One of the quickest ways to enliven a space is to display artwork on the walls. Hanging art is an excellent way to bring your personality into a room, whether it's putting up a dramatic black-and-white photograph or a colorful canvas, and it's the easiest way to fill up any empty wall space.
But before you put up anything, make sure you take the proper measures (literally). Here are a few basic points to keep in mind when hanging up artwork.
- Always measure art that you're hanging with a ruler or tape measurer. If it's going above a fireplace mantel you want to be certain that the piece is equal distance apart on both the left and right sides. If it's going on a wall, you want to make sure it's about 60" above the floor, which would make it eye-level.
- A good tip is to opt for picture hooks if you can, which hang from the wall on an angle, instead of nails. The angling makes hooks sturdier than nails, which can often fall straight out over time. And using hooks will also keep art and frames leveled in the long run.
- Always use a level to see where hooks (and nails) should go. This will keep art from hanging crooked on the wall. Once the piece is up, place the level on top of your artwork horizontally to double check again that it's not slanted.
And finally, check out these 11 wonderful rooms with art, ranging from simple to elegant, that are inspiring us now.
