How To Properly Hang Frames And Paintings

Photos, paintings, pictures, drawings. At the end of the day, we all have a lot of framed art we want to hang on our walls, but we don’t know where to start. The ideal arrangement of frames depends on the layout and size of the room.
Learn the basics of hanging frames in your apartment or home with our tips.

Location | Color | Size | Lighting | Unity

Location

In a rather cramped area (hallway, entrance), remember to hang your frames at eye-level, as the person will be standing more than likely. On the other hand, in a larger room (living room, dining room), you can hang them halfway up the wall. You’ll be able to admire the art both standing, and sitting.
Other locations to consider: on an easel, hanging from a clip, or even a painting without a frame placed on a wall table.

Color

When it comes to colored backgrounds and wallpapers, you can gain a lot of intensity and depth. It can especially be interesting to play off colors between what is in the picture, and behind it.
You can also use contrasts. In this case, you can vary depending on the subject and style of the art. You can create visual and graphic effects, in accordance with your frame’s dimension.

Size

Who said art should only be small? Try making prints that stretch high up on your walls, or are very wide.
If you do have small paintings and frames, avoid placing them on very large walls. You’ll need to find a place better suited, like between two windows, or furniture.
A large frame can however be hung on a small wall section. You’ll get a panoramic effect.
In the case of an ensemble of artwork (tryptic, etc.), it is best to space them enough so you can appreciate each individual piece adequately.

Lighting

Natural light is always preferable to artificial lighting. It is advisable to hang your picture or art towards a light source, while avoiding UV rays to come directly on the wall or frame. Otherwise, colors in your photo or canvas may fade with time. In addition, sun will create a reverb effect on the glass, and prevent people from contemplating the art in its entirety.
If the room is rather dark, and you want to brighten up your piece, use artificial lighting to showcase them. Incandescent and energy-saving bulbs are the way to go.

Unity

It is essential to create a running thread when it comes to framed photographs. You want to create cohesion. You’ll need an ensemble that can be either:

• United in form (picture frames of the same size, same geometric shape)
• United in type (wooden or aluminium frames, canvas, oil paintings, watercolors, etc.)
• United in color (pieces can echo each other’s colors, or play off the walls)
• United in theme (similar topics and subjects, like landscapes, family portraits, pencil drawings, etc.).

The idea is simple: you want to avoid monotony. That also means sometimes interrupting the flow, and create an unbalance through one or two pieces that “don’t belong”. Work with contrasts and tones.