Picture hanging.....

[Elwood Blues]

Anyone know if there is a rule of thumb for the height (from the floor) to hang a picture on the wall?

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have always heard, and we use the 'general' rule of thumb, of eye level for most pictures (though certainly not my eye level)

 

[dianeschlicht]

LOL, Dan! I always say eye level too. I made that mistake when we built our first house. I told DH to be sure the thermostat was at "eye level". I walked in the next day, and it was over my head!

 

[tiggerlover]

I agree with Dan, I have always heard that eye level is the general rule. But of course, that depends on your height, I am 5'5" and DH is 6'3" so we usually go with my eye level!

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

I just take a guess and go with what seems to "look right". Of course, I often change my mind and end up with 3 or 4 "mistakes"

 

[monkeyboy]

How to Hang a Picture



Whether you’re hanging a single print or a cluster of family photos, the most important thing to do is take precise measurements. (If you are hanging a series of prints in a grid, a carpenter’s level will help you space objects evenly.)



Before making your first nail hole, consider your room’s size and composition. Use the height of a sofa or the positioning of a table to guide you in making an arrangement. Conventional wisdom suggests that pictures be hung at eye level, but some pictures require special attention. If hanging a picture at eye level, position its center 57 to 60 inches from the floor.



Instead of using wire, attach a small D-ring, available at hardware stores, to each side of the frame. Then, install two corresponding picture hooks to the wall, and hang the frame. Doing so adds stability and prevents your frames from swinging or tilting.


Technique
How to Hang a Picture



Tape measure
Carpenter’s level
D-rings
Hammer
Awl
Picture hooks with nails (use proper size depending on weight of frame)
Felt pads
Blue low-tack tape
Permanent marker



Use the following formula to achieve proper height: Divide the height of the frame by two; from that number, subtract the distance between the top of the frame to the hanging hardware; add this number to 57, 58, 59, or 60, depending on if you want a higher or lower arrangement. The final number is the number of inches from the floor where the hangers should be put in the wall.



1. Start by arranging your pictures on the floor or up against a wall near where you plan to hang them. Move them until the grouping suits you. If hanging a grouping, measure the horizontal and vertical distances between the frames.



2. Flip each frame over. To prevent the frame from marring the wall, place a felt pad on each corner.



3. Measure from the top left corner of the frame, approximately 4 inches down (distance will vary depending on frame size), and attach a D-ring. Do the same to the top right corner. (The D-rings will attach to the picture hooks.) Measure the width of the frame, between the D-rings.



4. To get a visual idea of how the pictures will hang on the wall, duplicate the arrangement on your wall using low-tack tape to represent the top of the frame and the positioning of the picture hooks (When hanging an arrangement, begin with the upper left hand frame and work left to right, in rows.)



5. Locate where you want the top of the frame to hang on the wall and mark the center point on the wall at the top using low-tack blue tape. Use the measurement taken earlier of the frame’s width to mark out the left and right top corners and mark this position with low-tack blue tape.



6. After you have the positioning for the top of the frame, use blue tape to mark the hook spacing. (If you make a mistake or change your mind, blue tape can easily be moved without messing marring the wall.) If your D-ring is 4 inches from the top of the frame, use a carpenter’s level to measure 4 inches down from the top piece of tape; place another piece of tape and mark an “X” for the nail hole with a pencil or permanent marker. Do this for both sides of the frame.



7. After all the marks have been made, use an awl and make a slight mark on the wall to denote where the D-ring will hang from the hook. Remove the tape.



8. Insert the picture hooks into the wall. (Remember, the slight mark made with the awl is where the bottom of the hook goes, not the nail.)



9. Hang arrangement. If properly measured, the frames should be evenly spaced and level.

 

[RadioNate]

Originally posted by monkeyboy
How to Hang a Picture

WOW! And to think all these years I've just been saying "HERE!" and hammering nails into my walls.

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

Originally posted by RadioNate
WOW! And to think all these years I've just been saying "HERE!" and hammering nails into my walls.