• Has the time come for you to hang artwork in your beautiful home? Maybe you have even been avoiding it. The process of hanging artwork can seem frustrating and very time-consuming. To help put you at ease while hanging your artwork, we have composed a few tips and tricks to assist you. Let’s take a look! 

Placement:

• You may find yourself standing there staring at a blank wall and find yourself unsure of where to hang your artwork. If you have only one or two pieces to hang, stand back and visually place in your mind where you want the artwork to hang.  Often people hang art too high; experts recommend hanging your art pieces at eye level. To help, you can physically take the art piece and place it on the wall in your desired spot. With a pencil, draw a short, centered line on the wall at the top of the frame. If your frame has a wire on the back of the art, simply measure from the top of the wire in the center to the top of the frame. Go back to your line on the wall and measure down from the top line to the distance of the centered wire hanger and mark. Erase the original top line, so you do not get confused about the proper placement mark. 
• If you have multiple pieces of art, start out by placing the pieces on the floor for a symmetrical or asymmetrical look, whichever fits your taste. As you stand back to look at the items on the floor, you can visualize how they will look once hung. You can also move and mix until you get your desired look. 

Techniques for Strength:

• If possible, drive the nail into a wall stud for the most strength. If you do not already own one, experts recommend investing in a stud finder.  Although in most cases, where you want to hang the art, a stud will not be present. For small and medium artwork, a 1 ½ or 2-inch nail in the sheetrock will suffice and hold securely. Always drive the nail into the wall at a 45-degree angle. This technique ensures a stable and secure hold. 
• For large pieces of art, purchase hollow-wall anchors with screws.  Anchor sets will match the weight of the artwork. Use a small drill and choose a drill size to match the size of the anchor. Once you drill the hole, tap the anchor into the sheetrock and screw the screw into the anchor.

Straightness:

• If your artwork is not hanging level and straight, you can purchase some small plastic bumpers that attach to the back of the frame with self-stick tape. What a simple fix for a challenge that will arise now or in the future. 
• We would love to hear from you regarding any ideas and tips you may have for hanging artwork. What tips and tricks have you learned over the years that could be helpful for other readers? You can leave your responses below in the comment section.