Here are some tips to help you limit the number of holes, dings and dents you put in your wall when hanging artwork in your home.

• Select what appeals to you. The artwork can reflect your personal style or be chosen to complement the period feel of a room. Consider having the mat or frame echo the wall color to create a coordinated look.
• The room is your gallery. A grouping of large pictures will overwhelm a small room. In a large room, add visual weight to a group of small pictures by hanging them over a piece of furniture. Display artwork in a corner or alcove to create an inviting niche within a room.
• Work with your background. Busy backgrounds need strong images and frames. Dark walls are good backdrops for monochromatic works and for frames with gold or decorative finishes. Watercolors, pastels and other delicate paintings stand out better on light colored walls.
• Plan ahead. Sketch the wall, furniture, and artwork on graph paper to get an idea of whether the size and scale of the pieces will work well together.
• Let your eyes be your guide to determine which pictures need space around them and which look better in a group. Have someone hold the pictures against the wall so you can stand back and get an idea of the end result.
• Cluster small artwork for greater impact.
• Center large pictures over a sofa or console. Allow 4 to 5 inches from the top of the sofa, slightly higher for a console.
• Mix and match. A variety of frames, plaques, or sculptures on a bracket add visual interest to an otherwise bare wall.
• Measure to find the center of the piece. Allow for the drop of wire, and make a mark where you will put the hanger.

Never use just nails. A proper picture hook will protect your walls and bear the weight of the picture. Place a piece of Scotch tape on the wall where you will insert the hook to prevent the plaster or drywall from cracking. Watch your fingers.