Performance Art: The
How-to Guide for Hanging Art
A place for
everything and everything in its place.
When hanging
framed art in your home, there are a few general rules to go by, but ultimately
you should rely on your instincts. What do you think looks best?
Suggestions:
Hang a picture with its center about
60 to 66 inches from the floor or so that the bottom edge is six to eight
inches above a piece of furniture. Large art shouldn’t be crowded, but small
art shouldn’t float on the wall.
To
experiment with the layout of artwork, make paper cutouts of your frames with
craft paper. Use blue painter’s tape to position the cutouts on the wall. When
you are satisfied with the arrangement, hang the frames on top and pull out the
paper. Hold off hammering until you are satisfied with the layout. Almost
anything can be undone—except a wall with nail holes.
Use two
hangers on each picture for extra support and to help keep it from tipping.
Space the hangers about five inches from the frame edge, and use a level to
ensure that the hangers are even.
Attach
picture wire one third of the way down each side of the frame. The wire should
have slack for easy hanging; it’s a good idea to allow an inch of slack for
every foot of wire. When you are hanging multiple frames in one arrangement,
make sure that you have the same amount of slack in each frame. Employing
D-rings (one on each side of the frame) is another way to ensure that the frame
won’t be crooked. Each D-ring will fit directly onto a hook on the wall. Be
mindful of D-ring and hook positions; they should not peek out from behind the
frame.
Use bumpers,
which are small pieces of felt or plastic applied to the bottom corners of your
art, to protect the wall and to keep the frames from moving.
Elements on
one side of the composition should make up about the same square footage of
wall space as those on the other side.
A 450-page
book (about 2 ½ to 3 inches) is a good spacer when you are arranging frames.
Don’t hang your art too far apart or it will appear disjointed.
Arrangements:
Dramatic
Grid
Don’t be
daunted by the prep work that goes into creating a grid (although a laser level
will make life much easier). The end result is a beautiful arrangement in
which each piece of art contributes to the whole.
Striking
Solo Shot
A solo shot
is good for showing off an important or oversize piece. Make this object the
room’s focal point—the place your eye is drawn to when you enter the room— but
be sure to leave plenty of empty wall space around the picture so that you
don’t crowd the framed print.
Grouping
of Assorted Sizes
Create a
rhythm by grouping assorted sizes. This gives a greater presence than each
print would have hanging individually. Begin with a central picture and work
out from there. Vary sizes and shapes to create movement.
Up-the-Stairs
Arrangement
Create a
conversation between the artwork and people going up the stairs.
Simple
Frame Shelf
Solve
placement conundrums (Should I put this here or that there or both here?) with
the flexibility of a frame shelf. A shelf unifies the arrangement so that
you are free to mix and match frame sizes, colors, and finishes. Tilt
larger photos against the wall and overlap with smaller frames.
Suggestions
and Riffs:
If you have
the floor space, arrange artwork on the floor before mounting on the wall.
Have a
common thread running throughout an arrangement. For example, you can use
frames that are different sizes and shapes but then make sure that they are of
uniform color. Or change up the color, but keep the shape the same.
Frames should be appropriate to the art.
Avoid direct
sunlight and heat, as these are adverse conditions for art and over time will
damage your prints.
Learn to
break the rules and have fun with your room. Let a huge framed print dominate a
small room. And, remember, you can always redecorate simply by changing your
framed artwork around or rotating in new pieces.