How to hang wall art properly

Almost all badly hung art is hung too high and too small. The fix is two numbers and a pencil.

Centre of the picture at 145-150cm from the floor, and 15-20cm above the back of a sofa or headboard. That's most of it.

We don't sell furniture - we make prints, postcards, pin badges and cards in house, printed in the UK. So this is a straight guide, plus the print and the card that go with it.

The heights to work to

• Centre of the artwork at 145-150cm from the floor - roughly gallery eye level.
• Above a sofa: bottom edge 15-20cm above the back cushions, so it relates to the sofa rather than floating.
• Above a bed: same rule, 15-20cm above the headboard, and keep it narrower than the bed.
• In a stairwell, follow the line of the stairs rather than a single height.
• In a room where everyone sits - a dining room or snug - drop everything by about 5cm.

Sizing and spacing

• Artwork should span roughly two thirds to three quarters of the furniture below it.
• Leave 5-8cm between frames in a group. Consistent gaps matter more than perfect alignment.
• Two small prints side by side read as one piece if the gap is tight.
• Big empty wall, small print? Frame it with a wide mount rather than buying a bigger picture.
• Lay the arrangement on the floor first and photograph it before touching the wall.

Fixings by wall type

• Plasterboard: self-drive plasterboard fixings for anything over a couple of kilos, not a nail.
• Brick or block: a 6mm masonry bit and a brown plug.
• Lath and plaster in older houses: find a stud or use a proper toggle - the plaster itself holds nothing.
• Light prints on a rented wall: adhesive strips rated well above the frame weight, on clean paint only.
• Two hooks rather than one keeps a wide frame level for good.

Getting it straight first time

• Mark the hook position, not the top of the frame - measure down from the wire when it's pulled taut.
• Masking tape a paper template to the wall and live with it for a day.
• Use a spirit level app, then step back three metres and check by eye. The eye wins.
• Bump a small blob of museum putty behind the bottom corners so it stops tilting.
• Fill and touch up as you go, not months later.

Shop cards

Prints for the wall

Designed in house and printed in the UK.

How to write it so it lands

• 145-150cm to the centre. Write it on the back of your hand.
• Measure from the taut wire, not the top of the frame.
• Two hooks stops a wide frame sliding out of level.
• Lay a group out on the floor first.

Where to shop next

• How to style a living room on a budget
• How to build a gallery wall
• Choosing furniture for a small flat
• First home checklist: what to buy first
• Lighting a room properly
• Colour schemes that actually work
• Seasonal decor without the clutter
• Posters and prints
• Postcards
• All guides
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Pin badges

Frequently asked questions

How high should you hang pictures?

Centre the picture at 145-150cm from the floor. Above furniture, keep the bottom edge 15-20cm above the sofa back or headboard.

How do you hang pictures on plasterboard?

Use self-drive plasterboard fixings for anything heavier than a small print, or find a stud. A plain nail will pull straight out.

How do you hang art in a rented flat?

Adhesive hanging strips rated at least double the frame weight, applied to clean, fully cured paint - and remove them by stretching downwards, not pulling out.