How to Hang Oversized Wall Art

Hanging large wall art (more specifically hanging multiple panels of artwork) shouldn’t be the cause of your waking nightmares. I, too, have had the disappointing visual of sporadic pencil marks and nail holes peeking from around the artwork I just hung up. We can conquer! And it’s really easy. So here we go…

1. Make a pattern/template from a paper painter’s drop cloth (make sure it’s paper – less than $5) found at Home Depot or other hardware store.

2. Spread the paper open on the floor and arrange the panels as you’d like them to hang on the wall. For the wall art arrangements we sell, each row will be hung at the same height. Use a ruler or tape measure to make certain that they are aligned correctly. I find it best to first arrange panels on a large table or floor as you’d like them to hang on the wall. Measure the same height for all panels both horizontally and vertically with the necessary spacing. We recommend a 2-3 inch space between all panels. This allows for easy viewing. (Note that the panels we sell are packaged in order with #1 on the top and in the same orientation for convenience. Sometimes it’s hard to tell which way is up with abstract art.)

3. Once you have the wall art laid out and measured, trace the outside of the frame. With the canvas prints, it’s better to make small marks around the 90 degree corners of the frame as to not mark the canvas. Make a mark with your pencil within the tracing where the nail will be placed once the frame is hung.

4. Remove the frames from the paper. Pin or tape the paper sheet to the wall, ensuring that both ends of the paper are hung at the same height. Hammer the nails into the marks for the nail holes directly through the paper. Tear down the paper, or save for later. Once it’s removed, you are left with glorious aligned nail holes! Hang up the wall art.

See? No sweat. Now it’s time for 30 Rock!

Next: Hanging contemporary wall art in large spaces. How high/low do I go?