Cheap and easy ways to display art

There were many options for displaying a piece of art against your walls or wallpaper. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• Who said every painting or photo must be framed? With a little creativity, you can come up with various options, ranging from regular hangers to clipboards

By WILSON MANYUIRA
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What do you do when you find that the fancied painting you bought does not fit into a standard wooden or metal frame? Store it and let it gather dust?

There’s no need to do that, says Mr Benson Hinga, a freelance interior designer, who told DN2 that there were many options that could still look appealing against your walls or wallpaper.

And while you might think some of them are unusual and possibly awkward, the interior designer says they achieve the first rule of décor, which is to create variety in the house.

Hangers

If you think hangers are just for hanging towels and other items that you dont’ want on the floor, you need to get a bit more imaginative since, according to Mr Hinga, there are limitless ways of using them.

“Wooden hangers, for instance, are perfect for holding prints or posters as they make the print or poster appear to be part of the wall. If you want your poster to hang taut against the wall, it’s advisable to clip a hanger to the bottom as well,” he says.

You will achieve the best pattern if you hang them in a straight line as they create a continuous display of your wall hangings. However, if you want to achieve an eclectic display, you can place them at different levels. And for a total eclectic display, he says, you can spray- paint the hangers as this creates a contrast between the posters and the hangers. Alternatively, you can create vintage options that have a variety of colour shades, such as pumpkin hues, cyan, yellow or bright red.

“To avoid any damage or creasing, place a small piece of foam or sticking glue between the print and the clasps as this ensures the can’t fall easily.

Magnets

Apart from using magnets just as organisational tools , you can use them to great effect in decorating, according to Mr Hinga.

“They’re an easy way to display your artwork without damaging it,” he says.

However, you should ensure that the artwork you want to display is lightweight so that it is too heavy for the magnet’s field, since it should be held in place by the magnetic attraction.

“To achieve this, stick or glue small magnets (or anything metallic/graphite) at the top of the painting and at the bottom and then place the artwork on thumb tacks with small magnets on the wall at the designated spot.”

To strengthen the magnetic field, he adds, use a number of magnets as they ensure that the painting remains firmly against the wall.

“The good thing about magnets and thumb tacks is they can easily be removed, should the need arise. They are not like hangers and do not damage the wall,” he notes.

Clipboards

A clipboard might not sound like the ideal thing for displaying your home decorations, but Mr Hinga says that it is their versatility that makes them appealing as display boards.

“They come in a variety of colours and sizes and can be rearranged with ease,” he points out.

He adds that they are a great way of showcasing your family members’ art skills, or even for a visiting dear one to showcase their art skills to your family.

Clipboards are particularly handy because they serve two purposes: they can be used to hold the surface on which one is drawing, and thereafter also service as the platform to display the completed work.

Further, Mr Hinga says, it takes only a few seconds to switch the picture on display.

Easels

If the space on most of your walls has already been taken up by family photos, wall clocks and other treasured wall hangings, you don’t have to let your new piece of artwork sit idly in the basement. Simply prop it on an easel and it will still fit in with your decorating scheme, suggests the interior decorator.

“Easels work best with, and are a great way of, displaying larger pieces such as huge abstracts and oil on canvas artwork. This is because they can support a lot of weight and hold unusually shaped paintings and artwork,” Mr Hinga says, adding, “Although they tend to be quite expensive, you can try an aluminium easel if a wooden one is beyond your means.”

Lean it

If you have an unframed canvas or a matted print, says Mr Hinga, leaning it against a shelf, or even the floor is a great option.

“Leaning art instead of hanging it allows for flexibility and adds some dimension to your room,” he concludes.