How to Hang Your Print
Ten minutes, a pencil and a level. Here is how to get it right the first time.
What you need
- A pencil and a tape measure
- A level (the one on your phone works)
- Nails or screws rated for the weight of your frame
- Wall anchors for drywall if the frame is 24x36 or larger, or if you cannot find a stud
- A second pair of hands for anything 24x36 and up
Framed pieces from Frontier Prints arrive ready to hang. The front is acrylic or styrene, never glass, so the frame is lighter to lift and will not shatter if it slips.
How high to hang it
Hang art so its center sits about 57 inches from the floor. That is average eye level, and it is the height most galleries use.
Over furniture, the rule changes. Leave 6 to 10 inches between the top of the sofa, bed or console and the bottom of the frame, so the piece reads as part of the furniture instead of floating above it.
What size fits the wall
Aim for art about two thirds the width of the furniture below it.
| Where it hangs | Size that works |
|---|---|
| Over a standard sofa | 24x36, or two 18x24 side by side |
| Over a queen or king bed | 24x36, or a pair of 18x24 |
| Entryway or hallway | 12x18 or 16x20 |
| Over a desk or dresser | 16x20 or 18x24 |
| A large empty wall | 36x48 |
| Bookshelf or leaning on a mantel | 8x10 or 11x14 |
Not sure? Cut paper or painter's tape to the size you are considering and put it on the wall for a day.
Step by step
- Hold the frame where you want it, or use a paper template, and lightly mark the top center with a pencil.
- Flip the frame over and measure from the top edge to the point where it will rest on the nail or screw.
- Measure that same distance down from your top mark. That is where the nail or screw goes.
- Find a stud if you can. If not, use an anchor rated for the weight.
- Hang it, then level it. Small adhesive bumpers on the bottom corners keep it from shifting.
Gallery walls
- Keep 2 to 3 inches between frames, and use the same spacing throughout.
- Lay the arrangement out on the floor first, or tape paper templates to the wall.
- Hang the largest piece first, near the center, and build out from it.
- Matching frame colors make a mix of prints feel planned. Our wall sets are chosen to hang together.
Renting or can't use nails
- For light frames, usually 8x10 and 11x14, removable adhesive strips work on smooth, painted walls. Check the weight rating on the package and follow its directions.
- Strips do not hold well on textured walls, brick or fresh paint. Use a small nail instead; the hole is easy to patch when you move out.
- Larger frames need a screw, into a stud or a wall anchor.
- Leaning is always an option: a mantel, a deep shelf or a picture ledge.
Unframed prints
- 8x10 and 11x14 prints ship flat in a rigid mailer or rolled in a tube; larger prints ship rolled in a tube. If yours was rolled, lay it flat under a few books for a day before framing.
- Handle it by the edges with clean, dry hands.
- For the longest life, frame it. Our sizes match standard frames, or you can order the same print framed.
Keep it looking good
- Avoid direct sun on the art for long stretches. Strong light fades any print over time.
- Keep it away from steam and high humidity, like right above a shower or stove.
- Dust the frame with a soft, dry cloth.
- Clean the acrylic or styrene front with a soft microfiber cloth. Skip paper towels and ammonia glass cleaners, which can scratch or cloud it.
Something arrived damaged?
Reply to your delivery email, or write to john@frontierprints.com within 7 days of delivery with a photo, and we will replace it free.