5 Tips For Mounting Artwork Like A Professional

If your home were an art gallery, what type would it be? Is your interior minimal and contemporary? Or does your space exude a more classic charm?

Modern

If your home has a contemporary look, stick to clean lines, modern framing materials and consistent colour schemes. An oversized abstract, a triptych, or a grid configuration will compliment your space. To create an effective symmetrical grid, use slick monochromatic frames, spaced 4-6cm apart.

Classic

Is your home more Louvre than Tate Modern? You can combine different textures and hues and play around with eclectic salon-style configurations. If you opt for large ornate frames, leave enough empty wall space around the frame for the piece to breathe.

Every home is different, but there are a few spots that will almost always be ideal for hanging art.

BEDROOM Hang family portraits and photos above the bedhead.

LIVING ROOM Mount a large feature piece above the fireplace or the sofa. The artwork should be roughly 2/3 the size of the hearth or sofa.

DINING ROOM Hang artwork above the dining table, positioned lower on the wall so that the piece is at eye-level when guests are seated.

The size and scale of an artwork should be proportionate to the wall space where it is installed.

Don’t try to squeeze a big frame into a narrow space – it will appear cramped and overcrowded.

On the other hand, a small delicate artwork can seem adrift and lonely on a vast, otherwise empty, wall.

Once you’ve found a wall space that comfortably accommodates the artwork, mount the art so that the centre of the piece sits at eye level.

Drywall and plaster

Most walls are hollow with soft plaster covering their timber frame.

The studs behind these walls are sturdy enough to support heavy artworks but they may not be in the position where you want to hang your art.

Use a stud-finder to locate them.

For small frames, use a traditional metal picture hook with an angled nail. Larger frames require a pair of hooks. For anything heavier than 5kg, you’ll need anchor support to reinforce the spot where you want to hang your art.

Drill a pilot hole into the wall to prevent the plaster from crumbling, and then expand that hole to fit the width of the anchor.

Tap the anchor into the hole with a hammer until it’s flush with the wall.

The anchor will expand inside the wall as you tighten the screw.

For best results, use split ribbed anchors that spread out behind the wall.

Brick and masonry

For concrete block or brick walls, use lead wall plugs.

Check with your hardware store for the correct screw and bit sizes.

To create a hole for the plug, you’ll need a power drill with a carbide-tipped bit.

Tap the plug into place and insert the screw.

Wood Panelling

Wood is robust and ideal for hanging almost anything.

Simply install wood screws with a screwdriver.

If you want to hang multiple frames on a wall, in grid or salon formation, a paper stencil is a great way to map out how you want the wall to look.

Lay down a large sheet of craft paper on the floor or on a table, and place your artworks on it to find a configuration that appeals to you.

Once you settle on the final layout, trace around each frame and measure and mark your hanging points.

Tape the paper plan to the wall with masking tape, hammer in your hooks, and then simply remove the paper.