Tips for hanging your wall art

We are so close to completely dressing your home.  Art and window treatments are the final components to include.  This week's post is all about artwork (we will address window treatments next month).

People become the most paralyzed when it comes to artwork. They've done all this work to assemble the rest of the room, and now they freeze up with fear about putting a nail in the wall. Don’t let this be you!

When it comes to artwork, select pieces that catch your eye and lead you around the room. Think about what has meaning to you, what makes you feel comfortable and what might strike up conversation with your guests. Those are the pieces you want on your walls. The thought of hanging these pieces for display should excite you. Don’t feel like you have to put the same thing up all over. Not every pair of shoes you have goes with every outfit, and your artwork won’t naturally fit in every room. Mix it up with mirrors, painting, photos and framed prints.

PDR Interiors
Room contains a blend of wall art- framed prints, wrapped canvas painting, grouping of mirrors.

Once you’ve picked out your art, you WILL have to hang it, so here’s a cheat sheet to give you confidence in your placement.

Rules of thumb for art hanging-
-Remember your art should belong to the furniture, not the ceiling. Meaning, don’t hang your art so high that it looks like its running away from the furniture below it.

-Use 60” from the ground as your starting place for the middle of the piece. If this seems too high or too low, adjust accordingly.

-Using two nails or screws, instead of one, helps keep a piece of art level when it has wire on the back.


-Gallery wall tips:
-layout your desired gallery wall on the floor first. Measure the overall height and width of the arrangement to make sure it will fit on the wall where you want to place it. If it is too large, make the necessary adjustments.

-Brown craft paper is a helpful tool when planning a gallery wall. Roll the paper out on the floor and place your items on top. Using a marker, outline the pieces on the craft paper.  Once you have the outlines drawn, remove the pieces from the paper and cutout each shape. Then tape the pieces to the wall where you plan to hang them. This will show you if you need to adjust any spacing between items OR if you need to adjust the group’s spacing on the wall.  A handy trick is to mark on the craft paper where the hanging mechanism is.  That way you know where to place the nail(s) once the paper is on the wall.

-Begin with 2” between each piece of the gallery wall. You can then eyeball the layout and determine if the size of the pieces warrants more or less space between them.

-Gallery wall groupings are a great WAY to hide unsightly features like a thermostat in the middle of the wall.

PDR Interiors (photo was taken before pictures were added to frames)

photo courtesy of Christy Hash

If you are struggling with whether or not to hang a piece on a specific wall, lean the art against that wall (even at floor level) and leave it there for a day or two. Walking by it several times will allow you to determine if the size of the art is appropriate for the size of the wall. It will also allow you to see how you feel about incorporating that piece in to the room. If you’re comfortable with it, go ahead and hang it using the rules of thumb we just covered. If not, find another location for the artwork. And, remember, it is not the end of the world to put a nail in the wall and then later decide to move it. There’s a reason spackle was invented!


Happy hanging!
-Liz

Spring Spruce Up - Quick ways to Freshen your Kitchen

As we continue our Spring Spruce Up series, we move right along into the kitchen. This is a place where we spend so much of our time, yet somehow it can turn into the last place we think about when it comes to updating our decor. Below are few quick ways you can freshen up your kitchen’s decor!

Countertop Accessories

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Your kitchen countertops are crucial workspaces that need to be functional and left mostly open and clean. This is not to say that your functional items like fruit/bread baskets and other containers shouldn't reflect the design style that runs through the rest of your house. These are items that can make a huge difference in your space once you update them!

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors 

Art Work

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Art is another thing in your kitchen that can stay the same for years on end while you walk past it everyday not thinking twice about the impact that changing it would make. There are so many different directions you can go with the art you choose for your kitchen. If you are one who likes for your art to have a kitchen like feel, there are so many fun updated options out there that can be just what your kitchen needs to add a little spark of interest. We do suggest sticking with pieces that are easily cleanable for any possible messes that may occur. 

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Cabinet Hardware Swap

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Lastly, a quick and inexpensive way to spruce up your kitchen is by swapping out your cabinet and drawer hardware. This swap could be from an outdated brass to a clean brushed nickel or a standout oil rubbed bronze. Or maybe you are happy with your current hardware’s finish but want to switch up the style, this is a great option as well!

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Guest Blogger: Gina Hopper of State Farm with important insurance tips

This topic was planned weeks in advance.  Given the recent tornado here in KY, I think the topic of insurance is even more relevant.  Here is what Gina has to share:

Insurance…I call it the necessary evil.  We pay for something we hope we’ll never use.  But picture this, you come home from your family vacation ready to return to life as usual (almost) and you open the door to see water standing in the floor and dripping from the ceiling.  What happens now?  The simple answer is to call your insurance agent (hopefully they’re local) and they will walk you through the next steps…from getting someone to stop the water and clean it up to making repairs and replacing furniture.

A few questions to consider: 

Do you have an adequate amount of coverage to rebuild your home and replace your belongings if the unthinkable happens?  Even though it’s not required, it’s a good idea to use a digital or video camera to make an inventory of your belongings to be kept in a fireproof box or safe deposit box.  This will help when documenting items that have been damaged or destroyed.  If you have valuable items such as jewelry, rugs, artwork, or antiques, it’s best to have appraisals on file with your insurance provider.  

Have you recently reviewed your policy with your agent?  If you can’t remember the last time you did, it’s probably a good idea to schedule an appointment soon and then follow up every 2-3 years.  If you do a major renovation or addition to your home, be sure to check with your insurance agent to verify your coverage is still adequate.  

The bottom line is that it’s no fun to pay for something we hope we never use.  However, ask anyone who has experienced the devastation of a fire, a tornado, a burst water pipe or “just” a tree limb on the roof, and you’ll hear how glad the person was that they had paid those premiums and had an insurance agent to help them through the situation.  

Gina has been in the insurance industry for over 10 years.  As your good neighbor agent she offers home, auto and life insurance policies.  Most importantly she helps protect your belongings and loved ones when the unthinkable occurs.  For contact information here is the link to her website .