Tighten the space between three separate pictures if they have images that flow into each other. < < < < Figure A < < < < Figure B < < < < Figure C < < < < Figure D

Q: What's a good way to hang a picture? How do you decide where to hang art pieces, and how do you group them together?

A: (Nancy Golden, Ask DIY Decorating expert) Here are some guidelines:

• If you're working with a large wall and have the floor space, make some decisions by arranging the artwork on the floor first. You can also measure how far they need to be from one another. Then take one at a time and put them up on the wall.

• If you have little children or dogs or some other reason you can't put artwork on the floor, make a template of each piece you'd like to hang. Just trace around the outside of the frame on kraft paper, cut out the shape, and label it so you'll remember which piece it represents. Also draw an arrow on it so you know whether the art is vertical or horizontal. Secure the templates to the wall with a product known as reusable adhesive, which looks a bit like putty or chewing gum. It won't tear pieces from your wall or the paper patterns.

• Consider grouping four small same-size pictures together in a four-square, to give the illusion of a larger picture (figure A).

• You don't always have to have four in a group. Consider using a larger picture in the center. Then place two smaller pictures on either side of the large picture, spaced vertically to about equal the length of the larger frame. Or, in place of the larger picture, use a large mirror (figure B).

  Nobody's perfect: Not all of your frames will always be matching sizes, so approximate and just try to balance the impact of the frames -- not match them perfectly.

• Always hang pictures at eye level.

• If you're hanging a picture over a sofa, you shouldn't leave a lot of wall space between sofa and picture. Try for three to six inches. If you go any higher, the viewer's eye will just go to the wall, not the picture.

• Don't put one little picture on a large wall. It looks ridiculous. If you don't have enough artwork to fill up more space on a large wall, consider putting mirrors or a shadowbox in the grouping.

• Conversely, don't overload a small wall with a large picture.

• Consider resting pictures on shelving hammered directly on to a wall. Or display them on a plate rack in place of plates.

• Nor do pictures always need to be on a wall. Consider a bamboo easel (figure C) if you have an Asian-inspired decor going. There are also wrought-iron or wood easels available, so choose one that complements the look of your home.

• There are lots of ways to enhance how you display your pictures with picture nails and various knobs (figure D).

• As for physically hanging the pictures on the wall, look for a picture-hanging kit at the hardware or home store. It will include everything you need. And keep in mind, the picture's weight will determine what size hook you'll need to use. For a very large picture, you'll need two hooks.

• Also consider the many decorative eye screws available for hanging pictures. You screw them to the top of the frame and then dangle the frame from a wire attached to a screw in the wall. Instead of wire, consider using decorative French ribbon to hang the frame from the wall.

More questions for Nancy:

Q: How can I attractively display my favorite family photos?

A: I recently did this for a client: I had all the photos framed compatibly. That is not to say they were identical, but the frames were all in different patterns of the same silver platinum. They were different designs; some were busy, some were plain; but they all had the same mat color. Then I crowded them on a wall to make a gallery. If you're just going to display family photos on a table, you want to start with the larger ones in the back and then work up to the smaller ones. That works on a piano too.


Q: Can I mix wood-framed pictures with metal-framed pictures?

A: People do it all the time, but it's not my favorite look. It works best if you have an eclectic home throughout. If you're going to do it in a more formal look, at least try to keep the same color for all the frames. If the frames are all brown or black, you can get away with it.


Q: I always have trouble deciding on matting for my art. Got any designer suggestions?

A: Matting is very personal, and you don't have to think "inside the box." If you're stuck for ideas, ask your framer.

Web site resources for Picture Hanging:

Hanging Pictures from HGTV.com

Easy Picture Hanging from HGTV.com

Picture Arranging & Hanging from 888 Hangman.com

Hanging and Care of Picture Frames from Frame Corner.com

Picture Framing Options from E-mazing.com

Picture Framing from Living and Entertaining.com

Hanging Pictures from Picture This Framing.com

Ten Do's and Don'ts of Picture Framing from Premier Photographer.com

Book:

Art of Framing: The Essential Guide to Framing & Hanging Paintings, Photographs & Collections
By Piers Feetham with Caroline Feetham
Clarkson N Potter Publications (1997)
Crown Publishing/Random House
299 Park Ave.
New York, NY 10171
Phone: 212-572-2275
Fax: 212-572-4949
Web site: www.randomhouse.com