How Do I Hang My Pictures?  

by Picture This! framing & gallery

        A question we get asked all the time is: "How do I hang my pictures" which is a great question because after you get them home or to your office you'll want to hang them up on the walls as quickly as possible so that you and your friends can appreciate them. Here are some general rules of thumb:

    In a sit down area, it's appropriate to hang pictures lower so that people sitting can enjoy the pictures at a viewers level and you will also notice that this helps to create a warmer atmosphere to the room. Hang your pictures approximately 6 inches from the top of the chesterfield to the bottom of the picture in a sit down area. In a standing or walking area, hang the pictures at eye-level to the centre of the picture. Smaller pictures may have to be hung higher. For picture groupings  the height will depend on the configuration of the grouping. A great way to see what a picture grouping will look like is to cut pieces of kraft paper or newspaper the same size as the pictures and pin the paper pieces on the wall with dress maker pins. This will give you the ability to see how the grouping will look on the wall before you insert the wall hangars which can leave marks on your wall if you have to move the hangars.

Use the right hangar. . .

 Have you ever had the experience of a  picture  crashing down? or come home to one lying on the floor? Not a fun experience. . .We repair many picture frames and one of the main reasons that they are brought in to repair is that the picture was improperly hung using plain nails. The plain nail, over time,  will wear a larger hole in the drywall from the weight of the picture and possibly fall.

Use a proper size J-hook wall hangar for the weight of the picture. The weight requirements should be on the package of the J-hook or your professional picture framer will be able to tell you if you have the correct size for the weight of your picture. Carefully hammer the nail at the angle of the J-hook for full support.  A wall stud does not have to be hit as the angle of the nail in the J-hook against the wall is what supports the weight.

It's also a good idea to create an air space between your pictures and the wall. To create an air space insert rubber bumpers on the bottom corners of your pictures. This will also stop your pictures from moving left to right which is especially helpful when the pictures are located near a doorway or an area where people walk.

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