How to Hang a Picture Perfectly
If you’ve ever hung something on the wall, you know what a pain in the butt it can be.
You get the picture all set up, and then you’re like, “Oh no! It’s crooked!” You try to fix it, but there’s no fixing it: it’s just crooked. And then you have to start all over again and hope that this time around, things will go better.
But they don’t always go better. So here’s what we’re going to do: we’re going to make sure that doesn’t happen again by giving you some tips on how to hang a picture. You’ll know exactly where to put the nail, and your pictures will be hung perfectly every time.
Read on:
Measure the Wall Space
Before decorating with wall art, it’s important to take a few measurements. Make sure that you don’t end up with an awkwardly sized piece of art hanging on your walls. Here are some things to measure:
The width and height of the wall space
The distance from the top of the frame to the ceiling
The distance from the top of the frame to the floor
The distance from the left side of your frame to the right side
Find Your Center
If you’re wondering where to hang a picture, choose the center of the wall space. This will be your guide for the rest of your frames. It’s crucial that you find this point, otherwise, your pictures will look uneven and lopsided.
Hanging large art above sofas, dining room tables and another furniture expands a room. If you opt to hang art over furniture, make sure it hangs directly above the center of each piece and that there’s a gap between 5 and 8 inches.
With low-backed furniture like sofas and armchairs, hang the art high enough that someone sitting down won’t bump into it. A good rule of thumb is 5 – 8 inches above their head.
Use a Drill to Create Pilot Holes for Your Screws
Choose a drill bit that matches the inner diameter of the screws you’ll be using. If you’re hanging standard wall art with two-inch screws, choose a drill bit that has an opening 1/4″ in diameter. This will allow room for things like paint and plaster—and it will help to avoid cracking your wall or frame as you work.
Make sure you set the correct speed for drilling into concrete or brick walls: too slow and nothing happens; too fast and the drill will jam or break!
Use a level to make sure that your pictures are straight before screwing them into place, even if it seems unlikely that they’re crooked. You’ll thank yourself later when no one gives them sideways glances every time they walk past them in your home.
Hang Your Artwork Using Wall Hooks or Nails
Use nails if you’re hanging a small picture. Nails are better suited to smaller pieces of artwork, like a framed photo or a 3″ x 5″ print. Nail your piece in place by hammering the nail into the wall at an angle until it’s flush with the surface.
Use hooks for larger pictures and paintings. If you have something larger than 4 feet wide and 2 feet tall, use hooks instead of nails to hang it on your walls. Hooks are less expensive than nails, but they can also be difficult to remove if you decide to move them later on down the line (though there are ways around this).
Learn How to Hang a Picture to Match Your Decor
Now you know how to hang a picture perfectly! Use the right tools for each step of this process. Don’t forget about the measurements and keep yourself safe.
But before you go hanging wall art just anywhere in your home, get interior design tips on colors and textures in our home improvement articles. That way, you can confidently pick a picture that complements your existing decor.
Browse our blog for more home decor tips and hacks!
