How to Hang a Painting

A good question to ask, always, before purchasingThe average person’s eye level is at about 60”
any kind of art to hang on your wall, is: Do I have thefrom the floor. If you are taller or shorter than average,
wall space?you can use a measuring tape to figure out where
If you’re like me, very familiar with certainyour eye level is. Let’s assume in this case that
measurements because you see them all the time, likeit’s 60”.
16” x 20”, 24” x 36”, etc. then you mightThe back of the painting should have a hanging wire
be able to tell at a glance whether or not there’sinstalled. (If it doesn’t, you can get picture hanging
room on your blank wall to hang a painting.wire and screw eyes from a hardware store. The
But chances are most people will need to measure toscrew eyes should always go about 1/3 of the way
make sure. Aside from just measuring the wall with adown from the top edge of the painting, the wire
measuring tape, I would also recommend taking it oneshould be at least 2” from the top edge of the
step further to really get an idea of what a painting ofpainting when pulled taut, and it should be coiled tightly
a certain size would look like in that spot.and neatly so it’s secure. But that’s a whole
Take a large sheet of scrap cardboard, poster board,other subject.)
or anything you can get your hands on that’s large
enough. It can be destined for the trash—doesn’tYou want to pull the wire up towards the center of
matter. You may have to take several sheets ofthe painting’s top edge, just as if it were hanging on
paper and tape them together. Just figure out a waythe wall and gravity were pulling it taut. Measure the
to create a rectangle the exact size of the painting.distance from the wire to the top edge of the painting.
You can then hold this up on the wall and really
visualize what it’ll be like.The number you need is the measurement from the
Placement of artwork is no sweat if you've got a“eye level” line, or vertical midpoint, to the point
natural talent for interior design. This is for those of uswhere the wire will hang on the hook. To get this
who don't:number, subtract 3” from 15”, to get 12”. This
The painting should not take up all of the availableis how high above eye level you will need to place the
space, if you can help it. It is good to have a certainbottom of the hook.
amount of what I call “buffer” around the
painting to give a place for the eye to rest.So add 12” to your eye level measurement of
Here’s what it looks like when you don’t leave60”. You will place the bottom of the hook for this
enough “buffer.”painting at 72” from the floor. Mark this spot with a
pencil dot.
If you have a large wall, don’t be afraid to leavePicture hanging hooks can be purchased at any
some of it blank. When you do this it showcases thehardware store. The ones I use look like this.
artwork more elegantly. (If you’ve ever walked into
an upscale art gallery, you know what I mean. SuchThe nail goes in at an angle to really anchor it into the
spaces normally have gleaming wooden floors, cleanwall. If you are hanging a heavy piece of art, make
white walls, excellent lighting, and little more. Artwork insure to use hooks that are rated for the proper
this setting takes on a feeling of importance, as thereweight. I don't recommend using nails because the wire
is often just one painting per wall.)can slip off of a nail. With a hook there is no chance of
At the same time, you also want the artwork to makethat.
a statement. If you hang a small painting on a largeIf you’ve measured correctly, when you hang the
wall, it may not have the kind of visual impactpainting by its wire on the hook, the center of the
you’re looking for.painting should be exactly at eye level. (If you're off by
Here’s what happens when the painting is too smalla half inch, don't stress about it--you won't be able to
for the wall.tell by looking.) Use a level to make sure it's hung
straight.
So when you’re decorating, try to choose artwork
for your space that is not too big, not too small, but justNote: If a painting is much wider than it is high, for
right.example, 24” high x 48” wide, the canvas will
usually have a cross-brace in the middle. In these
Once you’ve selected your new artwork,cases you will have to hang the painting from 2 hooks,
determined where it will go, and finally got it home,one on either side of the cross-brace. When pulling the
hanging it on the wall is a simple, if specific, process.wire taut to measure its distance from the top edge,
How to Hang a Paintingyou’ll just have to pull it taut across 2 points. It’s
You will need a picture hanging hook, a pencil, aa little tricky but if you understand the theory, you’ll
measuring tape, a hammer and a level.be able to get an accurate measurement. The
The first thing you need to do is find the point on yourimportant thing in those cases is to use a level when
wall where you want the center of the painting to be.installing the 2 hooks to ensure that they are placed in
You may need to measure if you want it exactlyline with each other.
centered on a wall, but in most cases it is okay toOf course a painting does not always have to be at
eyeball it. Mark the spot with a piece of masking tapeeye level—for example, if you are hanging it above a
or a small pencil mark.piece of furniture or in a configuration with other
Then measure the length of the painting (from top topaintings, eye level becomes less important. In those
bottom) and find the midpoint by dividing that number incases it is usually best to eyeball it. But once you figure
half. Say your painting is 30” high x 24” wide.out where you want the center of the painting, you
The vertical midpoint would be 15” from both thecan still use this method to figure out exactly where
top and bottom edges. You want this imaginary line tothe hook should go.
be at eye level when the painting is hung on the wall.Hopefully this info will be helpful to you next time
you’re hanging a painting, photograph, or mirror.