Skip to main content

How to hang a painting in your home the right way

Do it this way, so it looks beautiful on your wall

When you’re deciding to hang artwork, we totally understand if you get hung up a little on the particulars (see what we did there?). Hanging artwork can be full of anxiety — where and how? There are a few things you should consider when figuring out how to hang paintings to ensure it happens the right way every time.

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

15 minutes

What You Need

  • Measuring tape

  • Level

  • Paper

  • Pencil

  • Tape

  • Stud finder

  • Hammer and nails

  • D-rings

Before you slap something on the wall or leave everything on the floor, consider these tips to help you narrow down where and how to hang a painting on the wall. You’ll get the right result each and every time, whether you need to know how to hang a large painting or a small one, a framed photograph or a painting on canvas. Let’s take a look.

man hanging framed wall art
Maskot / Adobe Stock

Decide on your game plan

When you’re deciding to hang a painting, consider how it fits into your overall decorating strategy. Beautiful wall decor always looks more cohesive if there’s an overall theme to your arrangement. Hang your painting in a way that flows with the other home decor in the space.

Maybe you’re hanging a portrait, and you’re surrounding it with other portrait styles. Maybe it’s a large anchor in a trendy gallery wall. If so, place the largest piece of art in the center (or slightly off-center). Perhaps it’s all pictures with red tones. Whatever the method, decide on your plan ahead of time.

Artwork on wall in living room with gray couch
Katarzyna Bialasiewicz / Getty Images

Where not to hang paintings

When choosing where to hang artwork, you should also be aware of where NOT to place it. You'll need to avoid certain locations that can diminish the impact of your pieces.

  • Avoid hanging art in direct sunlight, as UV rays can fade colors and damage delicate materials over time.
  • Steer clear of areas with high humidity or extreme temperature fluctuations, as these conditions can cause warping and deterioration.
  • Avoid hanging artwork near vents or HVAC systems that could expose it to dust and debris.
  • Refrain from placing art in crowded or cluttered spaces, as it can get lost among other objects and fail to command the attention it deserves.

Careful consideration of placement will ensure your artwork shines in its chosen location.

framed pictures mounted on wall
Jonny Caspari / Unsplash

Adapt the placement

An old rule of thumb is that art should be eye level, but that leaves us a lot of leeway, as stated by Studio McGee. Whose eye level are we talking about here? Instead, with standard-sized walls, art generally looks good about 57 inches from the floor.

“On center" means that the middle of the artwork is always at 57 inches (obviously, this only applies to hanging art on an open wall or above lower furniture, rather than over taller features like a fireplace). Interestingly, the 57-inch standard represents the average human eye-height and is regularly used as a standard in many galleries and museums.

If you’re hanging a big piece of art behind a piece of furniture like a couch or table, the artwork should take up around two-thirds of the space of your furniture. If that’s a giant painting, great. If not, look at how you can fill those dimensions using your painting.

When you're ready to measure, follow these steps to get the perfect placement for your artwork.

Step 1: Enlist the help of a friend.

Step 2: Use a measuring tape to measure 57 inches from the floor and use a pencil to mark the location.

Step 3: Have your friend hold the artwork for you so that the center of it is at 57 inches.

Step 4: Step away to view the piece's placement.

Step 5: Play with the placement by having your friend move the piece up or down a couple of inches to see what looks best.

Woman hanging beach art
New Africa / Shutterstock

Consider negative space

The wall can provide a clean blank wall space between pieces of artwork, so look at how your painting will have the wall bordered around it. The negative space can create an excellent contrast to your painting, especially if it’s a bold work on its own.

You could also play with much closer dimensions to create an overall gallery or collage effect with your main painting. This can also draw attention to the painting’s characteristics.

woman hanging picture on wall with boxes in background
Marko Geber / Adobe Stock

Use paper to ease hanging

It can be tough to hang a painting straight, especially if you’re using two mounts on the back of the artwork. This method uses a simple paper to make measuring and hanging simple.

Step 1: Take a piece of paper or tape several together and use a pencil to trace on the paper exactly where the mount attachments are.

Step 2: Tape the paper on the wall using your level to ensure that it’s hanging straight.

Step 3: Use the drawn guides on the paper for the right placement each time.

Step 4: You can also use large pieces of paper or fabric to attach to the wall temporarily to allow you to try out the placement for your painting in a few different spots. You’ll get a feeling of the height and placement without having to drill or hammer each time.

Mid adult man guiding girlfriend in hanging picture frame on wall at new home
Maskot / Getty Images

Check for wiring, pipes, and studs

It’s so important to get an idea of what’s happening behind the scenes in your home. When you’re hanging heavy pieces of artwork, the last thing you want to do is hammer right into a wire or a pipe and cause damage.

Studs are required for hanging super heavy paintings because they’ll help you center and anchor the painting without having to jump through hoops. Invest in a good tool that can alert you to studs and things like wiring so that you always know where and how to hang your more substantial paintings.

Living room with couch and artwork on the wall
GSPictures / Getty Images

Hang nails the right way

Nails should have small heads and go in the wall at a 45-degree angle. That angle allows the nail to provide maximum support without pushing the painting out too far from the wall. Gently hit the nail and then leave about a half-inch sticking out of the wall.

You can use the plain nail or do what professionals do and use a D-ring. The painting goes right on top of the D-ring for security.

Hanging pictures and plant
Alexandra Gorn / Unsplash

Don’t get "hung up"

We’ve got jokes for days, but decision fatigue is a real thing. Ultimately, if you find a space that you love, it’s the right space. It may not always matter what the rules are. Once you’ve settled on a space that you love or that you feel works, just hang the painting already.

You can think and rethink where to hang a picture, but ultimately, it’s not essential to worry so much about it. You can use these rules of thumb and suggestions to give you the best chance of finding the right spot.

Mminimal white photo wall gallery
Ground Picture / Shutterstock

Showing off your favorite things

Wall decor is a fun thing to play around with, and once you get used to hanging your own artwork, you can find different ways to hang your favorite pieces. Your apartment or home can be your own personal gallery, with each painting hanging in just the right place.

Take these tips for how to hang a painting on a wall to familiarize yourself with what generally works so that you can break the rules efficiently and for a significant impact. Experiment, but ultimately get your artwork hung so you can enjoy it.

Editors' Recommendations

Deb Goncalves
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Deb's work has appeared on Moms, Babygaga, and WorldAtlas. When she's not working (that's hard to say about a Capricorn), she…
These are the colors that go with green: Design your home around this hue
What color complements green? Here are some amazing options
Green living room with gold accent pieces

The color we're talking about today is rich and vivid green. Several well-renowned paint companies like Sherwin-Williams, Behr, and Glidden have named different shades of green the color of the year. A natural and lively color, green is peaceful, luxe, and vibrant, making it the perfect new addition to your space.

With its delicate ties to nature, this color is the perfect addition to home design and will have you considering switching up your existing theme. Whether you want to revamp your kitchen, dining space, bedroom, or bathroom, green is a versatile tone with several complementary color combinations.

Read more
7 things designers say everyone gets wrong about rustic farmhouse style
Expert tips to avoid kitsch and instead curate a sophisticated design
Rustic farmhouse dining room with a dog

Rustic farmhouse design has been incredibly popular for quite a while now. And while some predict that the trend is on its way out, the aesthetic still dominates both cozy apartments and spacious homes. To get the lowdown on rustic farmhouse interior design, we spoke to Saloni Ingle, an interior design architect at Nitido Design, and Anna Franklin, an interior designer at Stone House Collective. Here’s what the two experts said everyone gets wrong about the design style.

Assuming rustic can’t be sophisticated
There’s a specific image that comes to mind when people picture a rustic farmhouse home. “People often assume that a rustic farmhouse design is all burlap, roosters, and quirky decor that only belongs in rural or country homes,” Franklin said.

Read more
How to paint your kitchen cabinets to give your kitchen a fresh look
Here's what you need to do when painting kitchen cabinets
Blue kitchen cabinets in farmhouse design

If you’ve been looking for a way to spruce up your kitchen but aren’t ready to commit to a full overhaul, consider painting your cabinets. Cabinets constitute a large amount of your kitchen space, making it one of the most important aspects in terms of design and aesthetics.

As long as you prepare well and paint carefully, you can bring some life back into your kitchen. It's simple to do and doesn’t require a full kitchen remodel, so painting kitchen cabinets is the perfect DIY project for the next time you have a free weekend. Here's how to do this painting project from start to finish!

Read more