subject: The Best Method For Creating Displays With Hanging Photographs [print this page] There are plenty of rules for how you can prepare a frame for hanging, like how to affix screw eyes, D-rings, picture frame wire, and more. But there are various other things that equally crucial in the picture hanging process, such as how to hang the pictures so they will look their best.
There aren't any hard and fast rules, and individual preference needs to be considered a lot in this area; whether or not you like the final result is the final rule of thumb to use as a guide. Having said that, there are however guidelines that can be used regarding groupings and arrangements of picture frames.
If you suspend your pictures randomly around in a scattered pattern then they aren't going to look as good as they will if you arrange them nicely in a cluster formation. A picture will look lost on a wall if you hang it by itself, unless it is very large. The only exception to the rule of not hanging a single picture by itself would be if your picture is nice and large- perhaps a large print or a grand poster, or a big 11x14 picture frame that will make a statement if you choose to hang it by itself.
Think Practically
Any flat surface can very easily be used for hanging a picture frame, but you need to be practical and make sure not to hang anything somewhere where it's likely to get knocked, like in a narrow hallway or close to the back of a chair. Either your picture could break, or you could simply spend way too much time adjusting the picture to make sure that it is straight.
Grime and grease that will damage your picture will rise with the heat of your radiator, so avoid hanging your pictures above them. You need to also try to stay away from areas where the heat range is constantly going up and down.
Pictures also shouldn't be installed in direct sunlight or opposite a window, especially if they are valuable. Watercolors fade easily, so they are especially vulnerable to damage from sunlight. Pictures with glazing (glass) hung opposite a window can be hard to see because of reflection from the window.
Deciding which Wall to Use
Use the furnishings you have in a room to decide where the vertical limitations of your grouping are. Picture a rectangle on your wall, starting at the outer ends of a couch, side board, or other furniture, and making its way up. This concept works as well for the area above a bed or other furniture pieces.
White or plain, light-colored walls look best with strong colors and photos displayed in simple picture frames without mats. Another great thing for surfaces that are light colors is grayscale prints and photos.
For colorful walls, it's often best to mimic the color scheme of the room in some way, like in the color selection of the picture mat - or you can use the mat as an effective contrast to the color scheme. If your room has dark colored walls, you ought to use mats in light colors to place in your metal picture frames.
Different considerations should be taken when hanging photos on patterned walls in order to avoid the appearance that the wall and the photograph are fighting for attention. The type of frame that looks best will be dictated by the color, size, and theme of the wall's pattern. A mat is essential to clearly set apart the picture.
So next time you need to install a few pictures, keep these tips in mind and you are sure to have great success.
