Hanging Artwork in Bookshelves

Artfully arranging bookshelves requires some skill.  The trick is to show off your accessories in an effortless way.  It's a balancing act - too much and they look over styled, too little and they feel disjointed and cluttered.

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   The most important thing to remember is bookshelves are an opportunity to create something special and unique in your space.  They offer a source of variety - you can constantly rearrange them to give you a different look depending on the style you are going for at the moment.

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 One thing I love to include in bookshelves is artwork. If your bookshelves have adjustable shelving, this is super easy to do.

Here are the steps to properly hang artwork in your bookshelves. 

Decide where you want to create the artwork vignette, making sure to maintain symmetry with the other shelves in the unit.  You may need to remove a shelf or two to create an opening large enough to accommodate the artwork. 

This is a picture of the bookshelves in our family room (at least a section of them).  You can see the artwork in the larger opening I have created by removing one shelf.

Select the artwork - preferably from somewhere else in your home (there is no need to buy something new).  I like to select pieces that will bring a bit of color into the space.

This is a photograph from a client's home and a great example of incorporating a darker framed piece of artwork into lighter toned bookshelves.

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Remember, artwork can include a mirror, plates, or really anything you we are clever enough to hang vertically on the wall.

Create the complete vignette for the shelf before hammering your first nail!  You need to make sure you are going to be happy with the entire shelf and how it reads, before you hang the artwork.  Take into consideration the space below the piece and how it's going to look overall.

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In my home, I chose to center the artwork.  But because the opening is large, I needed to include additional accessories to "fill in" around the smaller scale piece.

Properly Hang the Artwork.
Most built-in bookshelves have a floating back (meaning there is a space between the back of the unit and the wall).  So, if you attempt to nail straight into the back of the unit, the nail will go straight through and not support the weight of the artwork.  You'll then be left with an ugly hole in the back of the shelving unit.

Here's my solution.  Hang all artwork on monofilament from the shelf directly above the artwork.

Voila. You have the look.

Here's a close up of what I'm talking about.  The stack of books to the left go in front of the nail and hide the hardware. 

Here are my favorites for getting the job done.  I never leave home without these when I'm styling a client's home! 

Monofilament

Clear 60 lb. test Monofilament (or as we like to call it here in the South "Deep Sea Fishing Line")

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Small Picture Nails
I like these nails because they have a prominent head that will not allow the monofilament to slip off. 

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Self Adhesive Hooks

If the homeowner does not want a nail hole in the shelf, I use a self adhesive backed hook like this.  To use these, you place the hook flat on the above shelf with the top facing out (hope that makes sense!)

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Girly Hammer
I like this particular hammer because A. it's pink and B. it's only 12 oz. so you can easily handle it.

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Bumpons
It's very important to use these on the back of the artwork to prevent the picture from sliding and becoming crooked on the wall.  They are also super helpful for photo groupings to keep the series straight on the wall.

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I hope this gives you a new trick to use in your home!  Have a wonderful short week. M.

Photo Grouping

I have posted in the past about our playroom and freshening up the space.  As of now, nothing has changed in the way of fabrics.  But I did add a few extra photographs to a large wall in the space and thought you might like to see the results.


I hung this grouping using the same tools and technique I used with the plates in my dining room.  I started by first placing the frames on the floor and moving them around until I came up with a layout I liked.


Once I got my layout, I traced the frames onto newspaper and taped these pieces to the wall to make sure I had the perfect spacing.

To hang the grouping, I used my favorite picture hanging tool to get the nails in just the right spot.

I worked my way up from the bottom (this is the easiest way to do it with my hanging tool).   

The trick to a high end look is selecting really clear (in focus) interesting images, putting them in similar frames and using all black and white or all color images.  


I have collected these particular photos for years.  In fact, sometimes, I only find one or two a year (out of the hundreds that we take) that I think are frame worthy.  I also love that they are candids and not formal posed photos.




 Here's more information on the frames.  They are by Canopy and are around $9.50 a frame for the 8x10 (with the matt).  They are from Walmart (yes, I said Walmart).  Here is the link for these frames.   The one I selected has a thicker frame which I actually like better.  This is the only brand of frames that I like at Walmart because it has the same high end look as more expensive brands.

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Here is a thinner version that is a bit cheaper at $8.44 each (set of two $16.88).

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Look how similar they are to this Pottery Barn frame which is on sale right now for $23.00 each.  This adds up quickly when you want to buy enough for a large grouping.

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When I purchased mine, I went ahead and got 14 of them.  The others are stored until I get the perfect picture.  If you don't go ahead and purchase the total you need, they will stop making the frame and then you will have a mismatched grouping.  Now, I love a grouping with lots of different frames; but it does not work when all the frames are the same except for two or three.

When I finished hanging the photographs, I cleaned up the room (took out two huge garbage bags full of junk!) and took these pictures.  It's amazing how much better a space feels when you just clean up.  BTW, that closet holds my sewing machine and fabrics.  Maybe at some point I'll show it to you!

Now, I think the room is at least presentable.

As an aside, I think my daughter has the interior design gene too.  This was her idea of adding some artwork to the space.

At least she didn't draw on the walls!


I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.  We are going to have a rough patch of weather today, but the rest of the weekend is suppose to be beautiful!  Have a good one! M.

Tools of the Trade - Hanging a Grouping

I wanted to share with you some tips on how to hang a series of artwork.  It is relatively easy to do if you have the right tools and a person who can hold the artwork so you can step back to make sure the spacing works.

But, what if you are hanging it by yourself?

Add to this the fact that many groupings include artwork with different hanging mechanisms on the back, different wire lengths, or side latches and no wire - all of which effect the height of a piece.  It can be a major chore.

This is a grouping in my dining room.

These plates were my Mom's first china pattern when she and my Dad were married 46 years ago.  Their house was struck by lighting and burned in 1999.  These plates were no longer usable (up close they are cracked throughout and stained in spots), so I made art out of them. (sorry for the dark photos, I realize I'm always apologizing for my photo skills, so maybe I need to treat myself to a class or two.)  

I hung this series by myself (yes, just me) on a Sunday afternoon a few years ago.  Here is the easiest way to hang art when you don't have a friend to help.

1. Figure out the proper layout of the series.  Always place the entire grouping on the floor to create the ideal placement. 

2. Grab some leftover over newspaper and trace each plate or picture onto the paper and cut them out.

3. Gently tape these cutouts to the wall and step back to make sure you are happy with the spacing and the height of the entire group.

4.  Once you are completely satisfied with the placement on the wall, you can begin hanging the plates.  

5. Start with the bottom piece first and place it on top of the paper cutout.  At this stage, I used this tool to get the exact placement of the nail.  I got it for Christmas one year, and now I simply cannot live without it!

 6.  You simply hang the picture (or plate in my case) on the hook at the bottom of the tool and hold it up to the wall on top of your paper cutout.  

7.  When it is completely lined up with the cutout, gently push on the picture/plate and the tool makes a small impression on the wall indicating where to place the nail.  It truly is a snap!  

8.  Once the nail is in place, you can remove the paper cutout.

 I like to remove all previously hung pieces while I'm hammering.  I have a tendency to bang so hard that I've knocked pieces off the wall!  So, I'm careful to make sure to place the exact plate back in it's original place (since the hangers on the back can vary slightly from piece to piece thus changing the spacing of the series).

One More Tip: I didn't know about this product when I hung my plates, but discovered it later and have used it for many projects since.  I love that it allows the plate to sit closer to the wall for a cleaner look.

Hopefully, this has inspired you to come up with a grouping of your own.

I hope your Monday runs super smooth! M.