How to Hang a Canvas or Framed Print (Without Wrecking Your Wall)

Your portrait has arrived, it looks wonderful, and now it's leaning against the wall where it may stay for the next eight months. We've all been there. Hanging art isn't hard, but it does reward a little planning. Here's how to do it right the first time.

Every canvas and framed print from us arrives ready to hang, with hardware included. These steps work for almost any piece of art, though.

• –A tape measure and a pencil
• –A level, or a level app on your phone
• –Painter's tape
• –A hammer, a drill, or both
• –Hanging hardware suited to your wall (more on that below)
• –A helper, ideally, for larger pieces

Most designers hang art so its center sits around 57 to 60 inches from the floor, roughly eye level. Above furniture, leave about 6 to 10 inches between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the art so they read as a pair.

The nail doesn't go where the top of the frame goes. Measure from the hanging point on the back of the art to its top edge:

• –Sawtooth hanger or single D-ring: measure from the hanger to the top edge.
• –Picture wire: pull the wire taut toward the top, as it will be when hanging, and measure from the peak of the wire to the top edge.
• –Two D-rings: you'll use two hooks, spaced to match the rings exactly, at the same height.

Then the math: decide where the top of the art should be, measure down by that distance, and mark the wall. That's where your hook goes. For example, if you want the center of a 24-inch-tall piece at 58 inches, its top edge sits at 70 inches. If the wire peaks 3 inches below the top, the hook goes at 67 inches.

This is the step that separates art that stays put from art that greets you on the floor at 2 a.m.

Drywall

For lighter pieces, a picture hook with an angled nail is usually fine; the package lists how much weight it holds. For heavier pieces, screw into a wall stud (a stud finder helps) or use a drywall anchor rated comfortably above the weight of the art.

Plaster

Older plaster walls can crack and crumble. Drill a small pilot hole first and use hooks or anchors made for plaster. A strip of painter's tape over the spot before drilling helps reduce chipping.

Brick or concrete

Use a masonry bit and a wall plug with a screw. Drilling into the mortar joints instead of the brick is often easier, and easier to patch later.

Renting, or no holes allowed

Adhesive picture-hanging strips can hold lighter frames on smooth, painted walls. Check the weight rating carefully and follow the instructions to the letter. A picture ledge, or leaning a large piece on a console or mantel, are hole-free alternatives that look intentional.

1. 1.Mark the hook position in pencil. If you're using two hooks, check the marks with a level.
2. 2.Install the hook or anchor.
3. 3.Hang the art and step back to look at it from across the room.
4. 4.Level it. Rest the level on the top edge, or use your phone's level app. Wire-hung pieces can be nudged gently along the wire.
5. 5.Stop it drifting. A dab of removable museum putty or a pair of small adhesive bumpers on the bottom corners keeps it straight and protects the wall.

Canvases are usually lighter than framed pieces of the same size, since there's no glazing and no heavy frame, which makes them easier to hang. Their deep wooden stretcher bars hold them a little away from the wall, so check the level along the top edge rather than eyeballing the face.

Framed prints are a touch heavier. Ours use shatter-resistant acrylic instead of glass, which keeps the weight down and makes them a safer choice above a bed or in a child's room. Not sure which you want? Here's canvas vs. framed print vs. poster.

1. 1.Lay everything out on the floor and take a photo of the arrangement you like.
2. 2.Cut paper templates for each piece, mark the hanging points on them and tape them to the wall.
3. 3.Keep consistent gaps of 2 to 3 inches between frames.
4. 4.Start with the largest piece near the center and work outward.
5. 5.Hammer the nails through the marked points on the templates, then tear the paper away.

• –In strong, direct sunlight. Even fade-resistant inks last longest out of direct sun.
• –Directly above a radiator or heating vent, where heat and dry air can warp materials over time.
• –In a steamy bathroom, especially a canvas, unless you're comfortable with the humidity risk.