Picture Hanging Tips

To help you get the "hang" of artful arranging, the following are some positive pointers on
picture grouping. Remember, Your front door talks about you to everyone who passes
by…your walls gossip about you to all your friends. Walls are the largest single feature in any
room! Be sure yours makes a positive statement by careful selection of your artwork,
framing and hanging!

  1. Composition is the key. Consider your grouping as a single unit. Line, Balance,
    Rhythm and Scale.
  2. First, work out an attractive arrangement on the floor. Remembering to measure out
    the entire amount of wall space you have to work in. Trace an outline of each picture
    on paper and use these as guides for placement on the walls. This will eliminate
    unnecessary nail holes. (Newspaper, freezer paper, brown craft paper).
  3. The eye craves order, so remember your practical geometry. Hang pictures so that
    they form at least one horizontal, and one vertical line. (With the exception of a round
    grouping.)
  4. Your arrangement should hang-together, literally. Too much space between pictures
    disrupts the graphic effect. (Use your hand width as a good spacing between pieces.)
  5. Remember, not only size, but color and textures will affect the balance. Always
    integrate groupings for balance by keeping the weight of your composition well
    distributed.
  6. Add Rhythm by combining large and small squares, rectangles and circles, but mingle
    the various shapes and sizes throughout to add visual interest.
  7. Permanent accessories such as lamps, are important to remember, so include them
    into your plan.
  8. Correct scale is such a common factor in decorating that we are not aware of it until it
    is absent. Standing a pony beside an elephant will make the pony look smaller or the
    elephant look larger...tiny pictures over a large overstuffed sofa or vice versa is
    incorrect.
  9. Avoid stair-stepping pictures unless you are hanging them on a stairway wall.
  10. How High or How Low??? Remember, everyone's "eye-level" is different. The Rule to
    remember is: No more than 6 to 8 inches above a piece of furniture or at average eye
    level if not above furniture.
Happy Hanging !
Westchester
Art & Frame