spectacular space
Written by George Armond
Hanging gallery art takes planning, precision and patience. Showing off your treasured artwork should be a rewarding experience. Here’s how to put a spotlight on your space.
Plan
Pick a space in your home that is easily visible and one where you’d want to enjoy your artwork often. Once you pinpoint the perfect spot, gather supplies. You’ll need the art, hammer, nails (or picture hangers), a level, pencil and paper to sketch, a ruler or measuring tape.
Planning also includes choosing the right type of art. Try laying out your art on the floor to better have an idea of how each piece complements the other. This will help you rearrange the pieces.
You can also try tracing the pieces of artwork on kraft paper. Then cut out each piece and note the hanger placement for each.
The fun part is that choosing the artwork is up to you. You might prefer family photos or a collection of black-and-white pieces. Or, you might consider a color theme with pieces that have tones that are alike.
Think about balance by mixing larger and smaller pieces.
Consider the size of the room. A larger room with large furniture will be best with largest pieces. A room with high ceilings requires larger artwork, but rooms with lower ceilings are best with smaller pieces.
Precision
The largest piece is generally at eye level and is placed in the middle. Conventional thought is to hang artwork 57-60 inches from eye level, but there are no strict rules.
Go with what feels right. Use the measuring tape to mark the distance between each piece, which is ideally 3 to 6 inches.
Aim to give more space between frames to larger art and place smaller pieces closer together. Negative space is OK. You don’t want the wall to look crowded. Let it breathe.
Review the cutouts or pieces spread on the floor to decide where you want to place each one.
Patience
After the planning is done, it’s time to have patience in placing each piece. Gently hammer nails into the wall where the spots are marked. Grab the picture-hanging hooks and place your pieces. Start with the largest pieces first. Use a level to ensure the pictures are straight.
Take a step back and admire your work.
