Just Picture It - Complete Guide to Hanging Pictures

The pictures and art that you put in your house are literally the face of your home. It seems like something so simple, some easy DIY, but the reality is that hanging pictures can be really complicated, both conceptually and logistically. How high should you hang them? How should you arrange a group of pictures? What if you mess it up and leave holes in your walls?

Never fear! Aiva is here to help! Here are expert designer and handyman tips to help you put your best face forward in any room:

Let´s take this step by step.

1. A Great Frame of Mind

• Think about the look of the room, the style and colors when choosing the type of frame you want. Wooden frames can be classic or modern, metal frames have a contemporary look, and plastic frames provide a straight-lined appearance.
• Choose photos or art that reflects your tastes and also enhances the room. Think about the colors in the room and the general feel you wish to portray.
• Prints, photographs, posters, drawings, and sometimes watercolor or acrylic painting can be framed alone or with a mat. Paintings on canvas are framed with a canvas stretcher (best done in framing or art shop). When framing artwork that requires a mat, specify a mat with 8-ply thickness; the increased depth can make anything look important.
• For photos that will be displayed together, consider having all the photos framed compatibly. The frames can be in various patterns of the same color or material and should all have the same mat color. Mixing wood-framed pictures with metal-framed pictures works best in an eclectic home. For a more formal look, try to keep the same color for all the frames. 

2. Making the Arrangements

• Don't go poking holes all over your wall before you really know what you want. If you're not sure how to arrange them, first make templates of your frames and hang them to see if you like it. Cut scrap paper to the size of the frame and mark the nail location on the paper. Using painter's tape, move the paper templates around the wall until satisfied. Then hammer the nail through the marks. Remove the paper template and hang!

• There are literally thousands of ways you can arrange your pictures, but here are 54 ideas to get you started:

• Here are some other designer rules of thumb about spacing to make sure you've done it just right:
• Don't put one little picture on a large wall. If there's not enough artwork to fill up more space on a large wall, consider putting mirrors or a shadowbox in the grouping. Conversely, don't overload a small wall with a large picture.
• Keep a minimum of 9 inches between the art and the tops of sofas and chairs
• When hanging a series of pictures together, keep the gap between them 2-2.5 inches to really utilize the wall space
• Always hang pictures with the mid-line at "eye level", or if you're not sure, 63 inches at the center above the floor is perfect viewing height for most pieces
• The perfect amount of space between a mirror or frame and the top of the mantle is 7 inches
• Don´t use mirrors in every room or over every mantle- mix it with artwork
• Don´t hang a mirror between windows. The spatial void it creates distracts from the view

• Remember that pictures do not always need to be on a wall. Also consider resting pictures on shelving hammered directly on to a wall. Or display them on a plate rack in place of plates. Consider a bamboo, wrought-iron or wood easel to complement the room.
• There are lots of ways to enhance how pictures are displayed with picture nails and various knobs. You can also use an eye screw at the top of the frame and then dangle the frame from a wire or ribbon attached to a screw in the wall

3. Getting the Hang of It

• Don't Eyeball It - it takes just a few extra moments to measure, but a badly hung picture will be staring you down, mocking your negligence, for years to come. 
• Once you've measured, put toothpaste where you will want the nail to go. Then, press the picture to the wall where you want to hang it so that the toothpaste from the back of your frame sticks to the wall. 
• For physically hanging the pictures on the wall,  look for a picture-hanging kit at the hardware or home store. It will include everything you need. And keep in mind, the picture's weight will determine what size hook to use. For a very large picture, use two hooks.  For heavy decor, use wall anchors to protect you drywall.
• Try this method of creating a portable picture hanger to make sure you get it just right Picture Hanging Tip
• If using a drill or large screws, add a simple, folded Post-It underneath your marked hole to collect most of the dust made from your pilot hole
  
  

So there you have it- everything you ever needed to know to perfectly arrange all your wall decor. Use these tips and suggestions to make your home perfectly reflect how awesome you are.

Take it to the WALL!

Walls create the backdrop to our homes, so why would you want to leave them beige and void of texture? It is important for a home to have a few unexpected twists that make the space energetic and lively.

One easy way to do this is by dressing up your walls. Whether you choose a bold accent color or you want to add decorative wainscoting, these things can elevate your home to a great custom look.

What are some of Aiva´s favorite ways to decorate walls?

Wallpaper is a great option. There are so many wallpaper books out there with bright colors and bold patterns that would boost the design of any room. From matte to metallic, trellis to stripes, wallpaper is classy and can be styled to fit any type of home.

Paint is another easy way to add drama. Adding a bright pop of color will liven up a room and draw you into the space. Using stencils and tape to create a bold pattern on the wall gives you the same effect of wallpaper, but for half of the cost.

If you fall into the traditional category, wainscoting, beadboard, and picture frame molding with a chair rail are great options. This will add texture to your walls without being overly dramatic. Consider adding paint to the molding to infuse color into the space. Another idea we are loving is the use of reclaimed wood to create an accent wall.

But this is just the surface of thinking of your walls. Let's go a bit deeper...

Not So Dry Drywall

Drywall textures can be divided into two categories based on how they are applied.

Some textures are made by hand tools and are known as hand applied textures. Hand drywall textures vary based on skill level and techniques used. They are applied using special brushes, knives & trowels.

Spray textures are produced by a machine that sprays the texture onto the wall.

There are so many wall options, it may get overwhelming. This is a great start, and of course you can always call Aiva for great personalized ideas.