Those of us who live in small apartments, especially studios, know how important it is to make the most of every inch of space. Today we are learning to hang pictures and posters in our tiny homes so that they don't just decorate the space, but tell a story, create an atmosphere and take us beyond the four concrete walls.
Choose an accent painting
It is not difficult to make the painting become the thing that sets the tone and be the center of attention. The colors in which it is painted should be bright, expressive, clean, but the surrounding furniture, on the contrary, should be neutral, minimalistic, and not distract attention.
Vivid statement paintings can “gather” objects around themselves, become a center of attraction and thus help you divide your open space into zones.
Use large frames
Enlarge the size of small paintings and posters by placing them in large frames or mats. To add depth and movement to a gallery, mix really small paintings with large, eye-catching works.
Enlarge your wall with small paintings
If your plans do not yet include buying large paintings, try to get by only with small ones - in enlarged or suitable-sized frames. This will look neat and visually make the wall larger. Remember the rule: the fewer works on the wall, the more important each one is individually.
Simulate a window
When you live in a small city apartment, any thought about vacation makes it seem even smaller. But why not “attach” a piece of paradise right to your apartment? Like a real window into the forest, desert or coastline, expressive nature photography will expand the boundaries of your home.
Stick to neutral colors
Paintings in neutral or monochrome colors will maintain a bright, light, soft atmosphere in your home. Plus, pastel shades usually pair well with other colors and fit easily into any palette, so you can change up furniture, textiles, and decor without worrying about having to replace paintings, too.
Hang vertically
Arrange your art gallery so that works hang one above the other, from floor to ceiling. If you do it right, the walls will appear taller.
Place paintings in unusual places
Regardless of the size of your home, you can decorate it with works of art, placing them in seemingly inappropriate places: small paintings can hang together on the wall; a big accent job is decorating the bathroom door; the smallest ones stand on bookshelves.
Stylish designs are increasingly using paintings: photo galleries, one large canvas or a modular version. Images are selected that correspond to the style of the interior: classic, romantic, etc. Such design ideas add special charm and aesthetics to modern interiors.
Rules for posting paintings
For beautiful placement of paintings or photos, there are a number of rules so that they fit organically into the interior.
How to choose the best places for paintings (panels and photos) on the wall?
To make a painting stand out on any wall, you need a room with good lighting, but avoid direct sunlight. Paints may fade over time.
In a dark room, it is better to backlight the painting (preferably with a halogen lamp). Choose uniform lighting and not too close to the canvas.
Choose the height where the canvas will hang. The best placement of the canvas is just above the eyes.
In the house, the frame is attached close to the wall, parallel to the floor. Parts for fastening can be different: chains, nails, cords, glue, buttons, etc.
Classic ways to hang a picture
Traditional methods are nails (screws) that are driven into the wall. But wall materials can be different, so classical methods are not always suitable.
Brick wall
Brick walls are the most common, they are the most durable, but the material is fragile and requires special attention. Instructions on how to hang a picture correctly:
- You can drill holes in the brick for nails or screws or hooks. For this you need a dowel, you can do without it, but be careful.
- First you need to drill a hole of the required size into which to pour the cement mortar. It prevents the formation of cracks in the brickwork.
- Then the dowel (hook) is inserted. You can use special brackets for bricks; they are attached at the required distance for a specific picture.
Concrete wall
For a concrete wall, you will need a hammer drill or impact drill to securely fix the painting, especially large ones. A hole is drilled (usually 6 mm), then a plastic dowel is inserted. Then the required screw (hook) is screwed in, onto which the canvas is hung.
Plasterboard wall
Drywall is not resistant to heavy loads, so you can only hang small, light pictures or photos. For strength, you need to insert a special dowel called a “butterfly” into the hole in the drywall. Its spacers will securely hold the mount.
Wooden wall
The best material that is easy to attach anything to. Drive a regular nail at the required height; any fabric can be easily hung on twine or chain.
Modular pictures
To understand how to properly hang a modular picture, you must first determine the material of the walls. Measure the wall, choose the height and distance between sections, make notes with a pencil.
How to hang a picture (panel, photo) without drilling?
Many live in rented housing or newly renovated apartments. If you don’t want to bother your neighbors or your husband is simply not around, there are excellent methods that you can use to hang any picture, photo or panel.
Let's look at a variety of ideas on how to beautifully hang paintings in your home.
Liquid Nails
A special glue technology called liquid nails. They need to be applied in a stripe (dots) to the back side of the picture frame, then pressed well against the wall for a minute.
Polymer glue
This glue perfectly connects any surfaces, like the previous one. It is applied similarly to liquid nails and is applied along the perimeter of the product; if the picture is small, then you can drop glue only on the edges of the frame. For good adhesion, you need to press it firmly against the wall with something for a day.
Coat hook or paper clip
For wallpaper, you need to make a small cut and fill it with superglue. Bend the paperclip with a hook or place the hook itself for things and cover it with trimmed wallpaper.
Button
The method is similar to that described above, only the “hat” appears, which can withstand a rather heavy picture.
Spider hook
This is a special hook, it is sold in construction stores. The 4 sharp ends are perfectly fixed to the wall with a hammer. This mount can support weights up to 2 kg.
Pins for tailors
For light, small-sized pictures or photos, you can use pins with “ears” or “heads”. They are inconspicuous; a hole in the wall will practically not be visible. The needles (pins) are made of steel, so they are quite durable. But to be completely sure, you can secure it with 2 more pins at the bottom.
Velcro Command
Command Velcro will help you hang a craft, photo or picture weighing up to 2 kg on any surface. This is a great idea, they won’t leave marks, and they sell kits with several strips: the first one is glued to the frame, the second one is glued to the wall. The greater the weight of the photo or painting, the more stripes there are.
2 sided tape
To place a photo (picture) on a plasterboard partition or on a wall with paper wallpaper, double-sided tape is suitable. Please note that it can leave a mark, so it is better to hold it at an angle of 90 degrees to the wall when you take a picture.
Wine corks
It’s easy to glue a regular wine cork to the wall using Moment glue (BF-2). When the glue dries, drive a small nail into the cork, then hang a frame with a photo or picture.
Molding (ceiling plinth)
This is the best method for anyone who wants to make a picture gallery on 1 wall. You can glue molding to the ceiling (wall). Attach a scaffold to it and hang pictures on it.
You can learn more about each method in the photo instructions on how to hang a picture quickly and without nails.
Photos of paintings on the wall
When purchasing a painting you like with an intricate plot or a luxurious canvas, you need to carefully select the right height to place it in the interior. And if you miss some nuances, you can greatly harm the visual perception of the picture, as well as easily distort the image.
- Pictures and photographs of small size or with small figures should be hung too high. After all, the point of correct placement is to easily contemplate the plot of a work of painting or print.
- Awkward placement. Very often you can observe the following situation: without particularly caring about some of the rules, we hang canvases and photos in the wrong places at the wrong height. For example, a spectacular colorful picture hangs below eye level, and even in a dark part of the room, and an inconspicuous small picture is in the most visible place.
Below we will give good examples of the correct height for placing paintings of different sizes, shapes and contents.
Aligning to the top edge of a door or window
An interesting and quite effective way of placing paintings in the interior is to hang them at the same level with the upper edge of the doorway or its frame, as well as at the level of the upper horizontal line of the window frame. This technique allows you to balance the lower and upper parts of the room, especially if the furniture in it is bright or large.
- Should be used:
In this case, the height of the location is important, so we advise you to hang large pictures so that the bottom edge touches the midline of the wall. Choose canvases with a clear plot or, conversely, abstract forms that are clearly perceived only from a distance.
- Not recommended:
It is better not to place small paintings with small, unclear designs at such a significant height, as this will doubly complicate visual perception and add tension to the neck muscles.
Alignment to the top edge of cabinets
This method can simplify the task of arranging paintings in the interior, since the top horizontal line of the cabinet or rack can serve as a height reference here. Place the picture on the wall so that its top edge is flush with the top edge of the cabinet.
- Should be used:
If the cabinet or rack in the interior is large, or it occupies the entire wall from ceiling to floor, then it is better to use vertical, bright and massive paintings along the entire wall. This will help maintain the dimensions of the storage furniture.
When cabinets form horizontal lines, such as the kitchen furniture in the photo below, it is better to hang a picture of the same horizontal shape, making sure that its top edge coincides with the top of the hanging cabinets.
Horizon alignment
The most common and common height in placing paintings is the so-called horizon line, which is always at eye level. It is most favorable for the visual perception of paintings, photographs and other decorative objects, arranged in such a way as not to cause difficulties while contemplating the objects.
- Should be used:
The height at eye level is equally good for placing independent canvases and for forming compositions from photographs and paintings. It also creates a certain harmony and completeness in the interior.
When placing paintings along the horizon line on two or three opposite or adjacent walls at the same time, make sure that the horizontal line of the bottom edge of all paintings is located at the same height from the floor. Otherwise, an imbalance may occur in the interior.
Often, owners of private houses and apartments dream of having their own art gallery in the living room or dining room. But often they are afraid of hanging pictures unharmoniously, so they limit themselves to only one frame. You can decorate the walls of your apartment with posters, paintings, children's drawings, clippings from vintage magazines - in short, whatever you like.
But how to hang them in such a way as to create a single composition that will look harmonious and stylish? We will take a closer look at how to hang pictures on the wall correctly in our article.
How to hang pictures on the wall correctly
Many people choose one watercolor landscape or an avant-garde poster to decorate the interior of their apartment. But, as a rule, after this you will want to place another painting on the wall, a good photograph, etc. How do different shapes, sizes and stylistic directions combine correctly with each other? Are there any rules for placing pictures on the wall?
You can place images:
- chaotic, which corresponds to fashion trends;
- in a clearer order, reflecting the individual characteristics of the owner of the paintings.
The layout of the paintings on the wall is chosen by the owner himself. Some options for hanging pictures on the wall are presented in the figure below:
In order to create a single composition, it is necessary to select a group of drawings that correspond to each other according to certain parameters, for example:
- By color scheme or specific shade. In order to beautifully hang paintings on the wall, you should pay attention to the fact that the general color shade of these works coincides, or they complement each other.
- Within the meaning of. The motives of the images or their semantic load must correspond to each other.
Paintings are a unique decoration of the interior. They draw attention to themselves, set the style, enrich the color palette and complete the room.
In our article we will show you how to choose paintings for the living room and place them so that the room gains individuality and looks fresh and new.
The difference between modern paintings
Selecting paintings for the wall in the living room is not difficult if you have taste, feel colors and have an idea about interior decoration.
Otherwise, it is better to turn to designers who will appropriately and stylishly fill your living room with worthy examples. Let's look at common techniques for making wall decorations.
Oil painting. Framed in a heavy baguette, the oil painting perfectly complements the classic style. However, abstract works with a palette knife will decorate any newfangled decoration.
- Acrylic. The paintings in the living room interior, painted with acrylic paints, will suit the retro and pop art style.
- Watercolor. Airy watercolor images will bring even more harmony to Provence, shabby chic and country styles.
- Graphic arts. Glass-covered graphic works, bordered by a neat frame, serve as a highlight of the creative eclectic style.
- Poster. Simple and at the same time “tasty” decor is used in the interior of the Scandinavian style, hi-tech and minimalism.
Print on canvas. The works are printed reproductions of famous works of art and do not have any value.
This is a democratic version of the painting, which symbolizes the luxury of the interior only from afar.
Photo. The work of today's photographers often evokes sincere admiration. Many of them are rightfully worthy of decorating the walls of living rooms in the best homes. You can also use high-quality photographs from your personal archive.
Correct placement of paintings
Modern paintings for the living room are used as independent decor or as a component of a more complex composition.
Look at the photos of paintings in the living room interior, which we offer for inspiration and interesting ideas. You will notice the main good places for decorating the walls of the room.
Above the sofa. This is where the paintings come together most harmoniously. In this place they are called upon to fill the void and balance the interior.
On top of the chest of drawers. A painting or a combination of paintings looks great above a chest of drawers, especially if you complement the decor with suitable accessories.
By the fireplace. Indescribable warmth and comfort can be easily achieved in a private house with a fireplace if you decorate it with beautiful paintings.
Gallery on a free wall. Art wall is a very popular technique among European designers. It consists of filling an entire wall with paintings, posters, photographs, embroidered works and postcards, which are carefully arranged with each other, adhering to the intended theme and color palette.
On shelves. If you often change the images around you, place your works on shelves in the living room - this will allow you to avoid unnecessarily disturbing the integrity of the walls.
Paintings in the living room above the sofa
Decorating the space with a single painting, there are no difficulties to be expected. A large single image looks self-sufficient and stylish.
Works of all shapes and sizes are welcome, mostly painted in oil, but other techniques are also possible.
Three paintings of identical sizes, elongated upward shape, running in a row. An excellent solution for modular paintings or similar works created by one author.
Nine works in three rows. Suitable for photographs or black and white square-shaped graphics. The number of paintings can be varied based on size.
The output should be a square or rectangle with equal intervals between works.
A large picture and three small ones. The main piece can be a print on canvas, the rest can be posters or photographs.
The main vertical work involves placing small images on the left or right in a column, horizontal - at the top or bottom. It is important to adhere to straight imaginary lines around the perimeter of the composition.
Three paintings enclosed in a square. Elements of the set may stand out from the lines of a regular square, but it is important to maintain equal distances between them.
Miniature gallery. 5–8 paintings of various sizes and formats are placed in a rectangular shape. The gaps between small jobs are slightly reduced, and the gaps between large ones are increased.
Modular paintings in the living room
A fresh trend in recent years has been modular paintings in the living room interior. One large meaningful image, smoothly flowing onto each subsequent canvas, looks very impressive and greatly enlivens the interior.
The works do not require baguettes or frames and at the same time have integrity and completeness.
When choosing paintings and their locations, take into account the overall concept of the living room, color scheme and personal preferences. It’s great if the room is decorated not with soulless images, but with works that inspire, delight the eye and carry a certain meaning for you personally.
Using our photos of paintings in various interiors, you can find or combine your ideal option for the living room.
Photos of paintings in the living room interior
