The kind of mount you use for your painting will depend on the size and weight and what kind of wall you have. It is possible to hang a heavy painting in plasterboard, which is in good condition, with the correct type of mounting, like an empty-wall anchor or a screw with self-drilling. Heavy, glass-framed pictures are probably going to have to be nailed straight to the studs (you will need a stud finder to do that) or you will have to get a plug-in wall anchor. If hanging on tiles or glass, you will want high-quality, low-profile glue-on hangers instead of nails and screws, and if hanging on brick, use brick clips.
Just make sure you are located at the wall studs, as hanging straight up through the drywall is not going to give a solid anchor. For larger prints, or particularly heavy frames, that is when you will want to use some sort of anchor, should it be going through drywall without any studs. Many experts recommend using an anchor when hanging any prints onto drywall without any studs, but to be honest, I have hung tons of pictures using only nails, and never had a problem. If you cannot find any studs in the wall, or using one will cause your picture to be hung off-center, then you will want to use a wall anchor (open in new tab) to make sure that your art stays in place.
A wall stud is the most secure place to mount your artwork, and you can use a stud finder to help you locate one. Whether you are hanging a single painting or an entire gallery wall, it is essential that you plan ahead and clearly label the location where to hang it before driving any heavy nails through the wall.
Whether you are looking to build an entire gallery wall, showcase some photos, or simply showcase a single framed print, heres how to get started hanging pictures like a pro. Learning how to hang pictures will make sure that whenever you do decide to add a piece to your wall decor ideas, you are ready. Hanging a painting does not have to take much time, but allow for some extra time if you are hooking up D rings and wires, setting up a gallery wall, or trying to locate a stud. While it might take only about 20-40 minutes for you to hang a single painting, it will take you at least several hours for the gallery wall to look exactly right.
If you are hanging a gallery wall, you might want to pre-map out where you will place each piece using newspaper squares cut to fit frame sizes. Most picture grids will give you 1.5-2.5 frames per space, giving or taking depending on the wall space and the number of frames.
To be precise, the middle of the framed artwork A framed piece of artwork should measure 57 inches off the ground (this is the average height for human eyes, as well as the height used by galleries and museums when deciding where to display pieces). If you would like to have your piece centered above a piece of furniture or a wall, measure the width of the space where it will be centered, then make your markings halfway up. In this space, you will want to measure all the way across to find the middle, and mark this with a pencil or painters tape.
If you are hanging one single piece on a wall, then the center of the wall (from side to side) is going to be the best spot for it, especially if you are hanging a painting over a piece of furniture. You will want to leave a little empty wall space in your room to give your eyes some breathing space; something that is not there will let you appreciate the things that are. Whether the space is an office, dorm, or living room, you can make the space look different within minutes by hanging some artwork or a few framed pictures. Whether you are planning out a massive gallery wall or hanging just one affordable piece of art, this is a relatively simple task that an average homeowner can tackle themselves.
Before pulling out that trusty picture-hanging kit, understand there are a couple things you need to understand before you start drilling holes into your walls. There are some things you need to know before punching something through drywall, plaster, or even brick: things like which type of hardware to use, how to pick the right height, and how to locate a wall stud. While it is not necessarily an exact science, knowing a few basics about hanging pictures and where to put prints on the walls will make sure that your house has a charming appeal that knocks socks off visiting dates and parents, while also pleasing your significant other immensely.
Whether you are renting and need to learn how to hang pictures without nails, eliminating the need to punch holes into the walls altogether, or, if you are in a forever home and wish to recreate that perfect gallery wall idea on the stairs, or in the living room, take down this DIY and experiment with a whole new layer of gorgeous decor. If you have plaster walls (common in older homes)…you will probably have to use a drill/driver to create a pilot hole first into the wall, before putting in any screws or nails. The one catch is you really need to attach the actual pegboard to your wall using anchors and drywall screws, but once that is done, you are free to slather on whatever artwork you want. If you have a wall of wooden panels…you might need to use thinner nails or screws — something sturdy enough to hold your pictures but thin enough that it leaves little holes.
Heavy pictures should be hung using D-rings and a screw hanger, with hardware attached to studs in the walls, or anchors should be used for plaster or brick walls. Medium-weight (10-25 pounds) pictures should be hanged on screws, while heavier pictures (more than 25 pounds), such as large film posters in wooden frames and glass, should be attached to a stud in the wall or secured using anchors that are weighted to hold the art. Hanging three frames in a row makes for a nice centerpiece in your living room, and using empty wall space along the stairs is a chance to get creative, hanging varying-sized pictures at different levels to create interest.