Hello, Go Gingham readers –  I think Sara’s awesome blog has grown to a point that her fans deserve a name.  A name like the… “GoGo’s,” or “Gingles,” or “Ginglers,” or GoGings,” or “Gingheimers. Something frugal, fancy, and fun! Maybe we could surprise her with some ideas…send in your suggestions in a comment below!

Okay – That was my fun introduction to a really basic, but necessary post. Everyone should know how to hang pictures in a horizontal row and I have made it really simple to learn. Which means very little funny is included. Sorry. That’s sometimes the way it has to be.

Here is everything you need to know and think about when hanging a horizontal row of pictures:

Hanging Pictures

I originally thought I would display these pictures with the center picture hung slightly above the outside two pictures because my headboard is curved, but when I laid it out, I decided that hanging them all on the same horizontal line looked better. Here is how I did it!

For this project, you will need: hammer, nails, pencil, measuring tape, level, and your pictures.

Instead of a pencil, you might want to think about using chalk. I like to use tailor’s chalk because it has a pointy edge. Chalk is really great to use when you are marking on a wall because it wipes away without a trace.

STEP #1

Decide how you are going to display your pictures. I decided I liked this layout because the image in the left frame is heaviest on the left side of the picture. I tend to like seeing the picture with the heaviest visual weight on the left side – but this is just my preference – you may like something else!

STEP #2

Decide how much space you want between your pictures. I laid my display out so that it took up most of the space between my bedposts, but made sure that my pictures were not more than a few inches apart. The pictures should relate to each other first and the bed posts secondarily.

To determine where the nails will be for the side pictures, you will be measuring from the center out for each side picture. Add up half of the width of the center picture, plus the distance you want between pictures, and half of the width of the side picture. This number will be the distance from the center nail to the nail for the side picture.

STEP# 3

Hold up the center picture and decide how high you want to hang it. Generally, pictures should be hung at “eye level” – although adjustments should be made depending on whose “eye” you are using. (I am 5’3” so I have to hang pictures a little above my eye level.) Pictures need to be close enough to the object below them to “connect” visually, so don’t make the mistake of hanging pictures in the middle of the space between the object below and the ceiling.

When you have found the height you are happy with, mark the spot with your pencil – or tailors chalk – at the top of the picture.

STEP #4

Measure from the top of the picture to the place where the nail will hold the picture.

Measure that distance down from the place you marked on the wall. Put your nail here and hang your picture.

STEP #5

Hold a level up under the center picture, measure and mark the distance you calculated in STEP #2 (the distance between the center of the middle picture and the middle of the side picture).

On the back of your picture, measure the distance from the bottom of the frame to the place where a nail will hold the picture.

All of my pictures have different hanging mechanisms, so I had different measurements for each side picture.

Use a level to mark the vertical height of your nail directly perpendicular to the horizontal distance you marked in STEP #5. This is where you will put your nail.

STEP #6

Hang your pictures and admire your work!

Do you have a better way to hang pictures horizontally? I would love to hear your methods!

And, don’t forget to leave suggestions for the Go Gingham fan club!

Go Gingham related links:

Estate sale finds: vintage wrapping paper
All sorts of DIY projects can be found here
Second-hand frames that became part of an art gallery – in my home!
A winter cape: sewn from2 second-hand prom dresses
Pretty wine charms: made from estate sale treasures
How to take apart a skirt – similar to taking apart the lining for this handbag
Re-purposed bags: cover an unattractive logo with a pocket
Free stuff: tips for accumulating found treasures
Light lanterns for garden – from the “Goodwill Bins”