How to Hang Pictures on a Wall

Measure carefully before hanging your photo or painting.

Use these measurements as a guide to buying the proper wall hooks and wall anchors. Heavier wall decor will require sturdy hangers.

1. Decide where you want to hang your pictures. Big pictures look best on larger walls. Group small frames with other photos or decorations. Hang a single picture on a small or narrow wall if you want it to serve as the wall's focal point. Hang the center of your pictures at eye level -- about 60 inches from the floor -- unless you're grouping several frames together.

2. Place a picture on a piece of paper. Use your pencil to trace the frame. Cut out your paper pattern.

3. Tape the paper pattern on the wall where you want to hang your picture. Lightly mark off the spot with a pencil before you remove the paper.

4. Turn the picture over. Hook the tape measure's tab in the center of the picture's hanging wire. Pull the wire taut. Measure the distance from the tab to the top of the frame. Use this measurement to lightly mark the corresponding spot on the wall -- this is where your hook will go.

5. Use a stud finder on the spot where you want to hang your picture. Hammer the wall hook's nail into the stud. If your chosen spot lacks a stud, attach your picture with a wall anchor.

Tip

Hang an extra-large piece of art over another large feature in the room, such as a fireplace or sofa. Stagger pictures down a stairway, frame a larger picture with small ones or make an eclectic collage of family photos. To get the pattern of your collage perfect, lay all the pictures on the floor and rearrange them until you like what you see. Make paper patterns for each picture and use them to find the perfect wall area to hang them.

Warning

Use a drill instead of a hammer to hang hooks if you have plaster walls.