How to Prevent Pictures from Tilting or Twisting
Figure 1 — The two wide pieces in the top row of this salon style gallery wall arrangement are tilted, to the left and right respectively. The ones in the bottom row have pivoted so that one side is touching the wall while the other is floating. Both problems can be easily addressed with paired hangers and hooks. Photo by Debbi Silverman
When showing artworks, especially in salon style hanging or gallery wall displays that feature groupings of smaller or lighter-weight pieces, there can sometimes be issues with images tilting to the left or right, or floating away from the wall and pivoting to one side. This is illustrated in Figure 1, where the landscape-format images in the top row are tilted, while the square images in the bottom row have pivoted.
Fortunately, there are easy fixes for these problems that allow you to preserve your carefully selected salon style gallery wall arrangement and keep everything properly aligned.
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The ability to conveniently create columns and other groupings is one of the great strengths of picture hanging systems like Gallery System, but when items of differing size and weight need to share hangers, the results are almost always better if you pair the hangers rather than using just one. So our first step was to use two cable hangers and pairs of hooks for every column of pictures. This solves the tilting issue, by ensuring that adjustments to one item do not affect others on the same hangers.
Figure 2 — When paired hangers and hooks are used, the images hang straight and level. Photo by Debbi Silverman
In most cases, using paired hangers is enough to solve the problem. Sometimes, however, especially with smaller and lighter-weight artworks, an extra measure is needed to snug the work against the hanging cables.
An easy method is to attach small pieces of hook-and-loop fastening material (such as Velcro) to the back of each frame at the top edge, and sandwich the art hanging system cable between the two layers. Here's how to do it:
Instructions for the “Velcro fix”: Rolls of self-adhesive hook-and-loop fastener (such as Velcro) can be purchased at hardware, home goods and sewing stores. Rolls of Velcro have two opposing sides. Cut pieces about an inch long of both sides. Remove the backing from the loop (soft) side and affix it at the upper edge of the back of the frame. It should be positioned away from the artwork itself, and centered if using one hanger or symmetrically if using dual hangers. Leave the backing on the other (hook) piece of the Velcro, so nothing sticky will be facing the wall, and sandwich the clear tape or cable between the two pieces of the Velcro.