Hanging artwork isn’t always easy, but with a few simple tips, you can do it and feel good about the results. Although not necessary, it never hurts to have an extra set of hands and eyes.

Items you’ll need:

• Stepladder or folding stool
• Hammer
• Level or laser level
• Stud finder
• Picture hanging kit
• Pencil

A good rule of thumb is to hang artwork at eye level, which is approximately 5’ 6” – 5’ 8” from the floor. If you have vaulted ceilings and large pieces of art, you may to increase the distance from the floor.

When you’re hanging your art above furniture, keep in mind that the piece should be at least half as wide, but not wider than the furniture it’s placed above.

Groupings and clusters of artwork/photos are quite popular, but they’re generally the most difficult to hang. To find the best placement, you can make paper cutouts the same size as the art to be hung and tape each piece to the wall. Once you find the perfect arrangement, simply mark the wall with your pencil and hang. Check each piece as you go and keep in mind that you’ll want a central theme among the grouping, and that they should be hung approximately 5-6” apart.

For large focal points in a room, such as a buffet or fireplace, go for larger works of art that accent the room without overpowering the focal point.

Ready. Set. Hang. One last tip: to keep pictures from shifting, use wall putty on the backside. Voila!