Nothing says boring' like bare walls. Many people feel that wall art is too expensive of hard to put up. This couldn't be farther from the truth. Wonderful prints of original works of art are available in galleries and museums for under fifty dollars. Craft and department stores offer a wide variety of prints and wall art already matted and framed for very reasonable prices, especially when they have sales or those half-off coupons.

Consider the size of the room and the wall you'll hang the painting on. A tiny picture or two on a huge wall in a huge room will look just plain silly. A large painting on a small wall or in a small room sometimes works, but that's for you to decide. There are also triptychs, which I love to look at. This is one painting done on three separate canvases or three paintings the same size that are of the same style and color. Choose what you like, what speaks to you. There's a joke among artists that good art does not have to match your sofa.

Paintings should be hung at eye level. If you visit galleries or museums you'll notice this. Pictures are meant to be looked at without craning your neck or kneeling on the floor to do it.

Unless the piece is extremely heavy, you really don't have to find a stud to put your nail or screw into, so you can choose a spot that you like, rather than where theres a stud. .I've used the new removable stick-on hooks on the wall and so far so good. It's nice not having to put holes in the plasterboard.. I've seen those circular wire-looking deals that are sold on TV, but I haven't tried them. My husband feels they'd poke holes in our new insulation backing.

I paint, so usually choose wood frames and wire them'. This is when you screw in an eye-screw about a third of the way from the top of the frame (on the back of course) and use picture wire treaded through the eyes (allow for a little slack, dont pull it tight) and twist the ends to hole the wire in place. I put a piece of masking tape over the ends of the wires as they are quite sharp and you don't want blood on your painting or walls (well, maybe you do but that's a whole other issue). The wire helps the painting hang more securely to the wall than a metal bracket, or worse yet, hanging it by the frame itself. The painting will eventually vibrate off the wall nail or screw and this can be disastrous or even dangerous when dealing with glassed pieces.

I've used the new removable stick-on hooks on the wall and so far so good. It's nice not having to put holes in the plasterboard.. I've seen those circular wire-looking deals that are sold on TV, but I haven't tried them. My husband feels they'd poke holes in our new insulation backing.

Having a picture that you love to look at can really enhance your mood and even your quality of life, not to mention make your house look more finished' and attractive.

Learn more about this author, Pat Merewether.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Tips for hanging artwork?
We want to hear your view. Write now!