Simple tips and tricks for getting artwork onto your walls

Today, I share a few simple ideas (tips and tricks, if you will) for getting art up on your walls. Wall art seems to overwhelm a lot of people when it comes to their homes. What kind of art should I buy? How high should it hang? All these decisions can cause you to leave the walls blank or hanging something you aren’t thrilled with but do not know why. I spent over 10 years working for a Wall Decor company, so I will share a few things learned along the way and what I personally love in my own home.

#1- Use an Art Ledge

An Art Ledge offers a great deal of flexibility in what you display. You can change the art up whenever the whim strikes without putting holes in your walls! And bonus…it’s a quick and easy DIY. We made ours based on these instructions from Chris Loves Julia. It took a few hours and was less than $20.00. This view of our Art Ledge also shows an example of my next tip.

#2- Art doesn’t have to be a framed print.

On my Art Ledge I use a vintage printers tray with air plants mixed with prints and in my grandson’s nursery above we mixed in a stuffed animal and a felt hanging to add some texture to the walls.

#3-Buy matching frames

This is a great idea for beginners. The beauty of this is that It will work for both photos and art. The appeal is that the symmetry of the frames will pull whatever art or photos you add to the frames together.

You can see in this example below that the matching frames tie together the mix of art prints.

#3-Off the Wall

Artwork doesn’t have to be hung on walls all the time. Try leaning prints on shelves, cabinets or even the floor!

You don’t have to hang everything. Lean a print.

Leaning prints in multiples of various sizes gives a nice depth to a space.

Leaning this print on the floor works because of its large 28 x 40 size.

#4- Embrace the shelfie!

Hang some art on the inside of your bookshelves.

Hanging art in a bookcase shelf and placing decor items in front of the art adds depth to the shelf.

#5- Lay it out first

There are many ways to do this. You could trace your frames on paper and hang the paper on the wall to find the placement you like. I like to eyeball my art before starting to hang it by laying it on the floor in front of the wall I want it to go on. A good rule of thumb is to hang art at eye level.

#6- Something unexpected.

I love placing art where you wouldn’t normally expect it. Here I hung a piece of art on the inside of a staircase instead of going up the stairs.

Floral print going down the steps instead of up.

#7- Have Fun!

Art is the easiest way to personalize your home, so have fun with it! Buy what you love, and you will never go wrong. Below is the entry to our Airbnb. I love that the art here sets the tone for the rest of the home.