Hanging Wall Art

There are many ways to hang your art. Here are a few tips and tricks when it comes to the where and the how's of hanging your art.

The where...

Walls:
OUTSIDE WALLS
Outside walls can become cold and damp inside. If you hang your artwork on these walls you can attract mold. That outside wall really needs art? That’s okay you can avoid this by tilting the picture slightly forward and then cutting a piece of cork from a bottle of wine (another reason to drink more wine :) ) and placing it behind the piece at the bottom and in the center.

** This can also solve glare issues.

WATERCOLOURS AND PHOTOGRAPHS
Watercolours and photographs can fade under constant sunlight and white paper will turn yellow. So we suggest you rotate your pieces around the house during different seasons. This will also allow you to refresh your home and show off old pieces in new places!

DOORWAYS
We do not suggest you hang pictures behind open doors for two main reasons: the door will block the work (as doors are usually left open) and second, if the door is opened quickly the back of the door can damage it or if its slammed shut you run the risk of it falling and damaging. Put your work where it can be seen and admired!

SMALL PICTURES
When hanging small pictures remember that you will have to get close to admire them and their detail. So avoid placing large objects (beds, tables, etc.) in front blocking access to get in close.

FIREPLACES AND RADIATORS
Fireplaces and radiators give off heat but can also be the focal point in your space. Do not be discouraged from hanging your work above these but do monitor the amount of heat being generated. We suggest you rotate your work so one piece isn’t always in the hot spot.

BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS
Bathrooms and kitchens are really only an issue if steam and condensation are a factor. Both these spaces are a great spot to put pieces so choose art that is made from more durable medias like glazed tiles and mosaics.

Aesthetics
PLAIN, DARK WALLS
If you have plain dark walls this is your chance to be BOLD choose bold pictures done in oils, acrylics or maybe tribal art. Also consider a great frame to complement your work.

PLAIN, LIGHT WALLS
With plain, light coloured walls we suggest you consider pastels, watercolours and more delicate work. Avoid using a frame with a strong contrast to the wall or the artwork.

LARGE, BARE WALLS
Large bare walls look best with ONE very large piece, or a mixture of large and medium-sized pieces. Keep scale in mind when choosing art for this space - small work looks silly and out of place on a large wall.

WALLPAPERS
Wallpaper is a challenging background for displaying artwork (especially wallpapers with patterns). The bolder the pattern the more the fight for attention you will get between the art and the wall. Don't be discouraged however, simply mount around the work as much as possible to give it a solid background as much as possible.

LARGE BOLD PAINTINGS
When you see a large piece, what is the first thing you do? You stand back to see the full picture. Large work must have the space available to step back and view it. This does not mean that you can not use a large piece in a small space, just make sure to give it the entire wall to itself.

GROUPINGS (IN A LINE)
If the pieces are all the same size, keep exact spacing between them. With any line grouping, make sure the bottom of the work is in a straight line (its okay if the tops are uneven!). If the are different sizes put the largest in the middle and try to create balance on either side.

GROUPINGS (IN A SQUARE)
If you have a mix of sizes and wish to hang them in a square formation, get painters tape (or a pencil, just don't permanently mark the wall) and measure out a square. Put the larger pieces on the outer edges of the square and fill the center with your smaller pieces. The key here is to make sure your top and bottom lines are straight.

ALIGNMENT
Hang pictures straight. Do not try to line up the work based on the ceiling or floor lines (they are not always straight). If your work is placed somewhere it can be brushed against (stairs) place a piece of double sided tape or sticky tack behind the bottom edge of the frame.

HEIGHT
The guide line for hanging artwork is the center of the piece at eye level (of the average person). Keep in mind the activity in the room, for example, if its the dining room eye level is when you are sitting.

DON'T HANG IT AT ALL
You can also consider leaning your work against a wall while it sits on a mantel or shelf or maybe on an easel!

The How's
WALL STRENGTH
Check the wall that you are planning to hang your work on. Brick or concrete walls will require heavy-duty concrete nails. Panel or partition walls will only need standard picture nails. Also, keep in mind the ability of the wall to take the weight of the work. If the wall is crumbly, put a piece of tape over the place you are about to put the nail. That way the wall around the hole will be able to absorb the impact.

STRINGING
Do not use garden wire or general use string. Use picture cord or wire when attempting to maintain a specific height because they have less give.