If I only knew then what I know now! Look, hanging pictures in a creative way doesn't have to be so difficult. The most forgiving way to hang your pictures is by collaging (a collection of art and other objects to create a composition as a whole). The first thing you are going to want to do is to find the overall dimensions of the arrangement. You find this by figuring out the size of the wall, both width and height, and then the center of that wall. Next, you are going to want to find the height in which you want to start the project, usually eye level and in the center. If you have a piece of furniture you are incorporating you'll need to make adjustments accordingly. Keep in mind too that you are probably not going all the way to the ceiling or the floor, so a nice "border" of the wall around the arrangement is more appealing.
Now that you have the overall dimensions for your arrangement, it's time to start mapping it out. I have found it best to lay it out on the floor in front of the wall you are addressing. That way you get a real feel for the dimension boundaries, and it will make it easier to play around with all of your pieces to find the best configuration. The floor will act sort of like a mirror for what the finished outcome will be. If you don't have enough space, then sketch it out on a piece of paper. It doesn't have to be a masterpiece, so don't stress over that.
So the idea of collaging is to create a statement about yourself. This can be a mix of sentimental pieces, a collection of memorabilia, new and old objects or whatever your heart desires. This is the time to let your inner child out to play. That being said, there are some guidelines to follow regarding your arrangement. Be mindful of balance, spacing, and unity. Being eclectic when collaging creates more interest but, if the pieces don't relate to one another, it can be a little chaotic instead of unified in a common style or theme.
Now that you have your dimensions and collection of items to be incorporated, it's time to create your composition. Think of it as a puzzle with all the pieces fitting together, organically, to create a balanced arrangement. The arrangement will have a more asymmetrical feel to it, and spacing also plays a part in creating that balance. As a general rule, try a spacing of 1-3 inches apart to give each piece a little room to breathe. Some might need a little more or less in relation to the pieces around it. I always like to start with the larger pieces and then fill in with the smaller pieces keeping in mind the puzzle analogy.
Ok, how are we doing so far? Good? Good. Now comes the fun part, putting all this together without putting a million extra holes in the wall. Again, if you can, lay it out on the floor and start placing your pieces together. I would say get some masking tape and tape the dimensions off on the floor. Now you have your boundaries to work within. If you don't have the floor space, not to worry, you can sketch it out using a pencil so you can make changes if necessary. I would also say to think of the overall in 2 sections, whatever you do to one side do it to the other similarly. For instance, divide up all your large and small pieces. Stating with your favorite large piece create your eye level focal point, and it doesn't necessarily need to be dead center. Then place another large piece diagonally below on one side, and diagonally above on the other creating that asymmetrical balance I was talking about earlier. Then finish with the remaining large pieces in the same kind of fashion. By doing this first, you will have created a large part of the overall look and, from this, the smaller pieces will start to find their place with the composition.
I know that this can be a little challenging and maybe a bit intimidating, but you can do this!!! It does take some practice but come at it like a child at play. This will help reduce the need for perfection and make the project a lot more fun. If you have found these tips useful, hit the sign up button and start a conversation.