6 Tips for Hanging Framed Pictures Like a Pro

Framed photos, posters and artwork help to enhance a home and show off your decor taste and bring loads of personality to interiors. Use framed pictures to complement your home decor and to change the look and feel of a room without having to redecorate or change too much. Framed wall art is a great way to refresh your spaces quickly and on a small budget. It’s a win-win! 

But where to start? Hanging your wall art can feel like a mystic art form that's challenging to get right. That’s why we put together these quick tips to help you create that perfect space with wall art. From choosing the right frame to finding the perfect spot, here are 6 tips for hanging framed pictures like a pro.

1. Choose the right height

The general rule is to hang your picture at eye level. 57” from the floor is considered as the average eye level height. So, aim for the centre of the frame to be 57–60” off the floor to get the perfect picture hanging height. However, you can also consider the height of your furniture, such as a sofa, to guide you.

2. Use a level

Crooked pictures can literally throw the room off balance but it can be difficult to get frames straight when hanging them, especially when you’re doing the job on your own. A spirit level will help you make sure your pictures are straight and create that balance. You can also use a laser level or an app on your phone. 

3. Choose frames with glazing and a gap to avoid paper buckling 

Paper naturally expands and contracts with changes in temperature and humidity. Frames with a glass or acrylic front helps protect the prints within, but prints placed in direct contact with a frame’s glazing will respond to humidity changes around the edges before the center area. This can cause prints to buckle inside a frame over time.

To avoid this, choose frames that have an air gap between the print and the glazing. The space between the paper and the glazing will help maintain an even humidity level over the entire face of it. The art as well as any mounting board and backing will still expand and contract but buckling will be minimal compared to frames with glazing that directly touch the print.

Bonus tip: keep your old prints crinkle-free by storing them in the same frame behind the new print, ready to be brought back to the front when the mood takes you!

4. Consider natural light

Make sure your picture’s placement isn’t affected by natural light shining onto it. Not only will the light reflection make it difficult to see the print in the frame, sunlight fades even the most high quality print. So check walls that get direct sunlight and avoid hanging a picture there.

5. Create a gallery wall

If you have a large wall, a single picture may not fill the space well unless it’s large enough to balance the wall size. For large wall spaces, consider hanging a group of pictures to create a statement instead. Grouping pictures is a great way to create a mood or theme as well. 

Mix and match different sizes of pictures to create a gallery wall. Start by laying your frames on the floor to figure out your arrangement before hanging. Use a ruler or a measuring tape to make sure that the distance between each picture is consistent too.

Bonus tip: groups of odd numbers are generally more aesthetically pleasing on the eyes.

6. Hanging isn’t the only way! 

Consider leaning your pictures against the wall or furniture. This is a great option if you’re unable to drill holes or hammer nails into a wall. It’s also a great way to mix up how your wall art is displayed. 

Large frames can work really well sitting on the floor or atop low furniture like a sideboard, and leant back against the wall. Consider a picture shelf for leaning smaller frames. Leaning on a flat surface also makes it easy to keep pictures level, and quicker to move around to create different looks easily.

Final tips

• Want to create a statement wall? To make a statement above your mantle place or on a large wall, choose a vibrant design from our Giclée Framed Luxury Large Prints collection on their own, or group them with Giclée Framed Prints. If you’re wondering what the heck is giclée is, find out in our article about it.

• Is your budget small? Check out our FSC-certified Poster collection for a wonderful cheap alternative to buying framed art. Choose from either A4 or A3 and use them to refresh prints in your existing frames.

There you have it – hanging framed pictures doesn’t have to be challenging! These 6 tips will help you create a beautiful and balanced display.

Stay colourful!

Namalee at Neonimo xx

 

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