How to Hang Artwork for Staging and Decorating

Best Ways To Successfully Place Artwork in A Room!

When it comes to decorating, traditional home staging, or even virtual staging with artwork, be sure NOT to overdo it!  You can create a collection of artwork on a wall but it can easily become a big hodgepodge in a hurry.  We suggest starting with one large piece that will be the focal point of a room.  Keep in mind, it is not necessary to have artwork on every wall in a living space but to have at least one special piece or small collection of artwork that will set the tone in a room.  Here are our Best Ways to Successfully & Appropriately Hang Artwork! ….

1.) Installation. Before starting to put nails in the wall right away start by arranging the artwork on the floor to get an idea of how it will look on the wall.  We also suggest tracing out each wall hanging onto brown bag paper or wrapping paper and then taping those pieces to the wall to determine how to group them and where each nail or hook will be placed on the wall.  Be sure to install the artwork so that the picture’s center point rests at eye level for the average height person.  Following these easy steps will make hanging an artwork collection a snap!

2.) Placement. When staging or decorating a living space, artwork should be placed in a room so that it is the focal point.  Don’t stress out about placing art around furnishings and decor it should really be the other way around.  Incorporate furnishings and lamps and even plasma tv’s into the arrangement.

3.) Measurements. There are some rules of thumb to go by when hanging artwork appropriately on a wall and above furnishings when staging a living space.  As a general rule, a piece of artwork shouldn’t be more than 75% of the furniture’s width.  Go as tall as possible in a small space to make the room feel larger.  We suggest that the bottom of the art begin roughly around 7 to 10 inches from the top of a piece of furniture.  Or measure 60 inches up from the floor to the center of the first piece of artwork hung and if your ceilings are lower then come down a couple inches.

4.) Nailing It! When it is time to start hanging, be sure to purchase the right picture hangers and nails that coordinate with the weight of each piece of art.  Heavier pieces like mirrors or large framed art should be hung with anchors that go into the wall and are secure.  For homes with plaster walls, we suggest placing painters tape or masking tape pieces in a criss cross where the nail will be placed to prevent cracking.

Keep in mind artwork or a collection of art pieces should create warmth in a room and be the center of interest.  It should also visually expand a room by widening a wall or creating an illusion of height in a living space.  Artwork always shows best when illuminated so be sure to turn on the lights and let it attract attention and feel important!

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