Wall Art Buying Guide

If walls could talk, would yours be asking why they are so bare? Cover those walls up, and add style and personality to your space while you are at it! It’s easier than you think, and even small prints, paintings or other pieces can make a big difference in your home. Wall art is the accessory of the home world. It’s the icing on a cake and the cherry on top! It’s also your opportunity to make your space truly your own, and something you’ll be proud to show off to friends.

One of the easiest ways to take your room from functional to fashionable is by hanging a piece of unique wall art, or two…or many! After you have the key pieces of furniture set for each room, hanging wall art is the next step in making your space look finished and feel like home. Of course, cool wall art isn’t just for new home owners who are trying to add personality for their space. If your home is in need of an update, new wall art can help refresh your décor and bring in renewed style to your home. It’s also one of the easiest ways to introduce a new color into your space. You can even change wall art out with the seasons, featuring different colors and images to suit the time of year and make your home festive for the holidays.

Wall art is a great way to bring color, design and personality into your space. Just what type of personality it carries into your room is up to you. Depending on the artwork you choose and even the location you hang your pieces on the wall, you can bring different affects into your space. It can take your room from dreary to dramatic, or from stagnate to sophisticated. Looking to make a major statement? A single, bold piece of large wall art can make a stunning statement in your living room or bedroom. Do you want to add a mix of pieces that speak to you and your family? A collection of unique wall décor including family photos can be arranged together to make a very personalized gallery wall that is sure to grab the attention of your family and friends.

No matter what type of wall art you choose, there are some guidelines to know in order to make your home décor look its best. We have all the information you need on how to choose artwork that will complement your home, and how to hang pictures easily, even if you have to do it alone.

How to Choose Wall Art for Your Space

Ready to spruce up your space with some brand new artwork? There are so many options available. Start by considering what speaks to you. Do you love modern art with bold geometric prints? Do landscapes inspire you? Perhaps you are drawn to cityscapes. Maybe you love sleek industrial style prints, or images of animals that will work with your country-chic themed furniture and décor. Three-dimensional artwork can also add style to your home—consider metal wall art, glass pieces, wooden signs and even mirrors and wall clocks in place of, or in addition to, traditional prints.

When choosing artwork for your walls, you should also consider the room it will be displayed in. You may choose peaceful abstract artwork and light colors for your bedroom, food and drink inspired prints for the kitchen and dining space, landscapes and cityscapes for your living room, and family portraits complemented by unique frames for your family room and den. Some inspirational quotes and a large wall clock are perfect for a home office, and don’t forget some unique wall art for your bathroom. The possibilities are unlimited.

In addition to the content of your prints, paintings and other pieces, it’s important to consider the scale. A single small image will look dwarfed and out of place when hung above a large sofa. Instead, you’ll want to choose a single large piece of wall art or group together several small pieces above a large piece of furniture or to fill a large empty wall space. On the other side, a small painting may be just the extra special touch that you need to make a nook or cranny in your home look cozy and complete.

What Tools Do You Need for Proper Picture Hanging?

Once you’ve decided on your wall art, it’s time to get the pictures up on your wall. When you are staring at a blank wall, figuring out exactly where and how to hang the pictures can seem overwhelming. It helps to assemble everything you need for the job, starting with the tools. A job is always easier when you have the right tools, and never is that truer than when hanging pictures.

• Tape measure – If you want a professional looking wall, it’s important to get out a tape measure instead of just eyeing your space.
• Pencil – A pencil is the least damaging (and least permanent) way to lightly mark your walls in order to figure out exactly where to hang your pictures.
• Painter’s tape - If you have groups of pictures, painter’s tape can be used to create a mock-up on the wall, allowing you to get a preview of the wall art display and make changes before you get out the nails.
• Picture hanging hooks or strips – These easy-to-apply and remove hooks and strips are a simple, and less permanent alternative to nails. They are great for apartments, or anyone who wants to change up artwork occasionally. For pictures up to 7 pounds, 3M has Velcro and hook options which don’t damage walls or require tools. Monkey Hooks don’t require tools, and can support up to 35 pounds. For heavier pictures, use specific picture hanging hooks.
• Nails – Of course, you can also go the traditional route and hang your pictures with sturdy nails. Make sure to choose a big enough nail or use multiple nails for your heavy pictures and frames.
• Hammer - If you are hanging heavy pictures, you will need a hammer.
• Anchors, screwdriver and drill for heavy pictures - If you are hanging heavy pictures on brick or drywall without studs, you may need to drill a hole for a wall anchor.

Where is the Best Place to Hang a Picture?

While there is no absolute rule about where to hang your pictures, there are some guidelines to follow, starting with the height. Generally, you want to hang pictures at eye level, which is between 57 to 60 inches off the floor. Here’s exactly how to hang your wall art centered at a perfect 57 inches, which is the height used by most art galleries. Follow these steps, and consider yourself a professional!

1. Measure 57” on the wall and mark it lightly with a pencil.
2. Measure the picture, and divide by 2. That is your center, which should be right on top of the mark you just made.
3. Pull the wire toward the top of the frame and measure the distance from the top of the wire to the top of the frame. It will probably be 2 or 3 inches.
4. Subtract that number from the amount you got in step 2. This is how many inches above the 57” mark you need to hang the picture, so it is where the hook will go.
5. Mark the hook placement with your pencil.

If these steps sound complicated, it may help to look at a real example. Here’s how it all breaks down for a picture that is 30 inches tall.

1. Divide 30 by 2 and you get 15. That is the middle, which will rest on the 57” mark.
2. The top of the picture wire is 3 inches below the top of the frame.
3. Subtract 3 from 15 and you get 12
4. Lightly mark the wall 12 inches above the 57” mark, and that is where you will hang the picture.

Putting it into Practice

If you have the steps for hanging a single picture down, it’s time to move on to more complicated set-ups: groups and hard-to-hang surfaces. Here are some tips that will guide you through almost any wall art hanging scenario.

• Groups – Whether you are creating a gallery wall display or simply hanging a series of prints, you can follow the same easy steps. Treat groups of pictures as a single unit, with the 57” center in the middle of the group. The individual pieces don’t need to be the same size or form a perfect shape, but you should keep them evenly spaced from each other, and arrange individual pieces in a balanced layout. (Consider both the size and visual weight of each piece when creating a balanced layout. Bold and dark prints may carry more visual weight than larger, light prints.) One easy way to determine a layout that you love is to create a mock-up. Arrange your artwork on the floor before trying them on the wall, or use picture sized sheets of paper on the wall with painter’s tape to get an even better idea of how the display will look.
• Stairs - When creating a stairwell gallery wall or other display, you can follow the same basic steps: select your artwork and play around with different layouts before applying your nails and hammer. You can recreate the measurements of the wall on your floor with some painter’s tape, and utilize the space to determine a layout you love. Make sure to allow 6 – 12 inches of space along the bottom of your wall, above the railing, to avoid hands bumping against your favorite art pieces.
• Anchors – When possible, it’s ideal to hang your artwork on wall studs. However, you can hang art work almost anywhere, even if you have to create anchors for a sturdy display. Use plastic wall plugs or heavy-duty toggle bolts as anchors for pictures hung on drywall without studs or brick walls.
• Brick – It’s possible to hang that family portrait above your mantle. Here’s how! Use brick clamps to hang up to 25 pounds without drilling, or special masonry bits on your drill to install anchors. Also, drill into mortar, not an actual brick.

You’ve chosen wall art that speaks to you—whether it’s crisp and bold, whimsical and calming, or understated and sophisticated. With these picture hanging tips, it’s easy to hang all of your favorite pieces at the ideal position. Plus, you can make sure you use the right tools so you don’t have to worry about a crashing frame waking you up in the middle of the night. Collect your favorite pieces of wall art, gather your tools, and get started!