How to Hang Your Art
Every Canvalora piece arrives with its hanging fixings already fitted. With the right wall fixing and ten unhurried minutes, your artwork will hang straight, secure and at exactly the right height. This guide shows you how.
What you will need
- A pencil and a tape measure
- A spirit level, or the level on your phone
- A drill with the right bit for your wall
- A screw and wall plug, or a picture hook, rated well above the weight of your piece
- Low tack masking tape
- A second pair of hands for anything larger than 60 × 90 cm
Know your wall
The fixing matters more than the hook. Tap the wall before you begin: a hollow sound usually means plasterboard, while a dull, solid sound means brick or block.
Plasterboard
Use a cavity fixing made for plasterboard, or find a timber stud with a stud detector and screw directly into it. A plain screw in plasterboard alone will work loose over time.
Brick, block and concrete
Drill with a masonry bit, push in a wall plug sized to your screw, then drive the screw in until about 5 mm of it still stands proud of the wall.
Older lime plaster
Traditional brass picture hooks with fine steel pins grip well and leave only the smallest mark. Use two hooks side by side for larger pieces.
Whatever your wall, check the weight rating printed on the fixing packet and choose one comfortably above the weight of your artwork. If you are unsure what lies behind the surface, a quick check with a cable and pipe detector is time well spent.
The right height
Galleries hang work so that its centre sits at average eye level, between 145 and 152 cm from the floor. It is the single most useful rule in hanging art, and it works in almost every room.
Above a sofa, sideboard or bed
Furniture shifts the rule a little. Leave 15 to 25 cm between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the frame, so the two read as one composition. Aim for artwork between half and two thirds of the width of the furniture beneath it. Where a single piece would feel too narrow, a pair or a trio hung as one group does the same job beautifully.
Choosing a size for the space
- Above a two seat sofa or a sideboard: 60 × 90 cm or 75 × 100 cm
- Above a three seat sofa or a king size bed: a 90 × 120 cm frameless canvas, or a pair of 60 × 80 cm pieces
- Above a desk or console table: 45 × 60 cm or 50 × 75 cm
- Hallways, landings and beside a doorway: 40 × 50 cm to 50 × 60 cm
Our size guide lists every size in centimetres and inches.
Hanging your Canvalora piece
Framed Canvas
A sawtooth hanger is fixed to the back of the frame at the top centre, and it needs just one screw or hook. Because the teeth run sideways, you can nudge the frame a few millimetres left or right on the screw until it sits perfectly level.
Frameless Canvas
The hanging fixing is fitted to the back of the canvas, with soft rubber bumpers on the lower corners that protect your wall and help the piece sit flat. The image wraps around the deep edges, so the canvas looks finished from every angle without a frame.
Step by step
- Mark the centre. Using the height guide above, decide where the centre of your artwork should sit and make a light pencil mark.
- Measure the drop. Turn the piece over, pull the hanger up firmly and measure from it to the top edge of the frame or canvas.
- Find the fixing point. From your centre mark, measure up by half the height of the artwork to find its top edge, then measure back down by the drop. That second mark is where your screw goes.
- Make the fixing. Drill, plug and screw, leaving about 5 mm of the screw standing proud so the hanger has something to catch.
- Hang and level. Lift the piece onto the screw, rest a spirit level along the top edge and adjust until it is true.
Before you drill, cut a sheet of paper to the size of your artwork and tape it to the wall. Live with it for a day and you will know the spot is right.
Pairs, trios and gallery walls
Treat a group as a single artwork. Centre the whole arrangement at eye level, keep the same space between every frame, usually 5 to 8 cm, and line up either the centres or the top edges. Lay the pieces on the floor first, then trace each one onto paper and tape the templates to the wall until the spacing feels effortless.
Works by the same artist make natural companions. Cassian Rooke's wildlife reads beautifully as a trio, and Nova Vale's visionary eyes hold their own as a striking pair.
Find the piece for your wall
A few final tips
- Keep artwork out of direct sunlight and away from radiators, fireplaces and steamy bathrooms.
- For the largest sizes, two people make lifting and levelling far easier.
- Renting? Ask your landlord before drilling, or use a picture rail if your home has one. Adhesive strips are not suitable for canvas.
To keep your artwork looking its best for years, read our guide to caring for your art. Any questions about hanging your piece, send us a message through our contact form and we will gladly help.