How to hang a painting?

Have you just bought a painting and don't know how to hang it? Do you want to learn all the techniques for hanging it properly? You've come to the right place! Working in the field of interior design for many years, we have acquired extensive knowledge in this area. Thanks to our expertise, we can reveal some methods for hanging your painting correctly, according to best practices.

To hang a picture, you must first position the frame correctly, respecting the height and proportions on the wall. Decide on the type of hanging method: drilling or using adhesive such as double-sided tape, mounting paste , or adhesive hooks.

We'll also show you some tips for properly positioning and optimizing your table. You'll discover:

• The various advantages of a painting in interior decoration
• The perfect paintings for every room and style of home
• The different ways to position a painting
• The different techniques for hanging a painting

You'll find the answers to all your questions throughout this article. Discover our tips and tricks for hanging your painting like a true professional. Let's get started!

I) Why hang a painting in a room of the house?

Before learning how to hang a picture, it's essential to understand its purpose. Contrary to popular belief, it's not just about decorating a wall or a room. It serves other purposes as well, such as concealing imperfections in the wall or highlighting a particular area.

1) The painting: an essential decorative accessory in a room

It's clear that the primary purpose of a painting is to decorate a room. Often, good furniture and finishes aren't enough to truly adorn a space. To make it more modern and stylish, you need to add some vibrancy. A painting is the perfect wall accessory for this. It will breathe life into the room, creating a warmer and more welcoming atmosphere. It will also complement the look of a room that might otherwise seem empty and drab. And above all, it will give it more character and charm.

2) The painting: an excellent way to hide imperfections in the wall

A painting is also an excellent way to conceal any imperfections on your wall . Indeed, sometimes, despite painting, certain flaws remain (such as cracks). To hide them, you can hang a painting above them. Your wall will then appear perfect, and no one will notice the small hidden defects.

3) The painting: a way to highlight a particular area

Finally, a painting serves to highlight a particular space or area. You've probably already noticed this with paint. When you want to enlarge or emphasize a space in a room , you paint it a different color than the rest of the room, and preferably a dark color. A painting works in the same way. It draws attention to a specific area, since it catches the eye as soon as you enter.

II) What types of paintings should be chosen for each room and style of the house?

There are so many styles and types of paintings that it's often difficult to choose the right one. To help you, we'll give you some advice, depending on whether it's the room or the style of your home.

1) Choose your painting according to the room in the house

In principle, there are no hard and fast rules for choosing the right type of painting for each room. However, to perfectly match the style of each room, it would be best to choose the right motif.

• For the bedroom, for example, it would be ideal to choosecalming and unobtrusive artwork . This will help you relax and unwind at any time. You can also display portraits, either of yourself or loved ones, to create a sense of well-being and gratitude in the room.
• For the living room, opt for delicate paintings such as floral or landscape motifs. You can also choose designer pieces to create a more chic and sophisticated look.
• Designs reminiscent of the sea would be perfect for the bathroom. Finally, you could add a few pictures depicting ingredients or herbs in your kitchen. But don't overdo it, because this isn't a restaurant.

2) Choose your painting according to the style of the house

It is also possible to choose the type of painting, depending on the style of the house.

For example, a contemporary home often favors minimalism and graphic design . To highlight this aesthetic, you'll need to choose artwork that reflects these characteristics. Therefore, abstract, clean, and linear paintings are recommended.

In contrast, in a retro home, antique objects are showcased. You can therefore choose patterns reminiscent of bygone eras. Even better, you can place the repurposed item directly inside a frame and hang it on the wall, like a painting. This will give you a more original style.

If you have a cozy, cocoon-style home, nothing beats portrait paintings. This interior style greatly emphasizes gatherings and conviviality.

For a rustic style home, the ideal choice would be paintings reminiscent of nature, greenery, and the forest. Finally, accentuate the "factory" feel of an industrial house with paintings whose motifs evoke construction and buildings.

III) How to properly position a painting?

Although a painting is used to beautify a room, it can have the opposite effect if you don't know how to position it correctly. Therefore, you'll need to follow certain criteria to achieve a good result, including respecting proportions and properly managing height .

1) Respect the proportion

If you want your walls to be showcased effectively, you must adhere to the rules of proportion. Specifically, the size of the painting must be appropriate for the size of the wall. If you have a large wall, you can naturally opt for a large painting. This type of painting is even highly recommended to avoid leaving large empty spaces on the wall . Conversely, if your wall is quite small, then your painting should be quite small. For added style, you can choose to group several paintings together, which will create an illusion of spaciousness without cluttering the wall.

2) Choose the right height

Aside from proportions, you also need to choose the right height for optimal results. Generally, a painting should be at eye level, or 65 inches above the floor. However, this can vary depending on ceiling height and your furniture. Some people, for example, prefer to hang paintings directly above their sofas, beds, or tables to better showcase them.

IV) What are the different techniques that exist for properly hanging a painting?

Now it's time to teach you how to hang a picture on a wall. You have two methods at your disposal. You can either opt for the traditional or classic method, which involves drilling holes in the wall, or you can choose the more modern method.

1) The classic method: hanging with drilling

Hanging a picture by drilling into the wall is the most common method for attaching a painting to a wall. It involves using a nail or screw to support the picture. This method is very easy to do, provided you follow the steps carefully, which we will detail below:

a) Steps to follow to hang a picture with a hole

As mentioned earlier, the picture can be hung with either a nail or a screw. The choice of hardware will depend primarily on the weight of your frame. If it's light, a nail and hammer will suffice. Otherwise, you'll need to drill into the wall using screws or wall plugs.

Before hanging your picture on the wall, it's especially important to mark the location of the nail or screw with a cross or a dot in pencil. Make sure the wall you're going to drill into isn't concrete, otherwise the nail or screw might not go in.

b) Check the alignment of the frames

Once this is done, carefully check that the mounting points for each of your pictures are properly aligned. This step is especially important if you've decided to hang two or three pictures on the same wall . They must be on the same horizontal or vertical line for a perfect result. If your wall isn't perfectly straight, you can adjust the mounting points to ensure they appear aligned.

Now it's time to secure the nail or screw. If you've chosen a nail, simply hammer it into the wall. For a better hold, ensure the nail is at a 45° angle, with the head facing the ceiling. Don't hammer the nail in all the way . You can stop as soon as it stops moving.

If you've opted for a screw, you'll first need to drill a hole before inserting it. You can use a drill for this. Insert a plug into the hole, followed by the screw. Secure everything with a screwdriver, making sure it's perfectly straight. All that's left is to hang the picture, either using the included hook or by adding a string above it.

c) The advantages of hanging with drilling

Hanging with drilling is a practical and advantageous method, as it ensures a long-lasting installation. More specifically, it allows the picture to remain securely attached to the wall for an extended period without any risk of falling. Furthermore, because it's a fixed system, it provides a more stable and balanced mounting. By choosing this method, your picture will be properly positioned and framed.

d) Disadvantages of hanging with drilling

But hanging with a drill also has some disadvantages. Its biggest drawback is that it comes into contact with the wall. Indeed, to secure the nail or screw, you absolutely must drill into the wall. This could cause cracks if you don't know how to do it properly. If you choose this method, you must therefore be very careful.

In addition, hanging with a drill is less aesthetically pleasing, unless the nail is hidden behind the picture. But in that case, the picture must have a hook on its back.

2) The modern method: hanging without drilling

More and more people today prefer to use external accessories to hang their pictures . They don't want to spoil their walls. Fortunately, there are already many solutions available. Here are a few examples of these accessories that allow you to hang a picture without drilling into the wall.

a) Double-sided adhesive

As its name suggests, double-sided tape is a type of tape but with two sticky strips , one on each side. This accessory is very practical if you want to hang light and fairly small pictures. However, for heavy pictures, you will need to choose other methods, or at least use several pieces of tape at the same time. Similarly, it is not recommended for use in bathrooms or other rooms with high humidity. Indeed, it is not waterproof.

Double-sided adhesive tape is easy to use. Simply apply one sticky strip to the picture and the other to the wall. It adheres perfectly to most types of surfaces , such as plasterboard, wood, PVC, or glass . However, it's not ideal for smooth surfaces. Therefore, you can't use it on a wall painted with oil paint.

Over time, the adhesive on the picture can also dry out, which could cause it to fall. Therefore, you should check its adhesion regularly and replace it if necessary.

b) Super-strong glue

Super-strong adhesive is another way to hang your picture without drilling into the wall. It's a type of sealant designed for mounting. This multi-purpose adhesive is very strong, which is why it can be used on any type of surface, both indoors and outdoors. You can therefore use it to hang even your heaviest and largest pictures.

Another advantage of super-strong glue is its waterproof properties. It resists all kinds of moisture, so you can use it in any room, whether it's the bedroom, living room, kitchen, or even the bathroom. It also withstands vibrations well. With super-strong glue, you can be sure your picture will be securely and stably attached.

However, it also has a slight drawback. The super-strong adhesive can leave some marks on the wall and is rather difficult to remove afterwards. Nevertheless, it's a practical and cost-effective system.

c) Adhesive hooks

Adhesive hooks work much like double-sided tape. However, instead of a simple piece of tape, you have an actual hook. This allows you to hang your pictures using this hook.

Adhesive hooks also come in the form of small suction cups. The advantage of these is that they are easy to attach and detach. Furthermore, they leave no residue on the wall, unlike double-sided tape or super glue. However, you will need to use at least two, one at each end, to ensure the picture is stable and doesn't move around.

d) Fixing paste

Generally, adhesive putty is used to repair cracks and imperfections on objects. However, it can also be used to hang pictures. As a reminder, adhesive putty is a small pad that is applied to the picture, which is then hung on the wall. It hardens quickly, resulting in a strong and stable hold .

In addition to being easy to apply and remove, the adhesive putty is also reusable. It is therefore both a practical and economical solution.

e) Magnetic paint

Magnetic paint is undoubtedly one of the biggest innovations of the moment. It's a paint like any other, but with one key difference: it makes wall surfaces "magnetic." This makes it very effective for hanging objects, especially pictures.

To do this, simply place a magnet between the magnetic wall and the picture, and it will stick immediately. This solution is quite effective, as it's sturdy and durable. However, it does have one small drawback: it's rather expensive. But regardless, given the effect it creates, it's definitely worth the price.

All that's left is for you to get started!

Thanks to this article, you know that hanging a picture on the wall is not just about drilling a hole and inserting a dowel, but there are also many techniques for hanging it.

In addition, you received some advice on how to place or choose it. Choosing its location is key to successfully decorating your home. Now you'll have no trouble hanging your picture, so go ahead and get started!

To thank you for making it this far, enjoy a 15% discount on your order today with the promo code: BLOG15 .

See you soon.

The Lofty Trend Team.