How to hang pictures like a decorator

Interior designer T. Keller Donovan is great at hanging artwork. Here, he lifts the art of hanging to new levels with these tips.

Over a sofa

It is important to keep your "hang" from looking static.

Video: Tips of the trade: How to hang pictures

Try encircling a sunburst mirror with a set of prints. One big gesture is all it takes.

Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.

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Over a fireplace

Lean a mirror off-center, but give it a sculptural companion to keep things in harmony. Top it with a small picture, or two, to lift the eye, and repeat over doorways or tall chests.

Bing: Picture frames

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On a big wall

Go for the full-wall effect. If you have a portfolio of 18 monkey prints (or a stack of photos of your favorite pooch), frame and hang them all uniformly — even if some wind up below eye level or behind the furniture.

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Over a nightstand

Create a grouping of dainty silhouettes to bulk up the profile of a skinny bedside lamp. Try a mirror in an old circular window over the headboard.

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In a hallway

Run with a theme. Here, it starts with a chinoiserie mirror and a collection of ginger jars. Bamboo brackets — with lots of "air" in between — give each jar individual attention, and make the collection more important.

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Over a bed

Buy four related prints and stretch them out along the wall: much more arresting than a skimpy pair, or the predictable block-of-four.

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