Tuesday, April 14, 2009

how to hang a picture collage

We loved this tutorial from our amazing friend Melynie who is an interior designer. I asked her if we could pirate this post from her blog since it is her family blog (as nice as I know all of our readers are, I didn't want her feel like her privacy was being invaded). You'll just have to take our word for it--she is darling! And this tutorial on how to hang a collage of framed pictures is so handy. Thanks, Melynie!

How to Hang a Picture Collage

1. Gather all the pictures you want in the collage. It looks best to have some common denominator (all black and white, all color, same color frames, etc.).

2. Trace each picture onto paper (paper grocery bags work well for most sizes) and cut them out. Write on the front of the paper what the picture is (i.e.: ballet Girlie).


3. Then, lay the picture face down, and paper face down on top of it. Use your fingers to feel where the hanging hardware is, and use a nail to puncture the paper. (You're trying to put a hole in the paper exactly where you want the nail to go).


4. Tape the "paper pictures" to the wall in the arrangement you want. Try to maintain an even space around the pictures. If you're hanging a single picture, or gallery style in a line, remember not to hang them too high. The center should be approximately eye level, roughly 5 feet (it also depends on how high your wall is). Remember not to put tape over the "nail holes".


5. Get the arrangement exactly the way you want it. If you are having trouble, leave the paper on the wall and look at it the next day. Then, nail the paper to the wall using the holes in the paper as your guide.


6. Leaving the nails in the wall, remove the paper and hang the real pictures. Yay! You're done!

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50 Comments

50 Responses to “how to hang a picture collage”

Jenn said...

That is such a GREAT tutorial! And after seeing that, you can't help but say, DUH! Of course! I'm bookmarking this for in the future when I stop being too lazy to frame and hang up my pictures. :)

Anonymous said...

Thats awesome, I'm going to have to do that in my hallway, it in need of a collage of some sort...
Thanks!

Tania said...

great idea! I always have extra holes from moving pictures around and changing my mind. I love the end result too!

Amy Eileen said...

That is FABULOUS!!!! Thanks for the tips!

Megan said...

Very useful post, I will definitely do that next time I'm hanging a picture collage, thanks!

♥ meninheira ♥ said...

What a great idea!!
Thanks! :)

Ginger said...

I have a picture collage of Japanese prints on my wall in my bedroom, and I did almost exactly what you described here! Great tip!

Mandi Shandi said...

THis is so helpful. So much easier than the way I have always done it, and far fewer holes in the wall!

The Miller Family said...

This was outstanding! After seeing it, "Why haven't I thought of that!" was all I could think, lol. Perfect!

arkie said...

This works! It takes a little time but really helps you get everything in the right place! I used this method to put some plates on the wall.

Summer said...

Brilliant! What a great tip! Why didn't I think of that?

Stephanie said...

What a great idea! This will stop multiple puncture wounds to our walls, lol.

Amanda @ Mommy's Idea Book said...

Thanks for the tips! I have several pictures that I need to hang. Now I have a good starting point.

Keri said...

Thank you SOOO much for posting this. I have pictures I have to hang today and I didn't have a glue how I was going to do it. Also, I a huge fan of your blog!!!

Jes said...

Genius!!! Oh I wish I wouldve seen this post last night! lol...wouldve saved my husband and I a LOT of time!!! :)

Shelley @ My Treasure Hunt said...

Wow, this is awesome! Thanks!!

Gina said...

So glad so many folks know how adorable and talented that Melynie is! I saw this post on my reader and took a double take at whose blog I was reading. LOL

Ashley said...

Wow! I've seen the paper idea but not with adding the places for nails, too. What a great idea!

Bailey said...

What a simple solution to an often very challenging project! Thanks so much for sharing!

Unknown said...

Thanks! This is great!

{amy k.} said...

Great tips- love your collage!

pam said...

great tip, I always put 20 holes in the wall...

Leslie said...

I love Melynie and I can testify that she is the master decorateur! Imagine my surprise when I came to your site (which I do daily) and saw her post! Yay Melynie!

Unknown said...

What a great idea! I would have never thought about using paper as my guide. Thanks for sharing.

maren bosley said...

That is AWESOME! Thanks for sharing!

Sandi a::k::a KnitMyRhino said...

Just in the knick of time...Birdie, Birdie, Birdie: How is it that you are always posting tutorials for something I need to do? I have bare walls in my sitting room because I am too "chicken" to put holes in the wall trying to figure out what I want where. Thank you for this loverlie idea!!!

Cheryl @ a pretty cool life. said...

My father in law taught me to do this years ago...it is such a great idea (and has saved my plaster walls many mis-placed nails)!

Wendy said...

You must of been reading my mind because I've been trying to figure out the best way to hang a collage of photos along our stairs. What a great idea! Love the blog!

Audrey said...

Wow! So simple! I've been putting off picture hanging! NO MORE! Thanks for sharing.

Claire said...

Love it! It's nice to know that hanging pictures doesn't have to be the trial it usually is for me...try using the blue painter's tape, rolled into a donut, on the bottom back of your pictures to keep them straight. :o) Thanks!!

-Sydney- said...

I'd seen this before too, but not with nailing the paper. That just adds another level of brilliance!

Alisha said...

Great tutorial. I have been wanting to do it, but didn't want to put a bunch of holes in the wall to see if it looked good

Amanda said...

Hi ladies,
this post was totally awesome. I have a favor to ask. Could you post a "tutorial" on how to make a rag doll? I so want to make a cute one for my baby girl. Thanks!
Amanda Nicholas

Jeanie Tseng said...

What a good idea with the paper in place first. Now I have to go find a wall to try this out...

aurora said...

This is great!! I always do it the hard way...
Yay!

*katie said...

Oh my goodness, what a great tip that I would NEVER have thought of on my own. Thanks for passing along!

Staci @ Designing and Motherhood said...

Great tutorial. I have a collage on my blog under wall hangings. I think it takes a great eye and guts to do one. I like yours. Take care, Staci

Leah said...

Things happen for a reason. Here I am all set to hang pictures today, brought the nails last night, and I stummble onto your blog. Awesome, so glad I did, you just made my afternoon alot more easy
Thanks

Collagist said...

What a great way to illustrate the concept to your readers. I design personalized photo collages for customers and I always explain these points to the customers in words. I will use your ideas and prepare something more visual for our customers. Thanks.

Best
Collagist

Sarah said...

I had never thought about doing this - thanks for the idea! I always have such a hard time hanging my photo collage. We're moving again in a few months, and I can't wait to try out this method when we move into our new place.

Sarah

Danika said...

I found you via Tip Junkie. I need to hang a collage and was really stressing about it. Thanks for making it SOOOOO much easier!

Ter said...

I found you via Tip Junkie, and I'm so glad I did because I have some photos to hang too! :) Thanks again! I'm going to take a look through some more of your blog.

Anonymous said...

Can someone please comment with the appropriate dimensions of frames you used for each frame if you have done this project?

Erin said...

absolute genius!

Heidi of Operation Organization said...

thanks so much for sharing the GREAT tutorial! I have had this book marked for some time and JUST completed it.

Take a peek if you like:

http://1wonderwomanwannabe.blogspot.com/2009/09/family-photo-wall-collage.html

Unknown said...

This is a great tip : ) I am hanging some today and I knew there was an easy way to figure out the arrangement. Super helpful! : )

Nanna said...

oh my word! no more waiting on someone else to hang my pic's lol thanks for sharing that fantastic tip!
Helen

Unknown said...

Nice tutorial! I've just moved into a new apartment and have some seriously blank walls to decorate. Two other things I've found in researching - 1) use painter's tape when you put the paper on the wall so removing it won't cause any damage, and 2) I still have issues with exactly where to put the hanging items - nails, screws, whatever. Luckily, I've found DOT Marks the Spot, a sticky target marker tool that's made for marking exactly where to put the holes for any type of hanger! www.dotmarksthespot.com

Unknown said...

I needed to know this before hanging my Wall of Frames. I was balancing a level and holding a hammer with a nail in my mouth. Not to mention, half way through, I forgot which ones went where. Definitely sharing with my post on the Wall of Fame. Thanks!

Taylor said...

Great, quick idea! Love it!

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