Hanging Art vs Leaning Art | Frames Express Blog

When it comes to displaying artwork in your home it can be difficult to decide where to place it! Do you want to hang your artwork on a wall or lean it? We’re here to help provide you with information on all things hanging art and leaning art so you can make an informed decision. 

Discover the pros and cons of hanging and leaning art to help you determine which style is best for your space. 

Hanging Art 

Hanging art is a great option for high-traffic areas. Areas in your home with a lot of foot traffic like the entrance, kitchen and living room would benefit from art being hung on walls as there is less chance of the art being accidentally knocked over. Art can be pretty much hung anywhere! Your walls are the perfect place to hang all of your memories and artwork in a creative way. Mix things up and create a gallery wall featuring different frame styles including coloured, gold, white and aluminium picture frames. 

If you’re displaying a collection of artwork or similar pieces from an event like a wedding, hanging your artwork is a great way to group these pieces together. This works especially well if a piece is fragile or breakable as there is less chance of it being knocked. Avoid placing your artwork in direct sunlight as this can damage your piece. 

Art and photos can help to fill up wall space if you have large walls and tall ceilings. You can fit more on your walls when hanging rather than leaning as you have a larger area to cover. Adding interesting and meaningful visuals to your walls can help bring a room together while showing your style and personality to guests who visit your home. Use a frame designer to customise picture frames to your artwork’s precise measurement! 

Most picture frames include a hanging kit to help you attach your frame to a wall. Our frames all come equipped with a hanging kit. Smaller frames tend to include a ‘ pozzi ‘ hanger or black clip whereas larger heavier frames will include d-rings, cord and screws.

Hanging Art Cons

Hanging art can be a permanent decision. One of the biggest cons of hanging framed art is that once you have taken your hammer to a wall that mark will remain. If you decide you no longer like the position of your frames a couple of months down the line or decide to sell your house this could be a problem. 

A lot of planning can go into hanging your art. Once you have put the nail in the wall it is almost too late to change your mind about the position. To avoid this, cut out your frame size on a piece of paper and put it in the position you want to hang your frame. This will give you an idea of the placement before you drill any holes into the wall. 

Tips For Hanging Art

Our tips for hanging art include: 

• Hang your art at eye level 
• Map out where you want your artwork to be hung before drilling any holes 
• Choose the right frame for your artwork
• Consider other options than nails like Command picture hanging strips
• Have a hammer, measuring tape, and pencil to hand before you start to hang your frames 

Leaning Art 

One of the main advantages of learning art is that it eliminates the need to drill holes for nails into your walls. Leaning art helps you add a creative touch to your home without damaging walls in the process. This is especially useful for renters who want to avoid damaging walls. 

Leaning art gives you the opportunity to experiment with layering. Layer different styles and sizes of frames to create a unique display in any room. This is a great way to create a feature against a wall without having to deal with planning and hanging framed artwork for a gallery wall. It is also easier for you to swap and change artwork when redecorating or simply when you fancy a change! It can be as simple as picking up a frame and swapping it with a new one with no need to reach for frames at awkward heights like frames hung on a wall. 

If you’re looking to add a more casual contemporary touch to your home, leaning framed art can add an aesthetic look to your home compared to traditional hung artwork. Experiment with different objects. Group together artwork, mirrors, posters and even other objects to match the ever-changing style of your home. 

Leaning Art Cons

Learning art is great but you need a flat surface to place your art on. If your home lacks something like a mantelpiece you may find it hard to find an area to lean your artwork other than the floor. Not placing your leaning art on a flat surface can result in your display falling over and breaking or even injuring someone walking by. 

Another thing to consider when leaning art is how blank your walls may look. You may want to hang artwork on your walls if you have a lot of space to fill up on your walls. Or if you have too much artwork that can’t all be leaned you may consider hanging framed art on your walls.  

Tips For Leaning Art

Some tips to consider when leaning art include: 

• Lean your art on a flat surface 
• Layer small artwork with 2-3 other pieces 
• Slightly overlap frames when layering 
• If leaning a mirror make sure to check what it is reflecting 
• If your artwork is oversized or heavy, consider attaching it to your wall in the position you want it to learn to make it more secure
• When leaning something on a slippery surface, place something under the art to stop it from slipping

Framing Art In Your Home

Whether you’re hanging your framed art or leaning it against a wall, Picture Frames Express manufactures a huge variety of frames perfect for any piece display. We can help you find the perfect frame for your artwork from gold, silver, black and even white picture frames. 

Browse our wide range of picture frame styles.