How to hang artwork on the wall

Hi friends,

Here are some practical guidelines and tricks to help you when hanging pictures or artwork on the wall. Keep these important points in mind:

1. Hanging Art Above Furniture

If you're placing art above a media unit, or bed, the distance between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the artwork should be 6 to 10 inches. This helps ensure the piece doesn’t appear too high or disconnected. Instead, it will feel visually related to the furniture—like they belong together.

2. Eye-Level Placement

Ideally, the center of the artwork (or group of artworks) should be at eye level—typically 57 to 60 inches from the floor. This is the average human eye level and helps artwork feel balanced in the space.

3. Space and Proportions

Leave enough breathing room around your artwork to avoid a cluttered look. As a general rule, the width of the art or art set should be no more than two-thirds of the wall’s width.

4. Hanging Multiple Frames

If you're hanging a group of picture frames, decide whether you prefer a grid-style layout (perfectly aligned for a symmetrical, orderly look), or a more relaxed arrangement that still follows basic principles of balance.

A good rule of thumb is to leave 1 to 2 inches of space between frames, both horizontally and vertically. The more consistent this spacing is, the more cohesive and organized the overall display will appear.

Time-Saving Tricks for Hanging Frames

Hanging artwork can be time-consuming and sometimes frustrating—especially if you end up with a lot of unnecessary holes in the wall. Here are some tips to make the process smoother:

1. Create Paper Templates

Trace the outline of each frame on a piece of cardboard or large paper (like newspaper), then cut it out. Repeat this for each frame you plan to hang. These cutouts will serve as placeholders on the wall.

2. Mark Hanging Points

Check the hanging system on each frame. If it has a cord, measure from the top center of the frame down to where the cord would rest on the hook (make sure the cord is pulled tight when measuring). Mark this point on your paper cutout.

3. Arrange with Tape

Use painter’s tape or masking tape to stick the paper templates onto the wall. Now you can easily move them around to experiment with different layouts without making any holes.

4. Step Back and Review

Every time you change the arrangement, take a step back and view the wall from different angles. This helps you see the composition as a whole.

5. Final Steps

Once you're happy with the layout, drill or nail directly where the marker is on each paper. Don’t forget to tear off the paper before hanging the actual frame to avoid it being stuck!

If you have any questions or would like more tips, feel free to leave a comment or send me an email—I’d love to hear from you!