Q: I would like to display a group of old black-and-white photos I inherited from my great-aunt. Any suggestions on how to do this?"A: Display them in a group on one wall, coordinating the frames by having them in different styles but all in the same color. You can also mat the pictures and have the mats coordinate with the decor of your room. To create a grouping, lay out the pictures on the floor, working in an area about the same size as your wall. You can also cut Kraft paper into patterns the size of your pictures and use tape to "arrange" them on the wall. Once you get a layout you like, then you can start making holes in the wall to hang the picture.
Q: Do you have any interesting ways to hang pictures on the wall? I have three small prints that I would like to hang together.
A: Hang them with ribbon. Choose a coordinating ribbon at least an inch wide (the larger the piece, the wider the ribbon) and attach it to the backs of the picture. Tie the ends in a decorative bow and hang on a glass or brass knob attached to the wall.
Q: I have a beautiful landscape painting that seems to get lost in the corner of my living room. Any suggestions on how I can make it more of a focal point?
A: Two ideas come to mind: First, look into installing a picture light. These small, elegant lights usually fit just above your painting and really add a look of class to any picture in a room. They come in many sizes, so choosing one that fits your artwork will be very easy.
Alternatively, for different type of look, here's a great designer trick: Use simple, inexpensive moldings to "frame" your picture. First figure out how large you want the area to be. Then carefully measure and mark the lines for placement. Next, paint or stain the molding to the color you choose (you can even get beautiful corner pieces so you don't have to miter) and attach the molding with finishing nails. To make the painting really stand out, paint the inside of the molding a different color from the rest of the wall.
Money-Saver Tips:
You really don't have to spend a lot of money to find great artwork. Here are a few of my favorite places to look for inexpensive pieces:
- Flea markets are always a great place to look for art and for frames.
- You can also try the gift shop at an art museum -- they often sell postcards and posters of masterpieces (you can cover up the museum name with a mat).
- Look through old calendars. Many have great pictures, and you'll find great bargains near the end of the calendar year. Old books are also great resources of artwork; shop secondhand bookstores -- and sometimes local libraries have book sales.
- And if you really want to make one of these inexpensive pieces look sophisticated, splurge on elaborate mats and frames.
Tip: The most commonly asked question about hanging artwork is, How high? The answer is simple but tough: eye level. But whose eye level? Since everyone who sees your artwork probably won't be the same height, a good rule of thumb is just to be sure to hang it so that no one is craning his or her neck to see it, and you should be just fine!
