How to Hang a Wall Collage
How to Hang a Wall Collage
Wall collages are all the rage and a symbol of rebellion against the minimalist trends of the recent past. But gathering coordinating portraits or art pieces to create a wall collage can be a challenging endeavor for the beginner. How do you select things that coordinate? How closely do you hang them together? How high do you hang the assembly? Can you combine art with family photos in one collage? How do you successfully achieve the asymmetry that gives balance and is a pleasure to look at? These are some of the hurdles to overcome in order to build a successful collaboration on any wall.
For the Beginner
For your first collage, start with a collection of similarly framed pieces. For example, family portraits. Collect at least 3 different sizes. Use this as a guideline: select one to two 16”x20”, two to three 8”x11”, and three to four 5”x7” to make a great arrangement. A mix of vertical and horizontal orientations is a must. Start with the largest pieces which may be primarily centered. Then build around those with your smaller ones, tucking them in one at a time.
Before hanging, lay them out on the floor in the way you want them on the wall. Only leave 2-3 inches between frame angles. Don’t get hung up on exact spacing. It’s ok if spacing is slightly different between pieces. Hang the center of the collage at eye level for a person 6’ tall, give or take a couple of inches. You can tuck collages into small spaces or leave ample room around the outer areas to exhibit your work. Quick tip: Any art installer or handyman can transpose them from the floor straight onto the wall in about 30 minutes depending on the number of frames you have, well worth the investment ranging from $75 to $175 per hour for their time.
A more advanced selection
Rather than similarly framed items, you can collect a more eclectic assembly by tying pieces together according to color scheme, style, or subject matter. For example, a collection of still-life and florals in different colored or styled frames, a collection of similarly framed works of all kinds of subject matters. You can combine art with family photos if the clothing colors and some framing tie together with other pieces. Or simply get all of your favorite pieces together in one place to make a statement and see how it looks. Be brave and experiment!
Our articles on working with family portraits and positioning art like a designer on my blog page
will enhance your endeavors. And by all means, reach out and we can help you further. Let us celebrate your finished works by posting them in the comments.
Happy Hanging!
With love, Liz
