How to Hang a Picture With Two Hangers

The focal point of a room is often a large picture hung over a fireplace or sofa. Nothing can throw off the balance of a room more quickly than a picture hanging askew. Large items often require a hanger on each corner to keep them level and secure. Follow a few simple steps to make sure your pictures are correctly positioned, level and fixed firmly to the wall.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pencil
• Level
• Anchor bolts or picture hangers
• Hammer
• Screw driver

1. Determine the kind of wall on which you're going to hang the picture. If you're hanging the picture on drywall, you'll need an anchor bolt to keep the weight of the picture from pulling the hanger out of the wall. If the wall is solid wood, masonry or has studs underneath it, regular picture hangers will work, as long as they're the right size.

2. Weigh the picture and select the proper size toggle bolts or hangers. Different sizes available according to the amount of weight they'll hold. It's best to go to larger size than to use one that's too small.

3. Hold your picture up at eye level on the wall where you'll be hanging it. Use a pencil to mark the area of the wall at the top center of the picture.

4. Measure the distance between the hangers on the back of the picture and divide the number by two. Measure and mark that distance on either side of the mark you placed on the wall. Make sure the placement mark for your hangers is visible and precisely where you want to place the hangers.

5. Place a level on the wall at the point where you placed the marks, then draw a level line to connect the three marks. The length of the line should be the same as the distance between the hangers on the back of the picture.

6. Insert a toggle bolt or hanger at each placement mark.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the hangers on the back of the picture are level with each other. If they're off just a little bit, it can throw off all of the measurements.
• Double-check your measurements and placement marks before you make holes in your wall. Some of the holes for anchor bolts can be quite large, and you don't want to make any unnecessarily.
• Use the appropriate size anchor or toggle bolts if you're hanging a heavy object on drywall. If the object it too heavy for the bolts used, the picture can pull the bolts from the wall along with a portion of the drywall around the anchors.

Resources

• List of fasteners and how to use them at alsnetbiz.com
• Help using fasteners on drywall at doityourself.com