Perhaps your family is growing and you've added a new bathroom to your home. Now you want to hang a bathroom mirror. The good news is that you can hang a bathroom mirror in a very short period of time, if you have a few tools and some know-how. And asking someone to help in the process will speed up the task considerably. Also, if possible, hang a bathroom mirror before you set up the vanity. Being able to get close to the wall simplifies things.
- The first thing to do is the get the height of the mirror right. Hold the mirror to the wall and, with erasable pencil, mark where you want the top to be. Take into consideration the heights of those who will use it, and also the placement of lighting fixtures above the mirror.
- The next step is the tricky one. You will need to find where to place the screws on which you will hang the mirror's mounting wire. This is where a buddy's help is great. Each of you should grasp the mounting wire an equal distance from the center of the wire to the edge of the mirror. This is where you will place the screws in the wall. Position the mirror against the wall so that the top is just above the mark you made. Now, mark the position where your fingers are grasping the wire.
- Put the mirror down, and pick up a level, if you have one. Hold the level to the two marks you made, and adjust one of the marks up or down, if needed. The mounting wire hanging level will mean the mirror hangs level. If you do not have a level, get something really straight, like a yard stick, and "eyeball" the two marks. Since the mirror hangs freely on the wire, it can be slightly adjusted to be level after hanging.
- Now, drill holes in the wall where you've marked them. If you have a stud finder, you may want to use it to find two studs, and adjust where you place the holes accordingly. If you hit studs, simply install the mounting screws into them. If you cannot use studs, it is imperative that you place plastic anchors into the holes, to support the mounting screws. When the screws are secure, up goes the mirror.
This is the best way to hang a mirror with a mounting wire attached to the back.
In the age of condos and small living areas, space has become a valuable commodity. People have put a high premium on large interiors and lavish gardens. It is hard to think that space, the absence of any other thing, has become more valuable than the actual things occupying it. But because there is only a finite amount of space, its value has increased immensely.
As our population grows, so does the space we consume. We need space to live in, grow our food, enjoy our time in, and accomplish almost every other activity. We cannot accommodate all of these needs, thus we tend to scrimp on the space that we do live in. Hence, the popularity of condos and small starter homes for those who can't afford the luxury of more space.
If you cannot afford the extra space, you might as well make the most of what you have. You can use multi-purpose furniture. Creating second and third floors is another efficient use of a small space. However, one of the most inexpensive way you can make your place look and feel larger is through the use of mirrors. Follow these simple steps and you can place a heavy wall mirror as a do-it-yourself project. Learn to do it safely and avoid the seven years of bad luck that accompany a broken mirror.
- Decide where to put your mirror. The location where you put your mirror is a crucial step in your installation. Look at the area and see if the wall is strong enough to hold a heavy mirror. Is it also big enough for your mirror to fit within the space? You also need to look at the area and check for obstructions that will block the view of the mirror. If you are into feng shui, the location of mirror is very important for the proper flow of the energy of the house.
- Mark it. Get a pencil and use it to mark where you will eventually put the mirror. To do this, place the mirror flat on the wall where you want to put it. Use a carpenter’s level to see if the mirror is level to the ground. Then, using your knee or with the help of another, hold the mirror in place while you mark the four corners of the mirror. Set aside your mirror leaning against a free wall and proceed to the next step.
- Mirror clips. Since you are using a frameless mirror, you will need four mirror clips. You can easily find them in your local hardware store. Place the mirror clip along the bottom of the mark you made earlier--two inches from the edge should be a good place to put the mirror clip. Once you have placed the mirror clip, draw a mark on the hole of the mirror clip. Then, using a long nail, punch a hole through to determine if there is a wall stud, if it gets harder as you get deeper, then you are on the right place. If the nail just punches through easily, then you must be on the wrong spot. Move it a couple inches towards the middle and check for a stud again. Repeat the same step for the upper edge of the frameless mirror.
- Hang the mirror. Mark the hole where you wish to put the mirror clips. Repeat the previous steps in finding the stud. Before you screw in the top mirror clips, place your frameless mirror right on the mirror clips at the bottom. Screw in the top mirror clips to hold the frameless mirror into place.
The more you look into the mirror, the more you will appreciate the work you have done. It is all part of the hard work you have put into hanging that mirror. Congratulations! You have learned how to hang a mirror in your home. Now enjoy the extra space in your home and your lovely reflection while you look into it.
The most common mistake people make when hanging pictures is hanging them way too high – an error sometimes referred to as ‘tall husband syndrome.’ Experts always recommend that paintings be hung at ‘eye level,’ but the question remains: Whose eye? I recommend that you take 'eye level' to be 60 inches, or 1500mm. This may seem too low at first, but I promise you, it’s not. If you follow the steps below, you’ll have your pictures hung perfectly in no time at all, and in a style that any gallery would be proud of.
Step 1
Measure the height of your frame and divide the result in half (a).
Step 2
Measure the distance between the wire at full tension and the top of the frame (b). Subtract (b) from (a) to give a third figure (c).
Step 3
Add 60 inches (or 1500mm) to figure (c). This is your grand total (d).
Step 4
Starting from the floor, measure (d) up the wall and mark the spot with an 'x.'
Step 5
Bang a nail in at the 'x,' hang your picture, and then stand back and admire your handiwork. It's that easy! Note: You will need to measure all your pictures individually as frame size and wire tension varies, however Step 3 remains the same for all pictures.
There are several methods of hanging a quilt. Often choosing the method really depends on you, your quilt, whether or not you want to be able to use the quilt as a quilt, and the time you want to put into hanging the quilt. Choose the method that works best for you because there isn't a "right" way or a wrong way.
Step 1
Use a quilt hanger. There is a nifty little tool called a quilt hanger. They come in all sizes and are two pieces of wood (a front and back). You carefully place the edge of your quilt between the wooden bars and screw them tight with the knobs included. This doesn't puncture the quilt and holds it in place. They can then easily be hung to the wall with nails. These cost about $20 for a small one and come in sizes all the way up to 90" for $120. If you are hanging a big quilt this could be expensive, however this is a safe way and doesn't do damage to your quilt. You can also move your quilt around to limit stretching and fading.
There are a couple of other similar items on the market that will work just as well. Just follow the directions to have a beautifully hung quilt in little time.
Step 2
Hand on a decorative curtain rod. Choose a decorative rod that will be wide enough to hold you quilt. These are usually metal with some fancy decorations and hand on brackets. Next cut a piece of white muslin the same width as the quilt and about four to five inches wide. Carefully sew the material into a sleeve wide enough for your curtain rod onto the back of the quilt. It is best if you use a slip stitch over the top of the material for fast sewing and easy removal. Slide the curtain rod through the sleeve and hang it on the wall. This does some damage, but is easy to remove.
Step 3
Tack it to the wall. Carefully use heavy duty upholstery tacks to pin the quilt to the wall. This is easy, fast, inexpensive, requires no sewing skills, and only damages the quilt a little bit.
Hanging a quilt can give you another use for a beautiful piece, can add a lot to a room, and can be beautiful. Here are a few things to remember:
- Keep it out of direct sunlight because it will fade.
- It is a good idea to move it around a bit to relieve some of the pressure and help it to not get stretched out as much.
- If the quilt is folded and then hung, you can rearrange it easier.
You may think you know how to hang pictures on your wall, but there are huge differences between picture hanging on drywall and on masonry or brick walls. To hang a picture on a brick wall, it's crucial to use picture hangers that are designed for masonry. You can use one of two picture hangers depending on the amount of masonry around the brick: brick clips or brick hooks (also called wall anchors). Brick clips (or brick clamps) cost approximately $5.00 for a pack of two, and can be purchased at Hobby Lobby, at some hardware stores, or online. You will need not need tools to install these clips, but they're only effective for hanging pictures on brick that is exposed at least 1/8 inch.
How to hang a picture using brick clamps:
- Measure the exposed dimension of your brick to ensure accurate size choice.
- Install the brick clip onto the exposed end of the brick by hooking the bottom spring end onto the brick then snapping the top tooth end in place.
- Check to make sure the clip is flush against the brick.
- If the item weighs more than 25 pounds, add additional clips as needed.
- Hang your picture using either the top or the bottom hook on the brick clip.
Your second option is to use a brick hook (also known as a wall anchor). Brick hooks are essentially hooks with nails that do not bend. Brick hooks cost approximately $3.00 for a set of two and can be purchased online or in hardware stores; they make great wall hangers for walls where the brick isn't exposed past the mortar. To install these wall hooks, you will need a drill, a 1/8 inch masonry drill bit, and a small hammer. These hanging hooks are best suited to bricks where the mortar is flush with the end of the brick.
How to use brick hooks:
- Measure and mark the place where you will hang the picture. Since you are making a hole in the brick masonry, you do not want to make a mistake.
- Choose the brick hook(s) according to the weight of the picture.
- Drill a starter hole with the 1/8" diameter masonry bit into the mortar of the brick. Drilling into the brick may cause it to crack.
- Install the hook onto the wall by tapping it with the nail into the hole that you started with the drill.
- Hang the picture on the installed brick hook.
.png)
