Hanging Artwork 101 – Easy Home Decorating Tips From The Pros

Most of us are not professional designers, but we want our homes to look like we are. Finding experts to help can be costly, but we recently found an amazing interior designer on YouTube giving out professional tips & tricks. Her name: Lisa Holt. She has been designing for more than 30 years, and her YouTube channel is packed with design tips, tricks and mistakes to avoid. One that stood out is about hanging artwork on your walls. What are the tips from the pros?

Start with a plan

As Lisa mentions in her videos, there is not a professional out there that won’t start with a plan. Whether you sketch one out on your own or use an app for design. Her design tools kit she brings with her everywhere includes a 30′ tape measure, a laser measure tool, an LED light pad, and more. Pinterest is a great app she uses for a design plan and keeping ideas close by. Canva is another great tool (one we use) to do layout that Lisa mentions. One we had not heard of is Morpholio. This app is great because it also links to Pinterest. We have not tried it yet, but looking forward to experimenting.

For easy layouts, FloorPlanner allows for 2D and 3D design layout. It looks very simple and easy to use. Another one is HomeByMe to build floor plans and layouts. This allows you to see how furniture and items fit in a space, without the backbreaking work of physically moving stuff around!

Measure for scale

Before hanging artwork, you do need to layout your floor plan: furniture, rugs and lighting. Hopefully you did this when you started with a plan!

While you layout your space, make sure you measure for scale. It isn’t enough that pieces fit in a space, but you want them to be in proportion to each other and the space. A large, dark sofa in a small room will make it feel even smaller. A tiny coffee table or rug in a huge living room will feel like its just swimming in open space. If your furniture is out of proportion, your art and photos will be even more off in that space.

Choosing the right artwork – How do I pick art for my space?

Now comes the task of selecting the right artwork. Now only should it be in scale, you should love how it feels in the space! We love these quick tips from erikalancaster.com:

1. Be Inspired – Find pieces that inspire you and that you truly love. Perhaps finding an artist or two that you like can be a great starting foundation.
2. Seek Unique – Mass produced pieces are ok if you love them, but finding a unique piece from a local artist is a great way to customize your space.
3. Size Matters – As we mentioned already, size and proportion matter!
4. Hang Your Art Properly – Take care to hang your artwork the right way: both spaced on a wall and with the right hardware and tools. Adding some light to a piece is a fantastic way of enhancing its look and feel.
5. Tender Care –

How to hang artwork – What is the right height?

The right height for your artwork is about 60-65″ above the floor, or eye level. This is for the center of the piece. If you are doing a photo gallery, then the whole piece’s center would be in the 60-65″ range from the floor. Some galleries come with a template to layout on your wall before hanging, or you can make your own out of grocery brown paper bags or tissue paper along with some painters’ tape.

Here is a great pin from Pinterest with how to layout your artwork and where to hang. Finding the right hardware is important. Choose picture hangers whenever possible rather than nails or screws. Your local hardware store can help with the right equipment to hang, or hire a professional to do the heavy lifting.

How to hang artwork – Final tips & tricks – Hanging Artwork

Finding art for your space should be fun. Your final product should inspire you and bring a smile to your face. Do not let hanging artwork or the process stress you out. Sometimes planning, measuring and researching can seem overwhelming, so many skip this step. Then, you end up with a space that still doesn’t bring you joy or feels off and you go right back to being frustrated and disappointed.

Take a bit of time and find a friend who can help. Make a weekend of it: measure your space and do some planning then head out to shop. Reward your progress with a fantastic lunch or drink. This is a fun process so make it fun for you and include people who love design and that you trust. Watch Lisa’s video below for more tips, tricks and helpful ideas. Check out our home decor section for more ideas & tips.