The Art of Hanging Art

I've had over 25 framed pictures, mosaics and paintings propped up against walls in my house for months now. Everyday I would pass these works of art and familiar faces of loved ones and dread making the commitment of placement. Hanging stuff on walls is just that, commitment (Especially when the walls are plaster or exposed brick) but I've been "dating" the decision to hang stuff on the walls for a while and it was finally time to "put a ring on it."

Knowing that this job was too big for me to do alone, I called my boyfriend. Having another person involved in the picture hanging process gives a second eye, an extra set of hands and someone to blame if it all goes terribly wrong.

Helpful tips:

1. Upload pictures of each potential wall hanging to Adobe Photoshop. This allows you to play with different wall arrangements before you begin hammering nails into the wall. If you don't have Photoshop, arrange wall hangings on the floor instead (but know you're not as cool as people with Photoshop).

2. Don't be afraid of pieces that might initially seemed mismatched. Hang the pictures and paintings you like to look at, those that make you feel happy. It's your house, your walls and your dinner guests will probably be polite enough to talk about your bad decisions after they leave.

3. Research the correct hardware to use because different wall material needs different types of hardware. Hanging heavier pictures on plaster requires a little plastic anchor thing. First drill a hole, then slide in the anchor then drill the screw into the anchor. Lighter pictures can survive with only a nail, but use sparingly.

4. Frequently thank and compliment the person helping you. Telling them they look great in that track jacket may soften the blow when you ask them to please re-plaster that section and start over.

In the end, you'll inevitably still find imperfections with your work, but remember you asked for help so you'd have someone else to blame. Hold it over their head for a little while until they offer to help you work on the next room.