Decorating Ideas

Decorating with framed artwork can be an easy and inexpensive way to decorate a room and bring life to an empty wall. With a few simple techniques you can make your home feel like a gallery.

Figuring out how you want to frame artwork is the best way to begin. Start by determining what mat you would like to use. When deciding on the color of a mat take into account what colors appear in the art, they should share a similar color. Mats come in different textures and sizes and should be wider than the frame. For smaller images place them in a large mat to give them a sense of importance. The frame, itself, should match the artwork and represent the style of the room. Which brings us to the next step.

Determine the theme you want for the room, then focus on completing one small area at a time. You want your artwork to be balanced within the wall space and generally hung at eye level for easy viewing. Large pictures or arrangements can make a space feel important, like the large mat around a small image. Furniture can also play a role in how you display framed artwork. For instance, when hanging an arrangement above a couch you want the artwork to be at least half the size but not wider than the furniture and it should sit about 8 to 10 inches above the top of the couch. If the work is going to be seen from a chair think about hanging it lower than usual.

Before nailing anything, cut out pieces of paper the same size as the frames in the arrangement and tape them onto the wall with painters tape. Move the pieces of paper around until you are happy with the way they are arranged. Then hang the artwork over the paper outlines and carefully remove the paper when everything is hung up. If you are hanging on top of a papered wall, cut a V into the paper where you want to place the nail and fold the paper up out of the way while you hammer the nail in. When the picture is removed just glue the paper back down to hide the hole.

To make your arrangements interesting there are several different techniques you can try. If you have a group of pictures that do not relate, you can place a larger frame around them to tie them together, giving them a collage look.

Hanging frames at odd angles or arranging them asymmetrically can also make your arrangements more appealing. Add mirrors, heirlooms and other objects that are not framed to your arrangements. To give more of a decorative feel to your framed work add ribbon, ornaments, or decorative cords to the tops of the frames so that they appear to be hanging from these items. Alternating wooden frames with gilded frames in an arrangement can make the arrangement eye catching.

These are just a few ideas of what you can do with framed artwork. The possibilities are endless when you think creatively and try new things. And to keep your arrangements fresh just change the pictures every now and then.

make your home a gallery

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