As You Like It: Interior Decorating

Hanging pictures above furniture

The space between the furniture and the bottom edge of the frame should usually be no more than 10″ often less in most cases.

Tip. There are exceptions to any rule. For instance, you can stretch this measurement to 12 to 15″ over a very large, low piece such as very low backed, ultra modern sofa, if it makes more sense visually. This could be because, for instance, the picture or group of pictures is four times wider than it is high. In that case, hanging it 10″ above a low backed sofa could just look silly because the centre of the picture ends up too far below the 60-64″ mark.

• Measure 6″-10″ up from the furniture and place a horizontal mark on the wall. Measure the height of the frame. Measure the same distance up from your bottom mark and then you have your top of the frame mark.
• OR, you can measure the height of the frame and add 6″ to 10″. Measure up from your piece of furniture that amount and make your top of the frame mark on the wall.
• Find the centre of the piece of furniture and make your vertical mark.
• Measure down from your top of frame mark the picture wire/hook distance and make your horizontal mark.
• Make sure the two marks cross.

Put the bottom of your hook on the horizontal mark with the nail of the hook on the vertical mark and tap it in. Hang your picture. Place your small level on the top of the frame and adjust the picture until it is level.