Hanging picture frames inside your home can produce a lot of anxiety. It can be hard to find the perfect placement for them when first deteriorating your home. But after doing extensive research, we've discovered a few tips to help reduce your stress when hanging picture frames.
The following seven tips will make hanging your picture frames evenly an absolute breeze:
- Procure the correct hanging hardware
- Assemble the right tools
- Remember that spacing is key
- Never eyeball height placement
- Always fasten hangers and brackets to a stud
- Use wall bumpers
- Employ a level or rule to ensure your picture frame is level
Listing out these tips is a bit vague as there's more to know for each one. Our next section will dive into them in more detail to ensure hanging picture frames is a stress-free task. If you keep reading, those anxious feelings will soon wash away with how easy the process becomes.
7 Tips to Hanging Picture Frames Evenly
Each of these tips has been effective in helping many people hang their picture frames evenly. If you stick with them, there's no doubt this entire process will go off without a single hitch. Let's now begin with tip one and find the perfect placement for your picture frames.
Tip 1: Procure the Correct Hanging Hardware
Homeowners will need to understand that there are different types of hanging hardware. It shouldn't be too surprising given the various sizes and shapes of picture frames. Due to this, you'll need to find the correct hardware for each specific frame.
Some manufacturers will make this aspect easy by including the correct hardware with the frame. But others make this task a bit more challenging and don't come with proper hanging hardware. If you're in this predicament or want to learn more about this topic, try an online guide to sort out what you need.
We also have an article about how to hang a picture frame without a hanging wire. Either of these posts should make this potential issue relatively easy to solve.
Tip 2: Assemble the Right Tools
Aside from the proper hanging hardware, it's essential to obtain the other necessary tools. The most obvious one would be a hammer to pound the wall anchor or nail into place. If you use a wall anchor, you will also need a power drill or screwdriver to insert screws into it.
Tape measures will be another handy tool in your arsenal, as it makes it easier to calculate the perfect hanging spot. Don't forget to procure a level, so you can ensure the frame's level when it's hung.
Tip 3: Remember Spacing is Key
The entire idea behind hanging a framed picture is wanting to enjoy it from a distance. You'll need to consider the spacing around and prevent it from becoming too high, low, far, or close. This aspect becomes incredibly essential when filling a gallery wall with several frames.
If you hang them too close together, the visual can seem way too cuddled. Each picture will end up mashing into a visual stew of multiple images that nobody can enjoy separately. But placing them too far apart can have a similar negative impact by making them seem too disconnected.
How Far Apart Should Two Pictures Be Hung?
We recommend placing picture frames at least 1 or 2 inches apart from each other, but not much more. If you're framing over furniture, make sure it's at least 3 to 6 inches above it. It should provide enough room to offer a nice visual that isn't suffocated by your couch or recliner.
How Much Space Should be Between Pictures on a Gallery Wall?
You should add a bit more space for pictures on gallery walls than ones within your home. Anywhere between 2 to 3 inches will give them enough room to breathe away from the nearby pieces. You should also ensure your chosen spacing remains consistent throughout the gallery.
How Far Apart to Hang Pictures Vertically?
The proper vertical space between pictures isn't any different than horizontal. 1 or 2 inches should do the trick and provide a visually appealing arrangement within your home.
Tip 4: Never Eyeball Height Placement
Many homeowners will try to eyeball the placement of their picture frames. If you've ever tried before, you know how this process usually ends, with a giant stress headache. The frustration often stems from artwork looking even and straight when up close, but as you back away, it looks crooked.
An easy way to avoid this nuisance is by measuring 57 inches from the floor before hanging the frame. This height is considered ideal for the center of hung artwork or pictures. It's about eye-level for most people and what most galleries/museums use when placing their pieces.
But it's essential to realize the 57-inch rule doesn't determine the hook's ideal placement. The 57-inch rule instead displays where your picture's center needs to be on a wall.
If you're hanging multiple frames next to each other, our 57-inch rule becomes more important. Your pieces won't mesh together well unless they're at the same height. Otherwise, there won't be the consistency needed for a lovely-looking frame arrangement.
We suggest using the "string and pushpin method" when hanging multiple frames in a single location. You measure 57 inches from your floor and mark each desired frame location with a pushpin. From there, run a string between them to make sure each frame is even.
Tip 5: Always Fasten Hangers and Brackets to a Stud
One general rule to never break when hanging picture frames is securing them to a stud. If you don't, it'll likely cause massive issues down the line. Wood studs avoid causing problems by offering something solid to help keep your frame secure.
In some cases, you can get away with hanging a lightweight picture frame anywhere in your home. Print images and thumbtacks are capable of being hung almost anywhere, but they can problematic quickly. The moment any extra weight's added, such as a metal picture frame, you're risking it falling and breaking.
Finding a stud isn't too difficult, either. You need to thump on the wall and listen for a solid sound or use a stud finder. There's no reason not to fasten a picture frame's hangers or brackets to them.
Tip 6: Use the Wall Bumpers
Every hanging kit will come with wall bumpers, which are the unsung heroes of keeping picture frames level. These items are small, clear rubber buttons that contain an adhesive back. They'll stick onto the back of your frame's corners and protect a wall from damage.
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But what some people don't realize is bumpers do a bit more than protecting the wall. They also keep the frame steady and level by preventing any sliding from occurring. Someone slamming a door won't cause the picture to slip like it usually would without these essential bumpers.
Tip 7: Employ a Ruler or Level to Ensure Your Picture Frame is Level
It might seem like common sense, but making sure a frame's level is an essential part of hanging them. If you're using hooks and nails, it's crucial to distribute the weight on both sides equally. You can determine this equal distribution with a ruler by measuring whether your nail's close to the frame's center as possible.
Homeowners can also use a level to see if their frame's straight. Your smartphone will even have apps to use that act as built-in levels. It makes the entire process a lot more convenient.
In Closing
We hope our discussions about hanging picture frames answered all your questions. But if you still have a concern or two, please use our comment section. We'll make sure to respond as quickly as possible. Thanks for reading!
