Get your layout right on the floor – If you’re hanging a collection of different sized frames and subjects, clear a patch of floor space and arrange the pictures there first. You can practise getting the grouping and colours right before committing yourself to hammer and nails.
Add emphasis with borders or blocks of colour – Putting a border around the frame or centring pictures on blocks painted a contrasting colour to the walls will focus attention on the pictures and help break up large expanses of wall space.
Use pictures to correct design ‘faults’ – A bright picture can warm up a cold room, long shapes can stretch a narrow room and tall ones heighten a ceiling. Using images with a faraway horizon or sense of depth can even make a room appear larger.
Use an element of surprise – Seeing a picture where you least expect to can be part of its charm. Hang pictures above a workspace where you can appreciate them when you glance up. Put a small picture in an odd corner, above a door, or near architectural features to emphasise them.
Keep frames and mounts uniform – If you’re hanging pictures in groups, consider framing and mounting each in the same way. This will pull even a varied group of pictures together and make a dramatic statement in the room.
Explore unusual frames – There are thousands of frames available, and choosing the right one can make or break a picture. As well as more traditional frames, think about round or narrow frames, wide frames for tiny pictures or even very deep frames that will hold small three-dimensional objects as well as images.
Remember that pictures don’t have to be on a wall – Try putting images on a table or desk with a piece of glass cut to fit over the top, adapt a screen to carry photographs or create a display from photo cubes or a row of small identical frames.
Make your own frames – Consult craft books for frame ideas – papier maché, clay and scraps of wood or cardboard all can be used to make frames. Cover a ready-made frame with a collage of small objects or a dramatic paint effect. You’ll need a minimum of skills and will end up with something one-of-a-kind.
Be creative with picture fixings – The way you hang pictures can often be as creative as the pictures themselves. Hang pictures from decorative hooks or disguise hanging wires with a length of ribbon. Suspend the frame from the ceiling or attach an extra board to the back of the frame to hang the picture a few inches in front of a wall. Attach a small light to the top of the picture, or hang where it will catch a spotlight.
Forget frames – Sophisticated copying methods mean you can now transfer colour images straight onto fabrics or paste colour copies on walls. Colour copies can even be laminated and hung in windows or used as placemats. Consult your local copy shop for a little off-the-wall inspiration.