Billy Dillard
The process of hanging a new painting or a collection of family photos can feel overwhelming. kettle cove home tour dining room art gallery Credit: Justin Levesque As is the case with any home decorating project, you'll need a few basic supplies to get the job done correctly.
Conventional wisdom suggests that pictures be hung at eye level, but there are many good reasons to hang pieces above or below a standard height. As a starting point, though, begin by learning how to hang pictures at eye level. When hanging pictures at eye level (or if you're setting up a grid or a series of pieces) precise measuring is needed achieve even spacing.
When hanging something at an average eye level, position its center 57 to 60 inches from the floor. A precise grid gives a formal look, while a group of pictures hung within a set square or rectangle feels instantly more casual.
Whether you're working with a grouping of pictures or just one, artwork should generally be centered horizontally between two points, which makes a room feel balanced.
Have someone hold a piece up to the wall while you stand back and appraise (just cover the hanging hardware with masking tape first to keep it from scratching the paint). A few inches' shift in a hanging arrangement can affect the tone of an entire room. Mismatched elements are more of a challenge to hang than a set of identical prints in similar frames, but the results can be compelling and really make a room.
Sketches, oil paintings, architectural renderings, a display of cameos, and a decorative wall bracket could be arranged in a free-form, asymmetrical grouping.
