How to hang pictures going up a stairway

Movies, home improvement magazines and television shows all have images of perfectly aligned pictures going up a staircase. When you set out to hang pictures along your staircase, there are a few strategies you should follow that will help you to get the results you are looking for and add that extra touch to your home decor.

Alignment

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When you install pictures on the wall of your staircase you should try to keep them at least four feet off of each stair. Measure from the stair to the bottom of the frame. By using each stair as a measuring point you are more apt to get an even look when you put the pictures up. Follow the stairs when you hang pictures and do not hang pictures all in one row over one particular stair. Using a vertical hanging pattern will not be nearly as aesthetically pleasing as a horizontal pattern that ascends with the stairs.

Matching Sizes

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One of the more efficient-looking ways of hanging pictures along a stairway wall is to have the pictures grouped by the size of the frame. If you could have all of your pictures in the same size frame, this would give a symmetrical look to your display that would work very well. If you have different-sized frames, try to surround larger frames with smaller ones in a circular display pattern on the wall. This flowering effect will allow the large picture to stand out. Try to have the larger pictures installed higher up on the wall.

Securing the Pictures

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For most walls, a single picture-hanging hook for each picture is adequate. A stairway, however, is a place where there is a lot of vibration from people walking up and down the stairs, and these vibrations can cause pictures that are not properly attached to the wall to fall off. Instead of one hook attached to a point on the frame, use picture frame wire strung across the back of the frame and two picture hooks to hold each picture in place. With the two hooks holding onto the frame wire, the picture is more apt to stay in place when the stairs vibrate.

Your stairway can be a cold, forgotten corner of your home or it can be a personalized passage filled with light and charm. Hanging pictures in a stairwell is one classic way to turn the wall beside the stairs into a blank canvas that you can use to display your favorite decorative items. Whether your tastes lean toward the traditional or the eclectic, you can use your stairway to showcase your style.

Choosing a Color

Select a color for the wall that is harmonious with all the other colors you can see from the stairs. The three types of harmonious color schemes include tonal or monochromatic, which uses different shades of the same color; analogous, which uses colors next to each other on the color wheel; and complementary, which use opposites on the color wheel.

The stairway can fit the different color schemes in different parts of the house as long as it is harmonious with everything. For example, the wall color might be analogous with the downstairs colors and complementary with the upstairs colors. Alternatively, you can wallpaper your stairwell with a unique or unusual pattern that you might not use successfully elsewhere, suggests Country Living.

Hanging Pictures On Stair Wall

A traditional way to decorate a staircase is to hang pictures on the staircase wall and by hanging pictures on stair landings. These are often large areas that can accommodate a large picture or artwork that would look out of place in other rooms of the house. The trick to this is to make sure the center of each picture is at the same level above the stair, specifically about 60 inches up the wall. Hang one picture every two or three steps in matching frames and mats. For a more eclectic look, work with frames of various sizes and shapes, and cover the wall more densely. To anchor the design, place the largest pictures 60 inches up the wall every two or three steps.

Hang Decorations On Stairs

If hanging pictures isn't your style, you can turn the wall itself into a simple work of art by installing decorative elements such as molding and light fixtures. Running a chair rail up the stairs allows you to paint the upper half of the wall one color and the lower half another, whereas attaching wainscoting or beadboard grounds the wall with a traditional wood accent on its bottom third. Install sconce lighting at regular intervals and coordinate fixtures with the style of your home.

HGTV says the stairwell can be a perfect spot to hang an off-beat collection of items. If the stair landing is narrow, it could be a good spot to hang something that you wouldn't hang elsewhere, such as a surfboard or antique fishing rods.

Displaying a Theme

For a more whimsical look, forgo the formality of pictures and molding, and instead hang objects that represent you and your family's interests. For example, if you're a musician, you might hang vintage instruments on the wall every three or four steps. As with the pictures, arrange each item so its center is about 60 inches above the stair. You can also draw inspiration from your hobbies to put a personalized spin on traditional molding. For example, if you enjoy wine tasting, you might fasten a long, twisted grapevine to the wall in place of a chair rail.

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