How to hang your pictures and plan a gallery wall you’re going to love for a long time

Maybe you just downloaded some of my digital downloads on Etsy, snagged one of my wall print sales or found some portraits of strangers on a flea market and you’re sitting on your couch wondering…how to hang a print once you have it? 

I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s taken a hammer (my good old Estwing from my BSc in geology to be precise) and nail to the living room wall without measuring or worrying too much about it, am I right? Sometimes that’s the only way to get it done. And I don’t like worrying or overthinking it anyway. 

BUT there are some tricks of the trade to make your gallery wall a little more inviting and nice to look at. 

Stop ignoring the stack of frames on the floor beside your bed (again, I’m not the only one here, right?) and get that gallery wall you’ve always dreamed of!

Here are my best tips for how to hang a picture. 

Decide on a strategy 

Weight, size, shape and the material of your walls are of interest here. Can I drill into brick? Into tile? Do I want to hang at all or am I looking for an alternative (read more about alternatives below)?

Gather supplies

A hammer, measuring tape, pencil, nails / picture hangers / wall-plug anchors / screws / hooks (depending on the size of your print and the material of your walls)… 

Consider what will surround the print and how the light falls into the room during the day. Do you want your wall print to be the focal point? What do you want to see first when you enter the room. 

One important thing here though: never position a print in direct sunlight as it will damage it (no matter how good the quality of the (fine) art paper is).

Hang the thing

And although I’m not a fan of it, there is a semi-science to the art of getting the height of a piece just right: it’s called measuring. Yeah. Annoying, but it’s true. 

Go for average human eye level, that’s the height galleries and museums use to decide where to hang their art (about 57 inches from the floor, be sure to trust your eye here though!). 

Mark the height using your pencil, that’s where the middle of your artwork should go. Now measure the distance between the middle of your print and where it will catch the nail (or whatever you’re using). 

Mark that point on the wall and prepare it for whatever you’re going to use. Hammer a big nail in, tap the anchor into it, drill a pilot hole to screw a screw into that… whatever it is, hang that thing. 

If you’re not up for hammer and nails, here are a few of my favourite alternatives.

Just lean it. 

Maybe you’re afraid of putting nail holes in the wall or you’re not allowed to or you don’t have any free walls left. So why not just lean the frame against the back of a chair, a wall, a shelf, or a stack of books. It looks very intentional and cool and smart. 

Use a picture shelf. 

Especially if you’re always rearranging or just can’t decide where to put your prints! Picture shelves are perfect for constantly changing styles. 

Leave some prints unframed. 

Don’t like frames? I really like to mix things up by leaving some prints unframed. Or use some magnetic wood poster hangers. Possibilities are endless here. 

Break some rules. 

My favourite tip, whether it’s about wall art, society’s expectations or life in general. Take a deep breath. Listen to your gut. Do your thing. And don’t be afraid to hang a print somewhere surprising. 

Here’s some inspiration for your gallery wall