How I Hang Art

So I’ve been asked quite a few times how I hang art. What’s the best way for instance to get a straight line at the bottom of a series of frames?

 
There are a few methods I’m sure, such as extensive measuring, making paper templates etc but I use the trial and error method. I eyeball it.

What I start out doing though is to figure out in what order I want things to hang. In this case with four frames I lined them up on the back rest of the sofa so I could step back and get a feeling of the distance between the frames.

 
After I’ve hung the first of the frame where I want it I grab the next one and hold the nail against the hanging thingy at the back.

 

I then hold the frame with the nail still back there and making sure the bottoms of the frames line up and the nail being straight I hold the nail against the wall.

 
I still hold on to the nail and with my other hand I remove the frame.

 
Then it’s just a matter of hammering the nail into the wall and hope for the best.

 
The best being that you got it straight. If you missed the mark and the bottoms aren’t aligned all you need to do is to measure how far off you are, remove the nail and transfer your mistake in making a new corresponding hole.

I know some of you are probably against making extra unnecessary holes in your walls and in that case it’s probably better to use a different method. I don’t mind the extra hole which won’t be visible anyway behind the frame so this works well for me.

And there they are, all four lined up pretty perfectly.

Comments

[Jo]

See.. now I can tell my husband that I'm not the only one.!!
Btw Benita.. what's the little green thing on top of 'Joey's' frame.
Jo xx

[Siri]

Good morning! Yes they are lined up pretty perfectly! What a good job! I basically do the same as you apart from the fact that I totally depend on a pencil and a yardstick to make it as even as you did there!

[hollywood housewife]

I'm an eye-baller, too, and it works well for me. My husband tends to be a measure-r, and I swear my eyeballed ones look better than his precise ones.

[Nolwenn]

I can never get things lined up like you do, whether by just looking or even measuring! So my husband usually does all the hanging around the house. He uses wall plugs every time too... If I'd do it myself, I would definitely use your method!

[MCM]

the comment is not for this post, sorry...
It's about organization: I'm always amazed looking your beautiful house and wondering, WHERE are all the little things for daily life, the keys, the grocery list, the plastic bags, the brooms, umbrella...and so on !
Is it that you have only the essential , but even so, how do you hide them ?
Thanks so much for your blog, and good luck for your new life...

[Ett stenkast från Fyndet]

I also do think it is alright with the trial & error method if the hanging device is a bit further down on the back side of the frame, so that a cm this or that direction doesn't really matter. Sometimes though the hanger is way to high up on the back side. Then there are a few options:

http://www.cnt.se/hangare.html

Another one is a little hanger in a string, with a nail on the back. You hang the frame on the hanger, hold it to the right hight, and then push the frame gently towards the wall. The nail will make a mark on the wall, and there you will put the proper hanger. Couldn't find a link, but it's an excellent tool.

[Petit Filoux]

Sounds like a good enough method to me! Nice and simple!

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

It's the cutest little mini rubber duck... I know, I'm a kid!

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

I don't have those kinds of things!

Just kidding :). Fun idea for a post, will show you one of these days!

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

Cool tool!

[Jen]

We usually use string or wire on the backs of frames, so if the hole is not quite right we can tighten or loosen the wire/string to move the frame up or down. Our walls are very difficult to nail or drill screws into - the plaster crumbles and we can end up with huge gaping holes if we are not careful - so we don't want to have to do it more than once!

[mia]

Sooo nice:)

[Gül]

Some align only the tops, but I love how the bottoms are aligned :)

What about the glass? As far as I could see yours are reflective type?

I try to use non-reflective glass. Especially for big frames and I have them made at a local frame shop. Maybe you don't care much about it?

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

You can't really get non-reflective over here unless you go to a frame shop or glazier and that costs more than I want to spend on cheap art of this kind. I did once order a large frame a long time ago with non-reflective glass and it had kind of a hazy feel to it that I didn't like much, but this was twenty years ago so maybe there are nicer ones nowadays.

[Janet]

Hahahaha! Yay! That's just how I do it. It drives people nuts. My friend measures, does some math, measures some more, does more math, etc... and she thinks I am crazy. ;)

[Rebecca]

I do it this way too! Yeay for simplicity!

[Hxx]

Oh I would so love to see the wall behind the pictures to see how many times you get it wrong - I expect there is maybe 1 wrong hole under there - me, the wall would look like a sieve!

[Melony Bradley]

Amazing idea for framing the flashcards. So vintage Chic- I have those same cards and have been looking for ideas for them

[kirstie]

I am such a Chez Larsson fan. I am reading this thinking, "Oh but I am sure I can remember at least one post Benita wrote about hanging up a garden broom".

I think the posts about storing all the bits a bobs that, for the rest of us, clutter up our drawers and cupboards are my favourites.

[Ana]

I eyeball it too. Sure it takes one or two tries but I can't be bothered to make a template.

[Torrie @ a place to share...]

Thank you for this!

[Jo]

No.. I don't think they've changed much.. I got one recently and it's kind of frosted I don't like it either..
Jo xx

[Shelly]

T home I eyeball it as well and I work in an art and frame shop!!! hahah

But if someone REALLY wants to know the proper way we do it when we install at a cliets home once you know your "centered" location.

A. Measure from the center of the "pulled" wire or hanger to the top of the frame.

B. Measure from the ceiling or floor to the point you would like the top of your frame. Mark with a pencil (so you can erase)

C.Subtract the "pulled" wire or hanger amount and mark with pencil. Place bottem of hanger (using proper nail and hanger)at the pencil mark and hammer nail into wall. If you have plaster walls put tape over the area you plan to put the hole or you could crack your plaster. You can drill a small hole if you feel better, but I've done it 100's of times and just use tape and the nail.

D. Hang and enjoy! Another tip is on long works of art or art that is on a wall with a door that is frequently used put two hangers to keep the art from moving on the wall. Put them about 1/4 of the way in on each side.

Wow...that is the longest comment I've ever written! I love your house Benita! :-)

[Shelly]

Typo alert! That should be "AT home I eyeball....
and "when we install at a clients home"

woops!

[Shelly]

One more thing...I noticed a comment about reflection control glass. I never recommend this type of glass. It's twice as much money, it dulls your art and there is still a reflection...it's the difference between filtered reflection and a mirror image. What people should invest in for more expensive works is UV filter glass. But, I think for Benita's purpose she is very wise to use regular clear. Why invest so much money when you like to change out your art.

[Whitney]

We do the same thing! Ha!

[Sonja]

Hej Benita,
I looooove the pillow on the left - I'm sure you answered it already somewhere, but I couldn't find it: Where did you get it? I fell in love with this print a while back: http://www.etsy.com/listing/55713587/helsinki-afternoon-august-1969-giclee - and I definitely need either the pillowcases or the print... :)

Thanks for the great blog - I lived in Sweden for two years when I studied, and it is nice to stay updated and get ideas for future trips back!

[Yvonne Stehle]

Hi Benita! I am also eyeballing it most of the time. I only did it the Martha way with the paper templates and it took ages and nearly killed me with my impatience... I love the new display with the numbers and letters and believe it or not: I will be stealing this idea and frame some today!
Thanks for getting me started again!
Yvonne

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

I sewed the pillow case myself. The fabric is by Orla Kiely http://www.orlakiely.com/(a fellow Aussie to your Etsy seller). I got mine from Ebay and it appears to be an off cut from a duvet cover.

[Amy]

Thank you for making it ok to "eyeball" the placement of pictures on a wall. My husband goes batty every time I do it and insists I use his special laser wall thing-a-ma-jig. But you know, I usually get it straight.

[yen]

really?

[Sonja]

Thanks Benita, I will try to get it somewhere - and maybe the print too ;)

[ds-b]

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