the frame is the easiest method when it comes to getting the height right and picture level but a wire is common also. If it’s a wire you have, measure the centre mark from the top of the wire when taut and add 150 cm. The same rule applies if 2 pictures are grouped one above the other. Treat them as one painting when selecting the centre.
3. Relate your artwork to nearby furniture
You’ll do this naturally but consider how your artwork looks in terms of colour, style and importantly size to nearby furniture. For example a painting hung behind an armchair or sofa will look more natural, and less top heavy, if it is be noticeably narrower than the furniture in front.
4. Hooks
Removable hooks are more versatile than nails, just check the weight and double up for added security. With 2 hooks it is also easier to keep the painting level. If you don’t have 20/20 vision and an architect’s eye use a tape measure and level to help get it level.
6. Groupings
Leaving 5 cm between big pictures or a little less for smaller pictures is a good rule of thumb and applies to artwork above, below and to the side of your painting.
7. Get a helper
Unless it’s your mother in law it is more fun, and handy to have a second opinion with colours and relating art to furniture and holding pictures in position. Another useful tip, especially if you don’t have a helper, is to trace out picture sizes on butchers paper, cut them out and stick them to the walls for placement purposes.
8. Move it, mix it and don’t take it too seriously
Art is there to be enjoyed and reflect your personality. If chaos is your middle name then just tread your own path and enjoy the effect an out of reach off kilter painting has on family member with OCD in your house.
