It’s easy to create a beautiful space that will encourage you to spend more time outdoors and help you relax when you return home at the end of the day. You can hang artwork on the exterior walls of the house, garage, or shed and don’t forget that every fence is a blank wall ready for your personal touch.

Whatever you use in the yard, it should be weatherproof and tolerant of the elements. Mirrors, pottery, wrought iron and even old picture frames are just a few great choices. We recently came across these outdoor art canvases from Rittenhouse, which is a perfect choice for decorating outside.

With a little imagination, and Hang & Level™ to help you find the perfect place to position your art, you will be able to create a personalized, inviting outdoor space that you will enjoy year round.

Additional Resources:

• Kings Flower & Garden
• Canvas Republic
• Soothing Patios
• InsideOut Garden Art
• Weatherprint Outdoor Art
• How to make your own outdoor canvas

With summer right around the corner, it’s also time to freshen the décor on your walls! Why not bring some of the bright seasonal colors inside for a new look? Nothing says summer like crisp white frames and matts paired with photos of vivid blossoms from your garden. Here are three quick and easy looks you can try to bring the vibrant colors of the season right into your own home.

Look A – Horizontal Grouping

This grouping is very versatile and looks great on its own or hanging above a piece of furniture. Create a balanced look by leaving equal space between frames. Here we left 5 inches.

• Hang the middle picture first, then using the SpacerTape™, measure out identical space between frames and hang the pictures on either side.
• It’s important to hang your frames at the right height. Learn more about Which Eye Level is the Right Eye Level and hang your pictures perfectly every time.

Look B – Vertical Grouping

This look works great on a tall narrow wall or in between windows and has the advantage of making a ceiling look higher than it actually is. Create a column of artwork by keeping the spacing between frames identical. Here we left 8 inches.

• Always hang your favorite piece in the middle as it will be noticed first
• It’s important to start with the bottom piece first, working your way up so the handle of the Hang & Level will not interfere with the rest of the pictures and you will have perfect alignment.

Look C – Creative Grouping

You don’t have to group pictures in a line. Tell a story by grouping frames closer together to create a compact look. If you have a small square wall space, a triangular arrangement looks great. Here, we left 2 inches between frames.

• Hang the bottom piece first, so the handle of the Hang & Level will not interfere with the picture above
• Next, hang the one on top followed by the frame on the right.

No matter which grouping you choose, you will create a fresh new look for your walls and the great thing is it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. We took these beautiful pictures ourselves. For more great, inexpensive ideas check out Wall Décor on a Dime. And when you’re ready for a change, simply swap out your photos for a whole new look.

That was exactly the situation when Jennifer Valentyne, host of Breakfast Television, Jim Caruk and I chatted during a Live Eye segment filmed at the opening of Jim’s new BiY Center in Toronto. I taught Jennifer, who is 5’4” and Jim, who tops out at 6’2”, that there is a proper way to hang a picture that will keep everyone happy. By using the HeightGuide, which is part of our new Picture Hanging Kit, we were able to easily determine the perfect height to hang the picture and keep everyone smiling.

Click to view the video segment…

In today’s challenging economic times, if you are like most people, you’re probably looking for ways to trim your spending and balance your budget. Home décor does not have to be expensive. In fact, some of the most beautiful pieces that have the biggest impression are often the most affordable.

Liette was featured recently on TELUS TV, showcasing some innovative ways that you can create huge impact on your walls – not your wallet.

Click to view the video…

Too many homeowners are overwhelmed when it comes to hanging pictures in their house. What should be a simple task becomes riddled with uncertainty. “What size of picture do I hang over my sofa?” “How high should I hang them?” “What would look good over my mantel?” “What about groups of pictures?”

In this segment, featured on TELUS TV, Liette answers all of your questions and takes the guess work out of hanging pictures. She also demonstrates how you can quickly and easily create a stunning grouping with the Hang & Level tool, so you will never be overwhelmed with picture hanging again.

Click to view the video…

Another tip is to use 2 Deco Nails™ for each frame – not only will they move less on the wall, but you will be able to adjust their horizontal position on the wall much easier.

Here’s a quick tip to help you to make sure that when you hang multiple items together, you have the same distance between them. Find a book that is the thickness of the space that you want to leave between the frames and use that as a guide. Depending on the size of the frames, you can even use your hand as a spacer. If you are using Hang & Level™ to hang your items, you can hold your picture on the wall with one hand and use your spacer with the other hand to quickly and easily find the right spot for your picture. 

You’re back from holidays, with dozens of great vacation snapshots. But what happens to those precious vacation images once you’re home? Many people never print and display them! Don’t be one of them. Photos of your vacation make great, inexpensive artwork for your walls.

Here are some vacation photo tips:

• Shop for frames with a mat opening that best fits the pictures you want to showcase.
• Consider white frames and mats for summer.  White looks crisp and classy all year round and fits any décor style.
• Picking identical frames and mats lets the viewer focus on the pictures rather than the frames.
• If you have kids, frame a picture of each child at the beach, playing in the water or building sand castles.
• Don’t have kids? Frame pictures of your dog, friends, family, or a beach or city you visited.
• Start a vacation wall and add to it every year. Group photos in a hallway or in a stairway.
• The laundry room is another great place to hang your vacation photos. We often forget about this out-of-sight room when decorating walls.
• If your pictures are from a vacation at the beach, the bathroom or powder room are perfect spots for them.
• If you chose a picture of each child to frame, hang it in his/her bedroom. It provides a great memory for the child and an inexpensive way to decorate the bedroom walls.
• Have fun and display your pictures in the mudroom. It’s a room that gets used every day, and vacation photos are a great way to welcome you home when you’re back to your routine.
• Hang your frames perfectly level – horizontally, vertically, or create unexpected wall arrangements.

Hanging pictures at eye level can be very confusing … especially if you are 5’4” and your spouse is 6’3”.

The best rule of thumb is to hang your artwork so its center hangs at approximately 60” to 66’’ from the floor. Please remember that in rooms where you spend the most time sitting; such as dining rooms, living rooms or offices, you should be hanging your art lower so that you can enjoy it without having to look up – way up.

Make a statement when decorating your fireplace. Go big, be bold and be colorful!

Mistake #1 is picking artwork way too small for the size of the fireplace. It’s all about balance so pick items that counter balance the size of your fireplace that are equivalent to at least 2/3 of the width.
If you don’t own a big piece of art, combine 2 or 3, even 6 or more pieces to achieve the scale needed. Hanging three rows of three identical square pieces always looks stunning. With a little creativity the possibilities are endless.

A far as rules go, hang the bottom of your piece(s) 4” to 6” from the mantel to keep your artwork and mantel visually connected to each other. This gap may increase or decrease depending on the type of accessories you choose to display.

Depending on the pieces you pick, it is generally a good idea to leave 2” to 5” in between each frame. Hanging frames too far apart will look like you are trying to fill the wall instead of connecting each piece of art.

Hanging a large mirror is always a great way to accentuate a fireplace as the focal point of a room. It can reflect and increase the light, make a small room look larger or even show the reflection of a beautiful view or garden (if you have either one).

Caution when hanging a mirror… make sure the reflection you get isn’t of a messy kitchen or of a doorway.
Lastly if you don’t want to commit to putting holes in walls, simply rest your artwork against the wall and switch it as the seasons change.

Buying artwork for your home can be a little bit intimidating, especially if you don’t know the basics. However, if you are armed with some general knowledge, finding the perfect piece for your home can be an exciting and rewarding adventure!

Avoid disappointment and frustrations; sometimes that piece that looked so perfect in the store, just does not work with the rest of your home décor. Ask about the store return policy before you buy, just in case that 7 foot giraffe painting doesn’t go well with your floral decor when you get it home.

If you are interested in buying an expensive piece of art from an art gallery and you are nervous about it not working with your décor, ask if you can take it home for a day or two. Not every gallery owner will let you, but it’s worth asking.

If for different reasons the gallery owner can’t let you take a piece that you are interested in home, get the dimensions of the artwork. Once home cut a cardboard piece to match the artwork’s dimensions and place it on your wall. It will help you determine if the size is right. As for deciding if the colors are right for your décor, ask if there is a picture of the piece available on the gallery website if not, ask to take a picture for a visual reference. Many galleries will be happy to accommodate you if it will help you make your decision.

Insider tip: Ladies, carry a small light weight measuring tape (max. 10ft) in your purse – it’s always handy for measuring furniture or artwork when out shopping for the “house”.

Carrying Art Tip!
When carrying artwork don’t hold on to it by the top of the frame as you risk bending the frame. It is best to carry a painting or a picture frame by its sides (if it’s not too wide) OR by placing a hand at the top and at the bottom of the frame. If a piece is wired with a metal picture wire, never carry it by its wire, it’s dangerous and unsafe as the wire might unravel.