Name: Rainer
Time: 30 minutes
Cost: $20-50 depending on tools on hand
A great idea for getting artwork hung right the FIRST time. Click above for pics, below for the how-to and be sure to give Rainer a THUMBS UP if you find this project helpful....
How To: Hang Artwork Easily & Precisely
Rainer's February Jumpstart Project 2009
Name: Rainer
Time: 30 minutes
Cost: $20-50 depending on tools on hand
Tools:
tape measure
simple laser level
masking tape
pen/pencil
straight edge
hammer nails/screws (depending on the weight of your artwork)
Steps:
Depending on on wether you own the artwork already, or if you are planing to purchase artwork the following steps can be used either way. If you are planing to beautify that wall over you couch or bed using masking tape to outline what looks proportionate is very helpful.
If you already have the artwork and want to make sure it hangs just perfect use masking tape to outline the position on your wall. Play with the outline to get ideas of how it will look when you walk into the room or how the light will interact with your art.
Once you establish your favorite spot you can use the masking tape to hang the works precisely. With two inch masking tape you have enough room to eyeball the overall position and then measure and mark the final nail/screw spot. In my sample pictures I am hanging a group of 9 minis square 8"x 8" frames. I laid the frames out on the floor as a square to get a feel of the best spacing between the frames. Then I measured the length and hight of that layout. Using a tape measure I cut the masking tape to length.
(If you are not centering your art ignore the next step.) To center my work I measure the length of the wall. After deducting the the length of my horizontal tape outline from the length of the wall measurement, I divide the resulting figure and establish the starting point of my outline. To make sure my first and most important line (the upper masking tape line) is level I measure the tape line on either end from the floor If the floor is not level use a simple suction cup laser level. ($20 at Home Depot/Lowes/ACE/neighborhood hardware store) Use the laser level also to insure that the vertical tape lines are perpendicular to your upper tape line. You can use your horizontal bottom tape line to verify that your layout is square (or rectangular depending on your art work).
After finishing my outline I step back to make sure I like the hight and overall position. Turning two frames still laid out on the floor on their backs I measure the space between their centers (hanging points). Using that measurement I mark the centers of the frames onto my top masking tape. Now I run masking tape vertically along those center marks (use your laser level again to ensure squareness). Applying the same measurements that I used horizontally, I mark the vertical spacing (this being a square layout).
Having nine marks for nine frames I drive my nails through the tape marks. Pull the tape off with nails in place. I hang the frames and enjoy my new artwork.
Sources:
artwork at moderneditions.com
the laser level from home depot has an electric vacuum pump that uses suction and will not damage the wall
Give Rainer a THUMBS UP if you find this project helpful....
Tags
February Jumpstart 2009 - entriesRelated Links
- How To: Make a Door Table
Susan's February Jumpstart Project 2009 - How To: Hang Artwork Easily & Precisely
Rainer's February Jumpstart Project 2009 - How To: Mud Room Lockers
Kerry's February Jumpstart Project 2009 - How To: "Frame" Wall Decor
Adriane's February Jumpstart Project 2009 - How To: Paisley Wall Decor
Kaleidoscope Style's February Jumpstart Project 2009
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Comments (16)
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masking tape is a great idea! so simple yet I never thought of doing this! thanks.
view sharptack.t's profile
Wow...thank you so much for this posting. Masking tape is real hero in here, never thought that one too. This is very useful for me, because I'm planning to hang couple artworks for my girl's room. Thanks again :)
view RKDsign's profile
If you want to protect that pretty painted wall, blue painter's tape is really what you should be using. Masking tape is quite likely to pull paint off, too, when you're pulling the tape up.
view pammyfay's profile
OK. that makes sue you get the spacing correct. But how do you get the nails in the correct height so the frame tops are level. Maybe you're luckier than me, but I find that the hangers are rarely *exactly* the same distance from the top of the frame, even with "identical" frames. So even if I line the hanging nails up perfectly, the frames are still not level. Arrrgh!
view quiltmaster's profile
Geesh, and you thought 'made in china' objects came with ridiculous instructions... How about numbered steps? This seems like it actually is good info, but SO HARD to read.
Hey AT: This whole 'thumbs up' thing is rather useless unless you also offer a 'thumbs down' option. It doesn't matter if 6 people gave it a thumbs up if 55 read it and thought it was worthless but had no way to communicate that sentiment.
view arroyo's profile
I'm with arroyo
I'm not even going to attempt to read it
view Enamorada's profile
Can I just say, I LOVE that shade of green?!?!?! It's green without being so blagh. It's like a happy, non-aggressive green. What is it???
view Zhahira's profile
Gorgeous result, great idea, unreadable instructions.
("After deducting the the length of my horizontal tape outline from the length of the wall measurement, I divide the resulting figure and establish the starting point of my outline. To make sure my first and most important line (the upper masking tape line) is level I measure the tape line on either end from the floor" ... ARGH WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?)
view Cheryl's profile
I have the same problem as quiltmaster. Can you offer help on that?
view Joan52's profile
It makes sense to me. This is a great idea!
Laser levels are so awesome. I used one to paint stripes in my bathroom and it made allll the difference.
view carolyn_suzanne's profile
This is more involved than it needs to be and it does neglect to address the height of the hanging wire and hook dimensions.
Martha Stewart has a foolproof way to hang framed art accurately. You can find it on her website. You don't need a laser level to do it, either, though I think she does recommend using a spirit level. The instructions are well written and go step by step and there are good photos of the process, too.
view spanky's profile
This is a MUCH better way to hang a grouping of frames: http://www.dooce.com/archives/daily/08_07_2007.html
This article I linked to has been posted on ApartmentTherapy already in the past. I bought frames just like the article, except in black. Did exactly like she said to do with her easy to follow instructions, and it turned out perfectly. No mess. No tape. Not crooked. Not hard. The dooce instructions are just what quiltmaster requested.
I also agree there should be a thumbs down option. Not that this article is thumbs down, or thumbs up. But there should be that option regardless.
view plain jane's profile
I hung up four pictures in a square this weekend and used masking tape and a spirit level. Running the tape horizontally as well made a grid and ensured they lined up in both directions.
view kiljoywashere's profile
Whoah - That's huge run-on paragraph is just begging for an edit.
I think I'll stick w/ my un-electric spirit level, measuring tapes and proper picture-hanging hooks.
view bepsf's profile
I agree. Great idea (I think) but unreadable format. And missing one all-important tip: when hanging multiple frames in a grid, use 2 nails or hooks per frame. That way the frames are MUCH less likely to go a bit off-kilter with the vibrations from footsteps, etc. If you only use 1 nail or hook per frame, they will over time all wiggle a bit out of line. This actually applies even when hanging only one piece of art and it is especially important if you live in California or another earthquake prone area.
view Torgny's profile
Love this idea, I will do this myself this weekend. Beautiful artwork too!
view deni at ME's profile