How to Hang Wall Art: The Complete No-Damage, No-Mistakes Guide
Published: March 31, 2026 | Category: How-To Guides Target keywords: How to hang wall art, framed wall art UK, gallery wall prints, framed prints UK, large wall art UK, picture hanging tips UK
Hanging wall art sounds simple until you're standing on a chair with a nail in one hand, a hammer in the other, and a print that absolutely refuses to hang straight. Most people have at least one wall that bears the evidence of failed attempts — too many holes, prints hung too high, frames that never quite sat level.
This guide covers everything: the tools you need, how to find the right position, how to hang without damaging your walls, and how to get things level the first time.
What you need before you start
Essential tools:
- Hammer and picture hooks (appropriate for your wall type)
- Spirit level (or the free spirit level app on your phone)
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Brown paper or newspaper for planning
Optional but useful:
- Stud finder (for heavy prints on plasterboard walls)
- Painter's tape (for marking positions without marking the wall)
- Two-sided adhesive strips (for lightweight prints on rental walls)
Step 1: Find the right position
Before anything goes on the wall, establish the right position. The rule is simple: the centre of the artwork should sit at 145–150cm from the floor. This puts the visual centre of the piece at roughly eye level for a standing adult.
This rule applies regardless of:
- How high your ceilings are
- How tall the furniture below is
- What anyone else tells you
The one exception: art hung above furniture. In that case, leave 15–20cm between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the frame. This visually connects the art to the piece below it without cramming them together.
Step 2: Plan with paper first
Before making a single hole, cut brown paper or newspaper to the exact size of your framed print (frame included) and tape it to the wall with painter's tape. Step back. Look at it from across the room. Live with it for a day.
This step feels unnecessary until you skip it and end up with a print in the wrong place. The paper template costs nothing and saves significant frustration.
For a gallery wall, cut templates for every print. Arrange them on the floor first, then tape them all to the wall. Take a photo of the arrangement and look at it — you'll see things in the photo you miss in person.
Step 3: Know your wall type
Different walls need different fixings.
Solid plaster or masonry walls (older UK homes): Standard picture hooks with nails work well. For heavier prints (large framed A0 or A1), use wall plugs and screws for a more secure fixing.
Plasterboard/stud walls (most modern UK homes): Lighter prints can use adhesive hooks or plasterboard-specific picture hooks. For heavier prints, you need to find a stud (use a stud finder or knock along the wall — a solid sound indicates a stud) and screw directly into it.
Tiled walls (bathrooms, kitchens): Use adhesive hooks for lighter prints. For anything heavier, you'll need a tile drill bit and wall plugs — or keep your prints light.
Not sure what your wall is? Knock on it. A hollow sound = plasterboard. A solid sound = masonry.
Step 4: Mark and hang
Once you're happy with the position from the paper template:
- Mark the top centre of the paper template lightly with a pencil
- Measure the distance from the top of your frame to the hanging point on the back (hook, wire, or D-rings)
- Subtract that measurement from your pencil mark — that's where your nail or hook goes
- Hammer in the hook at that point
- Hang the print
- Check with a spirit level and adjust
For wire-hung prints: The wire will bow slightly when weight is applied — account for this when measuring. Hang the print first, then measure the final position of the wire at its peak.
How to hang without damaging walls (for renters)
Renting doesn't mean living with bare walls. There are several options for hanging art without putting holes in the wall:
Command strips (3M): The most reliable damage-free option for lightweight to medium prints. They hold surprisingly well and remove cleanly. Always check the weight limit — the heavy-duty version holds up to 7.2kg.
Adhesive picture hooks: Similar to Command strips but designed specifically for picture hanging. Follow the instructions exactly — surface preparation is crucial.
Leaning: Large prints look equally good leaned against the wall rather than hung. A large A0 print leaned on a sideboard or mantlepiece has an intentionally casual, curated feel that's very much in line with current interior trends.
Picture rail hooks: Many older UK homes have picture rails near the ceiling. These are designed exactly for this purpose — hooks drop over the rail and wires hang from them, no nails needed, completely damage-free.
Important: Always check your tenancy agreement before hanging anything. Some landlords are comfortable with small nail holes; others aren't.
How to hang a gallery wall
Gallery walls are the thing people are most intimidated by — but with the right process, they're very achievable.
Step 1: Lay everything out on the floor. Arrange all your prints on the floor in front of the wall. Move things around until the composition feels balanced. Take a photo.
Step 2: Cut paper templates for each print. Tape them to the wall in your chosen arrangement. Step back and look. Adjust until it feels right.
Step 3: Start from the centre. Hang the central or largest piece first. Build outward from there.
Step 4: Keep gaps consistent. Aim for 5–8cm between frames throughout. Use a ruler to measure each gap as you go — eyeballing it leads to uneven spacing.
Step 5: Check level constantly. Check with a spirit level after hanging each piece, not just at the end.
How to get prints perfectly level
This is the thing that drives people mad. A few tips:
Use two hooks instead of one. For wider prints, two hooks spaced apart give much better stability than a single central hook. The print can't rotate around a single point.
Use the spirit level app. Your smartphone's built-in spirit level (in the Measure app on iPhone, or downloadable on Android) is accurate enough for picture hanging and much more convenient than a physical level.
Blue tack trick. Put a small piece of blue tack on the bottom corners of the frame on the back. This stops the frame rotating and keeps it level even if it gets knocked.
Anti-tilt clips. Small plastic clips that attach to the bottom of a frame and grip the wall — these prevent the top of a frame from leaning away from the wall, which is common on plasterboard.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Hanging too high. The most common mistake in interior design. Art hung near the ceiling looks disconnected from the room. Always centre at 145–150cm from the floor.
Going too small. A print that seems large in your hands often looks small on a wall. When in doubt, size up.
Not planning ahead. Skipping the paper template step and making multiple holes before finding the right position. Always plan on paper first.
Ignoring the wall type. Using the wrong fixings for your wall type — a standard nail in a plasterboard wall won't hold a heavy framed print. Always match the fixing to the wall.
Rushing. Gallery walls in particular need time — for planning, for arrangement, for stepping back and looking. The best ones are planned over days, not hung in an afternoon.
After you've hung it: maintenance
Cleaning glass: Use a soft cloth with a small amount of glass cleaner — spray the cloth, not the glass, to avoid liquid running under the frame.
Straightening: Frames shift over time, especially if they're knocked or if the wall expands and contracts with temperature. Check level every few months and adjust as needed.
Sunlight: Direct sunlight will fade prints over time. If your print is in direct sun for several hours a day, consider UV-filtering glass — or move the art to a less exposed wall.
All our framed prints come ready to hang with hooks pre-attached. Browse our full range — available in sizes from A3 to A0, with free UK delivery.
