We've shown you tons of ways to display your framed artwork, from clustering to leaning to overlapping. But some pieces of art aren't meant to be framed — for some posters, prints, or large photos, their loose style is part of their appeal. Hanging unframed art requires a different kind of creativity, so read on for five ideas for displaying it in your own home.
I spotted this dining room photo on Houzz and immediately loved the clustered grouping of the photos. On second look, I realized that several of the frames actually overlapped, creating a three-dimensional effect. Truthfully, I'm torn. I can't decide whether the overlapping in this instance takes away from or enhances the look. I haven't tried this at my home, but I may have to experiment a little to see if I like it on my own wall.
British fashion designer Paul Smith is always full of surprises. I couldn't help but admire the mismatched medley of art on the walls of his New York store. Be it a framed letter, poster, painting, ink drawing, or photograph, each piece carries with it a story. The styles, colors, eras, sizes, and mediums vary, yet they all fit together beautifully.
To re-create this look, scavenge flea markets, thrift stores, eBay, antique stores, or even your child's drawing stash for a variety of art pieces. Frame memorable letters, scarves — pretty much anything that makes you happy. Just pick pieces you love: whether or not they "go together" isn't really the point. Do you have any tips on hanging a grouping of incongruous art?
Source: Flickr User b.frahm
Tap, tap, tap. Too high, too low, or off center? I can't count the number of times I've put a nail in the wall only to pull it out and try it again. I've turned freshly painted walls into ones more suitable for a garage pegwall. Thank goodness for spackle, paint, and wall hangings. I have, however, found one way, aside from using a ruler and level, to make placing framed works on the walls a wee bit easier. 
The always talented Nate Berkus recently shared a tip that is so simple I don't know why I didn't think of it first. Instead of imagining your decorated wall and going straight to the hammer, cut out pieces of paper the size of your hangings. Then tape them to the wall and observe. When you're pleased with the visual, use a push pin to mark the spot where the nail should go. This is especially useful when placing more than one object. Your wall and future owners will thank you.
Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member EarthPlusArt from the Su Casa group:
I wanted a unique way to hang some of my botanical photographs, and came up with this very easy and cheap solution. All I needed was a branch, some twine and a handful of alligator clips. Since they're not under glass, I sprayed the photographs with an archival varnish to protect them from dust and fading. Before I hung them up, I painted the wall a warm color to complement the sepia tones of the art.
Have you been hanging artwork of your own lately, or doing other DIYs? Be sure to post photos and tales in our Su Casa group!
Artwork is an investment, so you should put just as much thought into arranging it as you do buying it. From form to function, there are plenty of things to consider when hanging and displaying your artwork. Check out this slideshow for 10 tips to lead you on your way.
Hi Casa,
I am adding, for the first time ever, fine photography to my apartment. However I am at a loss when it comes to framing styles and arrangement.
One set of four photographs is horizontally-oriented and black-and-white. I'd like this set in my bedroom but don't know how to arrange them so they look more interesting seeing that they're all horizontal. Tips? Regarding framing them, I'd like to know which types of frames (color, matting, etc.) you recommend for my room seeing that the walls are white but most of the accessory pieces in my room are either antique brown wood or a few wood pieces I've painted bright coral and Yves Klein blue. Are white frames my best bet? Can you frame b&w photographs in brown wood?
The other set of photographs are two color photographs, also horizontally-oriented, that will be nearly facing each other on opposite walls. Tips on framing, matting, and color? They need not match, do they?
I appreciate any tips you might be able to offer me!
Best,
Daniela
To see my suggestions for Daniela, read more
I've talked a bit in the past about various ways you can hang art in your home. But that's not the only solution to your home gallery woes. As you can see, leaning artwork against a wall can be as gorgeous as hanging it at eye level. If you own large-scale artwork, simply setting it against a blank wall can make a major impact. It offers a less formal look, but it also looks fresh and modern. If you want to get really crazy, try leaning smaller paintings and framed photographs in front of larger ones. Another benefit is that you can easily switch out your pieces, creating a rotating gallery to keep your space from looking stale.
Photo by Manny Rodriguez
I love the effect of a carefully arranged grouping of plates. Depending on how you execute it, it can look either wildly modern or downright traditional. Either way, it's a lovely way to decorate your walls.
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It's a dream to curate a personal collection of original art, but it's not always in the budget. Sometimes, though, just the frame you use to hang something or the way it's hung is visually intriguing enough that what's behind the glass is of little consequence. Artists, designers, and art directors Jonathan and Annie Zawada made the most of a simple drawing by hanging it diagonally in their Sydney home, photographed by Todd Selby. The sketch itself isn't particularly arresting or bold, but the atypical way it's hung makes it eye-catching. Maybe framing a simple doodle, an old love letter, or the like and hanging it 45 degrees off will be just the thing to hold you over until you can afford to bid on originals at Sotheby's. P.S. How rad is that matchstick floor lamp?
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