5 Tips for Hanging Art

Hanging art can be tricky business. Thankfully, we’ve got a few tips that might be able to help you with your home decor endeavor.

Common framing and art sizes. 

1. Hang the Middle of Your Artwork at Eye Level

The most common home decor mistake is hanging artwork too high. A good rule of thumb is to hang the artwork so that the center of the piece is at eye level. This can vary from person to person, so we recommend making the middle of the piece is 57” off the ground. From there you can adjust as you see fit.

2. Size Your Artwork to Fit Your Space

The next most common error of home decor is not choosing the correct size art for your space. Whether you’re hanging a statement piece over a sofa or pairing two postcards in your hallway, here are some tips to keep in mind.

For large, blank walls above mantles or sofas, try looking at pieces in the range of 36” width and longer. The general rule of thumb is to make sure your art piece or collection is about 2/3rds to 3/4ths the length of the furniture it is hanging over. For breathing room, hover your art so that it is above 8” off the sofa or furniture.

An example of a large canvas proportionate to the couch below. 

For smaller spaces, size is less of an issue - but placement becomes important. If you are stacking two images, put the heavier one on top. This guides the eye to “trail down away”, rather than ending abruptly with chunky piece.

If the images are the same width but different orientations, stack portrait above landscape.

Remember that when you pair artwork together like this, together they act as one “piece”. Make sure the centre of the “piece” sits at eye level, to avoid losing the bottom piece completely out of vision.

3. Keep Your Collections along a Horizontal or Vertical Axis

Sometimes, you may have a lot of small pieces, rather than one large artwork. If you have many small prints (think 8x10, 5x7, 11x14s), then an asymmetrical collection or gallery wall may be what you’re looking for.

Asymmetrical collections and gallery walls are excellent layout options for eclectic groupings, but are at risk of looking haphazard and unorganized if one is not careful. To keep a sense of unity, make sure that your collection follows a horizontal and vertical axis.

While the edges of the frames don’t have to follow the axis perfectly, if you were to dissect your collection in half, both sides should appear balanced.  

When making collections, aim for some consistency between your pieces. Whether it’s by theme, mat color or frame choice, a consistent aesthetic will help keep your pieces looking unified and organized.

4. Pick an Anchor Line

If you like putting your pieces together in a group but don't want to risk a haphazard look, try picking an anchor line and lining up all your artworks within that line. This works best with prints that are all the same size, which you can make symmetrical groupings out of. 

Common lower lines are excellent anchors. Most interior designers will put them on a shelf, which also eliminates the hassle of hanging them from the wall.

This is the most common anchor line. Although the composition is unbalanced (simply to show size differences between common frame sizes), it still looks clean, organized and structured. 

Upper lines are usually not recommended, as often this results in the artwork being hung too high. However, for large, singular pieces such as rugs, tapestries, or vertical canvases, this line will act as an invisible bar for them to hang from.

5. Plan It Out

An example from Jenna Burger

Hanging art is an art in of itself. Smoothing details like spacing and composition early in the game can save your framing from looking tilted, dizzy, or sloppy, and ultimately unify your gallery cohesively. Print out standard frame sizes (such as 8x10s, 11x14s, 24x36s) on paper (or measure them out on newspapers or poster paper), and tape them up on your wall in different configurations. Once you like your set-up, then decide which art piece should be framed and matted accordingly.

---

Ready to start matting and framing? CanadaOnCanvas has a huge selection of beautiful frame mouldings, which we handcut in custom sizes to fit whatever size you need! We also do matting and fine-art printing. If you're uncertain about hanging your art, we also print art on Adhesive Fabric - perfect for sticking, peeling off and rearranging. Call us today at 1-888-533-6278!

How to Clean Your Picture Frame

Few people enjoy cleaning house, but even those who make it a weekly chore tend to forget some nook or cranny.

One popular oversight is the wall hangings around the home. But failing to clean a picture frame can result in seriously stuck-on dirt, thick grime, and eventually, even irreparable damage to the frame. It's a good idea to add dusting the frames to your weekly to-do list.

Even so, you might find certain frames need a bit more TLC. Frames hanging in the kitchen, for instance, can develop a build up of grease from cooking within just a few days!

Let's break it down.

Cleaning the Frame

If your frames require more than simple dusting, the next step is to wipe them down with a damp cloth.

Always take your picture frame off the wall, first. Even the gentle pressure exerted on the top of the frame to wipe it will put unnecessary stress on hanging hardware and wire.

If just water still doesn't cut it, a spray dust cleaner can be used, as long as the wood is varnished or painted (ie: not raw wood!). Always spray onto the cloth, not onto the frame. The spray can soak quickly into the wood, leaving a discoloration.

If your frame has ornate carvings or designs, you may need a cotton swab or toothbrush to scrub the dust and dirt out of those tiny areas.

(If your frame is made from metal rather than wood, you can add a bit of dish soap to the water. You may want to test this on a non-visible section just to be sure.)

Cleaning the Glazing

Dirt, dust, and the occasional fingerprint will likely need to be cleaned off the glass or plexiglass covering your image.

If the glazing is glass, you can use a soft cloth and window cleaner to wipe the surface. Again, never spray directly on the glass – the cleaner can drip down between the frame and the glazing and damage the print behind.

If your frame uses plexiglass, do not use window cleaner – it can eat away at the material. Instead, dampen a soft cloth with water, and add a bit of dish soap if needed.

For information for disassembling your frame for a deep cleaning, see our full article: “Caring For Your Picture Frame”

Before Framing

Keeping your frame clean is important, but a frame can usually be replaced. It's the images inside that often have more sentimental value.

Make sure your photographs and artwork stay beautiful along with your frame by investing in UV-filtering glass or plexiglass. Before you frame them, and when cleaning the frame, be sure to set the photos far away from any water or cleaners so they don't get splashed. And always ensure the glazing is completely dry before re-assembling a frame – otherwise humidity can cause moisture build up on the inside of the glazing, which can make the images stick or develop mold.

For more information on caring for your special photos, check out our article on “Conservation Framing”.

---

How do you keep your wall art in tip top shape?

Any cleaning tricks you're willing to share with the community?

As always, don't hesitate to contact us if you have questions about any of our products or services. Our knowledgeable staff are always happy to help!