Art is one of the most important features when it comes to decorating. Your home’s artwork conveys elements like personal style, drama, worldliness, and color. But hanging pieces to best effect can be complicated. So today, HW Home co-founder Jim H. is helping out with five easy steps for hanging wall art.
- Have the proper tools. It is incredibly important to have the proper tools and hanging hardware prior to beginning your task. A measuring tape, hammer, nail kit with wall anchors, tape, marker, drill, and drywall screws are usually essential.
- Think globally. When you are hanging anything on the wall, make sure you survey the entire room first. A common mistake is to fill too many empty walls with art or pictures, leaving little to no “breathing room” in the space. Art often demands attention. If things are hung haphazardly and on every available wall, individual pieces may have less impact.
- Use Groups. If you are hanging multiple images or a series, develop a focal point in the room and hang your art around that. If, for example, you are working in a living room, find the center point in the wall above the sofa and build your gallery from there. A good rule is to measure the width of the frame around your dominant image and space the surrounding pictures that same distance from central piece. In other words, if the frame of your art piece is 2” wide, space all surrounding images 2” apart.
- Use color appropriately. Consider the colors in your room before hanging anything that might clash. Color can add drama, comfort, and flare, but it can also be very disruptive.
- Finally, and perhaps most importantly: when in doubt, call a professional. If you are having doubts about your ability to hang something properly and safely, hire a professional. A skilled art hanger will ensure the safety of anyone who happens to be sitting under a very heavy piece and will help optimize the artwork for best effect.
Do you have a favorite piece of art hanging in your home? Tell us about it! And share a photo in the comments.