It seems easy enough. You hammer a nail into a wall, you hang the picture on the nail, you take a few steps back, and you look up at the amazing job you just did, incredibly proud of all the hard work you’ve just put into hanging the most beautiful picture in your home. And then you notice that the top left corner of that picture is approximately 3 feet higher than the top right. Then, after adding seventeen more holes in your wall, you seriously consider hiring a professional picture hanging company. But thankfully, this article from Mother Nature Network offers some tips on how to hang your pictures right the first time.
You may think that hanging a picture is pretty straightforward, but there’s more to it than just eyeballing a spot and hammering in a nail (though many a husband would doggedly disagree). There are a few techniques that the pros use that can make your picture hanging endeavor so much easier – and help you avoid putting multiple holes in your wall.
First, find the center. Your picture or group of pictures should be centered on the entire wall or over a piece of furniture. Using a tape measure, find the midpoint on your wall and work off that as your center. This is especially important if you plan to hang a group of pictures. Also, be sure to leave about 5-6 inches from your pictures to the nearest wall or furniture when you are planning where your artwork should go. This will avoid your wall looking too crowded and cluttered.
To get an idea of how an entire gallery wall of pictures will look, trace your pictures onto brown butcher block paper. Then affix each piece of paper to the wall using painter’s tape. This way, you can rearrange how things look without worrying about a zillion little picture holes and you can get it just the way you want it.
Once you’re ready to hang your picture, make sure you’re using the proper hardware. A picture hanging nail and hanger kit will hold a picture more securely (and will leave less of a mark on your wall) than just a nail.
Then decide on the picture height. Hang the picture so that the center of the picture is eye level for the average adult. The bottom of the picture should be no more than 4 feet off the ground.
