Designers and DIY'ers aren't just pros at getting artwork up on the walls, they're full of creative hanging and framing art ideas for displaying said pieces to truly make a statement-even in unlikely spots like closet doors and mirror walls. "If someone walks into my home and says, 'Wow, I never thought about doing that before,' then I know I've created a space to inspire," says author and New York City design blogger Chelsey Brown. "I love breaking the boundaries of interior rules and thinking of unique and easy ways people can add character and dimension to their homes." Here are five unexpected ways to hang a picture that amp up at-home displays with just a few basic materials.
Bring a sophisticated, museum-like look to your home by layering various ornate frames atop one another as if they are floating, as popularized by Brown. The key to achieving this look? Vary nail lengths so that some pictures hang closer to the wall and others are extended out further. "My main tip is to keep the style of the frames cohesive," Brown says, noting that this hack can be completed using modern looking frames too.
Designer Shannon Claire Smith transformed a dated looking mirror wall with a bit of millwork and, of course, a piece of art. "The wall was floor to ceiling mirror-it felt almost like you were in a workout studio or a club that I'm sure someone thought was very groovy back in the day," Smith says of her former Washington, DC, apartment. In an effort to make the space appear more sophisticated, Smith added paneling directly on top of the mirror using construction adhesive. The adhesive also came in handy when it was time to install the artwork. "I couldn't use a nail or anything that would break the mirror," Smith says.
"I've always loved hanging art in unexpected places: In front of bookshelves, on doors, et cetera," Washington, DC, artist Josh Young says. Upon sourcing a large, vintage folding screen, which sits beside his living room sofa, Young sought to break up the piece's linear quality. "I hung a simple, understated piece of art in front of it to help layer and add an interest point to the overall vignette," Young explains. All he needed to do so was picture wire and hooks. "It feels unexpected, which catches your eye, but it's intentional at the same time, which I love," Young says.
By no means do gallery walls have to be confined to traditional spaces such as the living room or hallway. New York City home-design influencer Shelby Roebock uses water-resistant mounting strips to transform her bathroom with art. "Due to the fully-tiled wall, I had to get creative with how to decorate since I couldn't use paint," Roebock explains. After painting framed mats to incorporate a bit of extra color into the space, she attached mounting strips to the back of each art piece and displayed them in clusters to fill the blank wall space.
Brooklyn home-design influencer Mallory Fletchall was inspired by the gallery rail molding used to display artwork in some of her favorite museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and chose to replicate elements of this method at home. "Instead of installing the molding, we opted for a brass picture rail," Fletchall explains. To avoid making excessive nail holes, Fletchall suggests creating outlines of each art piece using paper before swapping in frames. "It's also extremely helpful when calculating the proper chain length and rail placement measurements," she adds.