Framing and Hanging Your Artwork Attractively Around the House

Once you have created paintings, sketches or embroideries, you will want to finish the look by placing them in wood picture frames. Wooden picture frames offer a beauty that complements the colors used in paintings and needlework, and wood picture frames fit in more readily to casual interior design styles. There are many choices you can make with regards to wood picture frames, and then after the artwork has been placed in picture frames, you can hang the artwork in a variety of interesting ways throughout your home.

You will need to decide if you want to use custom wood picture frames or ready made wooden picture frames. If you choose custom wood picture frames, you will have the widest selection of different types of wood picture frame moulding for use in creating the new picture frames. Wood picture frame moulding comes in different types of wood and colorations, so that you can select those that best complement the artwork that will go into your custom wood picture frames. You can also find ready made wooden picture frames, which come in a surprisingly wide array of sizes. These types of wood picture frames are readily available and offer the best value if you are framing a number of different pieces of artwork.

Once the artwork is seated in the wooden picture frames, you are ready to hang your artwork on the wall. It makes sense to gather together all of the artwork that you want to hang, and prior to making holes in your walls, arrange the artwork on the floor first. This allows you to experiment with different arrangements without damaging your drywall. Another great option is to take some paper and cut it out in the exact sizes of your framed artwork, and then use painters' tape to tape the paper pieces to the wall in the arrangement you are considering. This gives you another way to see how the artwork will look before you bring out the hammer and nails. Darker and larger frames have more visual "weight" than smaller and lighter-hued frames, so you may need to balance these aspects out as you arrange the artwork prior to hanging it up. Also consider the placement of nearby furniture, which will add to the overall look of the arranged artwork as well.

Artwork can be placed in a variety of locations. Above the couch that is pushed against a wall is a classic location, but also consider stairways, and landing at the tops of stairs. Artwork may be hung in vertical or horizontal lines, or may be grouped together on a shelf. Several smaller pieces can go underneath a big piece in order to balance the overall effect. Artwork can also be hung from bookcases or above a doorway for a cozy and inviting look.

Susan Slobac is a consultant in the framing industry. Susan writes about trends in wood picture frames & wooden picture frames.