For many people, hanging picture frames is a frustrating and daunting task. Add in specialty frames and materials, and the task might get so overwhelming that you just have beautiful prints collecting dust in a closet rather than on your walls. But it’s simpler than you think! Just follow these steps and a few guidelines on how to hang acrylic frames.
How to Hang Acrylic Frames in 4 Steps
While hanging acrylic frames with standoffs or museum mounts is not as simple as hammering a single nail in place, it’s not too difficult either. In fact, we’ve made it even easier with videos! We still recommend using the magical 66? method to find the right place on the wall to hang the acrylic frames. It’s a good place to start, at least.
Wall Mount Standoffs
- Step 1: Positioning. Hold up and align your picture against the wall you want it mounted on in the exact position you’d like.
- Step 2: Mark the wall for the museum mount brace. Trace the pre-drilled holes in your picture onto your wall to mark where the standoff mounts should go.
- Step 3: Attach the museum mount brace to the wall. While not always necessary, use an anchor for added support and drill the standoff mount into the wall.
- Step 4: Hang your print. Attached to the picture is the counterpart to the wall brace so hanging your picture is as simple as lifting it into place.
Museum Mount
- Step 1: Positioning. Hold up and align your picture against the wall you want it mounted on in the exact position you’d like.
- Step 2: Mark the wall for standoffs. Trace the pre-drilled holes in your picture onto your wall to mark where the standoff mounts should go.
- Step 3: Drill standoff mounts into the wall. While not always necessary, use an anchor for added support and drill the standoff mount into the wall.
- Step 4: Attach picture to standoff mounts. Align the holes of the picture over the standoff mounts on the wall and twist in the standoff covers into the base to secure the picture – it’s generally best to start at the top.
Hopefully, this inspires you to get those art prints on the wall, and order even more from ArtisanHD! We have several other how-to videos on our ArtisanHD YouTube channel, as well – subscribe to stay on top of all things professional printing (including sales!).
UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2019
A Keen Eye on Picture Height
There are several methods to achieve your desired look for your decor. This one posted on Lowes.com takes into consideration the average eye level of most viewers and then uses that magical number 66″ from the floor to find the sweet spot on where to hang your nail. Using this method puts your art at the “correct” viewing height, and level with other frames in the room, even if they are different sizes.
- First, make a sketch and get ready for some basic math (it’s worth it, I promise!). On a piece of paper draw a diagram (this helps). Then make the following calculations.
- Take frame height – H – and divide by three. This is E.
- Measuring down from the top of the frame, E is going to be roughly eye level at 66″. We’ll call this L. Because we divided the frame by three, this point should also be two-thirds up the frame from the bottom.
- D is the difference between the 66” mark and where the hanger will go.
- X is where the picture hanger is placed.
- V corresponds to X, as that is where the wire hangs on the hanger.
To recap:
H divided by 3 = E (thirds)
E minus V = D ( Difference between wire and top third point)
66″ + D = X ( Eye level plus difference is where the hanger goes)
Now, it may seem complicated. You don’t have to be a math wiz – once you practice this method once or twice, it will make sense and be an easy way to pull all your artwork pieces together.
Envision Your Gallery Wall
Hanging more than one acrylic print? Use craft paper to plot it out. Start by tracing the frames on the paper, then cut them out so that you have actual-size stand-ins for the frames. Using painter’s tape (that won’t peel the paint off of the walls), tape the paper cut-outs on the wall where you envision them.
Tip: Start with the center frame and use the magical 66″ method mentioned above. With groupings, like gallery walls, clusters and splits, consider putting the largest frame in the center or at the center bottom.
Adjust as necessary – before taking out the nail and hammer – until you are happy with the layout.
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