Tips for a stunning display
Arranging picture frames is an enjoyable way to make a room your own. With some thought, a group of photos and artwork becomes a small gallery.
Begin by gathering your favourite photos, paintings and prints and deciding on a theme or a shape for the display. Consider the space you have and the style of the room. A mix of frame sizes helps, provided the whole is balanced.
This guide takes you through each stage of a picture frame arrangement: planning, arranging, hanging and maintenance.
Planning your design
Choose the wall
- Visibility. Is it a wall that you and your guests see often?
- Sunlight. Avoid walls that catch direct sun, which causes fading and glare.
- Space. Is there room for the arrangement to breathe, without swamping the wall?
Sketch your ideas before you start.
Select frame styles and sizes
- Style. Frames should go with the room. Sleek modern frames may look out of place in a traditional setting.
- Size. Mix sizes for interest. Larger frames act as focal points, and smaller ones fill in around them.
- Shape. Rectangles and squares, with perhaps the occasional circle or oval, make a lively combination.
Balance colours and textures
- Harmony. Choose colours, materials and textures that work together.
- Contrast. Do not be afraid to mix styles, such as plain black frames with ornate gold ones, if the overall effect holds together.
- Accents. Use a coloured mount or frame to pick up a colour from the artwork or the room.
Arranging your frames
Find the focal point
Decide what will draw the eye first. It might be a large picture, a boldly coloured frame or a tight group of small frames. Build the rest of the arrangement around it.
Spacing and alignment
- Use a ruler or tape measure to keep the gaps between frames equal.
- Keep the horizontal and vertical lines of the arrangement true.
- For a coherent look, use frames that share a colour, style or material.
- Lay the arrangement out on the floor first, to see it at full size.
Make templates
Paper templates let you try positions on the wall without making any holes.
- Draw round each frame on plain paper or newspaper.
- Cut out the shapes and label them. Mark on each where the hook will go.
- Fix them to the wall with low-tack masking tape, and move them about until you are happy.
- Knock the nail or hook through the mark on each template.
- Tear the paper away and hang the frames.
Hanging the frames
What you will need
- Tape measure, to set heights and gaps.
- Pencil, to mark the wall.
- Hammer and picture hooks or nails. For heavier frames, use screws and wall plugs suited to the wall.
- Spirit level, to get the frames straight.
Step by step
- Measure. A common guide is to hang pictures at eye level, with the centre about 150cm from the floor. For a group, treat the whole arrangement as one picture and centre that.
- Mark the wall where each fixing will go, allowing for the distance between the top of the frame and its cord or hanger.
- Check the hangings. Make sure the hangers and cord on the back of each frame are secure and suited to its weight.
- Hang and level. Hang each frame and check it with the spirit level.
Looking after and updating the display
Cleaning
Dust frames regularly with a soft, dry, clean cloth. For glass, put a little glass cleaner on the cloth, never straight on to the glass, because liquid can run down behind the frame and reach the picture. Acrylic glazing should be wiped with a soft, slightly damp cloth only, as it scratches easily and some cleaners cloud it.
Changing pictures
One of the pleasures of a frame arrangement is that it can be refreshed.
- Take the frame off the wall.
- Open the back and replace the picture.
- Check that the new picture is centred and held in place before closing the frame.
- Hang it up again and check that it is level.
Rearranging
- By colour. Group frames or pictures with similar colours or themes.
- By size and shape. Mix them for a livelier arrangement.
- For balance. Keep the larger, heavier frames low and the smaller, lighter ones higher up.
The point of rearranging is to keep things fresh, so take a few risks and enjoy it.
EasyFrame makes frames to measure in a wide range of styles, and with long experience we can advise on the right frames for your display. Call us on 01234 856 501 or email sales@easyframe.co.uk. We are always happy to talk, whether or not you want to buy.