Hanging pictures correctly: How to hang paintings on the wall!

Art in the home: how to hang pictures correctly

With works of art, you can create a lasting, personal living atmosphere. Finding the right place for a picture is a challenge because a painting corresponds with the interior.
Works of art should be placed at the right distance from other works of art in order to be effective. With a painting, you create a focal point in the room.

Cleverlyplaced canvas pictures and murals give your home a very individual atmosphere. How do you hang pictures correctly? The best way is with the help of these instructions. So that your picture hanging becomes a complete work of art.

The effect in the room

There is no such thing as the ideal wall for works of art. A commissioned painting can look completely different in different rooms. The furnishings and the colors of the room serve as a small guide. A painting should not compete with the interior. Find out how here.

1. before hanging the pictures: Choose the right paintings

Which picture do you want to hang? Do you want to showcase just one painting or combine several? The selection of suitable pictures is the starting point for every hanging. Here you will find some suggestions for different pictures.

You could select the pictures thematically: Your very favorite picture, several pictures in similar colors or motifs with similar content. A closed presentation is particularly expressive. A combination of paintings and frames also has an effect on the overall impression. Alternatively, you could try hanging baroque picture frames with more restrained frames. This can create a dynamic interplay between your pictures.

Framed or frameless?

Large modern paintings always look good on the wall without framing. Drawings and graphics are protected in a frame. High-quality art should be framed by a gallery owner.

A good option if you always want to change your mind is a picture rail. This allows you to quickly exchange your favorite works.
Trust your intuition. The combination of colors, a special place, a wild sequence - many things seem to happen by themselves. Pictures appeal to our senses.

2. find the right place to hang the pictures

Do you have a large wall surface? Do you want your pictures to stand out on a particular wall? Larger paintings require more space, while small pictures also look good on smaller wall surfaces. A neutral wall color is an advantage so that your artwork can make an impact. If you have colored wallpaper, you can use a framed picture with a passe-partout to create a calm contrast between the picture and the wall surface. Another option is to arrange it on a piece of furniture.

The color and sharpness of the contours can be affected by strong sunlight or lamp light. If you hang your favorite painting in direct sunlight, it will fade. Uniform lighting or light from a gallery spotlight, for example, is ideal.

 3. measure the wall surface and painting

Nature studies, portrait paintings, a graphic, an abstract mural or a color field painting: with a little skill, you can arrange all pictures in a meaningful way. It is often an advantage to measure the walls before hanging:

Hang pictures correctly: Include the furnishings!

The furnishings play a decisive role when it comes to hanging: large-format works of art look best above opulent pieces of furniture. Small pictures above a small table. A single picture or a geometric hanging creates a clear atmosphere. Lots of color can reappear in your paintings.

Plan for the entire room

Always keep the big picture in mind when planning. What overall picture do you want to create with the hanging?

Hang up pictures correctly: Try out the arrangement beforehand

Make a drawing of the wall surface and the pictures. It is also possible to arrange a test hanging on the wall using crepe paper to get a feel for the hanging. Another option is to spread the paintings out on the floor to achieve a harmonious arrangement.

Finding the right height

Do you want to hang your artwork in the living area, bedroom or kitchen? We recommend hanging the pictures with the center of the picture at eye level. Ideally a third above this. Paintings with lots of detail are shown to their full advantage in this way. Some gallery owners also always hang the works at the same distance of 1.5 m from the floor to the center of the picture. In order for the picture to appear above the sofa, there should always be some space in between, with a distance of approx. 20 cm being sufficient.

Screws or nails? Put your work on the wall

Heavy paintings should be fixed to the wall with dowels. A nail is sufficient for smaller works. Gallery rails make it easier for you to change pictures quickly.

Is it a solid wall or simple plasterboard? Use wall plugs and screws for secure hanging. Mark where you want to attach the screws beforehand. If you need several screws per picture, always use a spirit level for exact results.

Here are some more practical tips:

• A room with lots of decorations can structure a large picture.
• Small pictures work well in a sparsely furnished room.
• A picture should hang above the middle of the bed in the bedroom.
• Ideally, the picture above the sofa should be ⅔ of the sofa width.

The museum hanging

Measure 150 cm from the floor to the top. Hang the picture with the center on the measured value. Light, room height and furnishings are of course not the same in all rooms. Sometimes the museum hanging is not suitable for every wall surface.

The group suspension

The loose group: Measure 150 cm upwards from the floor. This is the center of the main work. Now arrange all the other pictures around it.

Parallel and geometric arrangement: Hang similar works of the same size at equal distances of 6 to 7 cm from each other.

Petersburg hanging: Here, all the pictures are distributed over the entire wall surface. From the floor to the ceiling. All the works are arranged in relation to each other.

Need some inspiration?

You have found the right painting and are looking for a suitable frame? As an artist I work closely with the company HALBE HALBE manufactures all picture frames accurately and individually - high quality down to the smallest detail, with a timeless and award-winning design. Because unique pictures deserve unique picture frames. In the HALBE online store you will find a large selection of premium quality picture frames directly from the manufacturer, made in Germany.

I would be happy to frame your new artwork for you with a Halbe frame. Take advantage of my all-round picture service.