Stop, HAMMER TIME! Tips for Hanging Artwork Like a Pro

 

EXCITING NEWS---gold, white, and black frames are now available with your artwork purchase. Because I'm always getting asked where to find frames, what kind of frames to get, etc, I am so thrilled to make this process easier for ya'll. Not only will you now be able to have your artwork framed before it's even shipped to you, but you will be able to immediately hang your artwork knowing that the frames are high quality, GORGEOUS, and made to elevate and protect your artwork. Trust me when I say that I've been searching high and low the past 5 years (!!!) for the creme de la creme of frames and these beauties meet and exceed my exceptionally high standards. Each frame includes a white mat board, UV shielding acrylic glass, and hanging hardware. I know you will be extremely "EH-happy" with them too!

Now that the framing process is ridiculously easy, I want to make the hanging process feel just as effortless too. To help, I've rounded up some expert tips and put together a guide for how to hang your art. 

YOUR GUIDE FOR HANGING ARTWORK: 

1. Determine your strategy 

"The weight, size, and shape of the item you're hanging and the material of your walls both need to be considered before you so much as get near a hammer. Can I drill into brick? What about tile? Will my plaster walls hold anything and what the heck is a stud?" (Architectural Digest) I personally just start nailing into walls (and I do not recommend that strategy). If you want to be more cautious, try one of these picture framing hacks. 

2. Make sure the art fits the space

"We all know that it's not always so simple to find a completely blank wall that's waiting to be outfitted, especially if you live in a small space. When you're surveying the land (so to speak), consider what spaces you're working with and how your art would fit into those areas—making sure to consider if you'll need that wall for something else in the near future." (Dwell.com)

3. Choose pieces that are different, but that also go together.  

"Choose a color story (such as bright and airy or dark and moody) and purchase art within that overall palette. [However,] you don’t want all abstract paintings or all graphic photos. If you’re shopping online, try plugging in search terms like “watercolor,” “abstract,” “original,” “graphic,” “bright,” “modern,” etc. Something three dimensional (like a collage or paper sculpture) is always a nice addition, too." (Cup of Jo)

4. Hang art at eye level

"Follow the gallery model and hang art at eye level. Think of your wall as if it's divided into four horizontal sections (from the floor to the ceiling). Hang your art in the third section (from the floor). If you're hanging art above a sofa, the golden rule is to hang it one-hand's width above the sofa. There's some wiggle room here, but always be careful not to hang your art too high." (Dwell.com)

5. Know that you can nail the gallery wall look

"Start with the largest piece of art. Center it in the middle or just off the middle, and then place the rest of the art around it in a way that pleases your eye. You can decide on a layout by laying the art on the floor until you find a solution that works or by cutting out the shape of each piece of art in brown craft paper and taping it to the wall to test out ideas." (Houzz)

6. But don't always have to default to the gallery wall look

"When dealing with a large blank wall, it can be tempting to go for a gallery wall—smaller frames are less expensive after all—but [Nate Berkus] suggests that it's entirely situational and that people shouldn't shy away from large-scale art: "A gallery wall is more personal and allows a greater opportunity to tell the story," he says. "Large-scale art, when well chosen, can be a fantastic investment. It can create a constant focal point for a room and can be moved around to different spaces as you move." (MyDomaine)

7. Have fun!

The most important tip is to have fun when hanging art, and not to worry too much about getting things perfect. 'You're not doing anything structural to your walls, and your house isn't going to fall down if you don't hang the pictures right'....'if you hang something up and want to move it, it's really easy to fix the problem,' with a little spackle. In fact, [David Kassel, founder of ILevel, a New York–based professional art placement and installation service] suggests changing displays of art every once in a while: 'I think a lot of people like moving pictures around, just like they move furniture around to freshen things up.'" (Elle Decor)

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Happy hanging! XX
Evelyn 

 

PS SHOP MY ART STUDIO LOOK (minus the paint on my pants) BELOW!