How to Hang a Picture

How to Hang a Picture

I am barely 5 feet tall and my husband is just shy of being 6 feet tall. It has never been an issue for us: if we need something in a tight space, I go to retrieve it. If we need something up high on a shelf, hubby goes after it. It works out pretty well! Except, of course, when it comes to hanging pictures!

This morning we attempted to hang some of our artwork in our new home. I have been after my husband, John, to do it for some time and something lit a fire under him today! He called me over to see where I would like one of the pictures and thus the bickering began. Every time he would hang something, I would view it as too high. Every time he would move it to accommodate me, he saw it as too low.  We went round and round until we finally searched for a solution.

Have a similar problem? Well, here are some “rules” I found by researching the topic on the Internet:

Tip 1: From Apartment Therapy – “always hang your art at 57” on center. “On center” means that the middle of the picture is at 57”...the 57” standard represents the average human eye-height and is regularly uses as a standard in many galleries.” Who knew? Problem solved!

Tip 2: From DIYNetwork -  “If hanging a picture over a sofa, don’t leave a lot of wall space between sofa and picture. Try for three to six inches. If you go any higher, the viewers eye will just go to the wall, not the picture.” Good to know!

Tip 3: From HGTV – “Interior designers avoid picture hanging mistakes by tracing around pictures and making templates. Draw a vertical arrow on each template to show which end should be up and put a small piece of poster tape on the back of each (don’t use masking tape; it will pull the paint off of your walls). You can work out your arrangement without making unnecessary holes in the wall.” Wish we would have thought of this before making 7 holes for one nail!

Our differences are what make us so special, but are often what can cause friction. I hope some of these tips will help you avoid unnecessary holes in your wall and will help keep the peace in your home!

Ready to pack-up your art and get moving to your next home? Then contact me, Shannon Milligan at Home Sweet Henrico with Keller Williams Realty, and let me light your way to home sweet home in the Henrico County Real Estate or Richmond Real Estate market!