How to Hang Artwork Correctly

Think you know how to hang a painting? Maybe not...

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hammer
• Picture hooks

1. Assumption: Artwork is ready to hang, with wire, etc.
   
   Decide where to hang the piece. Choose your location wisely. If it has glass, you might consider a spot where it won't receive a lot of glare, away from windows. If you have spot lighting, center the piece to gain the appropriate amount of light.

2. 
    
   Works by: Larry Bell, Cheryl Kelley, Rita Cebollero

   Decide how it will be viewed the majority of the time. For example, will it be in a dining room? Then it will be viewed from a sitting position most of the time. Will it go in a bedroom? Then it will be viewed from a laying position. Hallway? Standing....

3. Decide the appropriate height for the piece based on your decision from step 2. How to decide? Well, you figure out the eye-level of the viewing position that you decided upon.

4. 
    
   Works by: Tony Magar and Gordon Terry

   Estimate the eye-level chosen as the center of the piece. Turn the piece over and guesstimate where the hook will need to be placed, to achieve the right eye-level.

5. Go ahead and hammer the hook into the wall. Try your piece out, straighten it. If it's not quite right, then move the hook over a little. Eye balling is still the best way!
   
   Enjoy your piece!

Tips & Warnings

• Buy hooks with thin nails and thick or rounded tops. Floreat have always worked the best for me. These make small holes, so if you need to move it over a bit, it's ok.
• You don't need to center everything. Sometimes it works best not to.
• Looking for a stud in the wall is only necessary if the piece you are hanging is extremely heavy. By heavy I mean anything over 30lbs., which most paintings do not qualify, but mirrors might.
• If hanging a large mirror, use 3 different hooks and nails, with the center one at a higher height than the other 2.
• Don't measure everything. Trust your eyes!

[eac913]

on 9/11/2009 Thanks for the info. No more searching for studs.

[jenng]

on 6/13/2009 Great article on how to hang artwork 5*

[callylilly]

on 5/21/2009 Good tips on How to Hang Art Correctly. The correct hanging height really does affect how much you enjoy the art.

[betterbody]

on 5/13/2009 Good details on correctly hanging artwork.

[godfather25]

on 5/6/2009 Great article on hanging artwork, thank you for the tips.