Turn Old, Heavy Art Into Easy-To-Hang Pieces With One Simple Step

Vintage art provides such texture and dimension to a home, but large, heavy pieces certainly present a daunting task when it comes to hanging them on your walls. Taking in to consideration the weight your nails or hooks have to bear, if the print or painting is oversized or heavy, and then finding a stud and ensuring your drywall can hold it all add up to stressful projects. If you've ever passed up a large piece for fear of the work it would take to hang, this hack is for you. Rather than fretting over how and where you can display vintage artwork or large framed prints, you can remove the glass and cover the paper, canvas, or whatever material your art is on in Mod Podge, preserving it and giving it an aesthetic finish while also dropping some weight from the piece as a whole. Simple and effective, this trick may change the way you shop for and decorate your home.

It may surprise some to realize that the glass used in artwork or prints can actually add weight to the overall piece. Glass can get heavy, especially with larger sheets. If you're working with an oversized framed print or painting, the total poundage could really weigh your hanging down, so stripping off excess could help lighten the load a little.

While you always want to follow the rule of thumb when hanging extra large artwork, which is to keep it one foot off the ground, that's not the only issue you will deal with when it comes to these items. Ornate frames, heavy materials, and glass all add to the work your nails have to do. Just by removing a large piece of glass from your print or art hanging, you're making it easier to hang and you don't have to lose any of the luxury. That's because a layer (or several) of Mod Podge will give your canvas or paper a glossy (or matte) finish that can replicate the glass effect. This hack also protects the medium used to design your artwork, be that paint, pencil, or some other type. As long as the design is flat enough you can paint over it, you can try this trick to lift the load of your thrifted pieces. 

When you get your artwork home, you want to take the print or painting out of the frame. Make sure to do this carefully, as some paper or canvas may be older or even damaged. If the frame needs your attention, you can either focus on that first or work on covering your art in Mod Podge. For the frame, you may need to add wood filler or even glue, which can be used to fill in embellishments or cracks. Epoxy or molding clay can work, too. Repaint faded or worn materials, or even elevate them by adding Rub N Buff for a vintage, gold antique aesthetic.

With your painting or print out of the frame, you can assess if it needs any upgrades or TLC before adding your Mod Podge. There are several different finishes you can choose from, so make sure to consider the finished effect you want. This is also a great way to make printed pieces seem more like expensive artwork, and for those people who like to add to their second hand paintings, this helps make your paint match the older designs. If you haven't seen the way to personalize outdated thrift art with pets, you may want to check out the trend. Some thrifted art is a little funky or boring, but adding a little of your own designs can make it a customized piece for your home. 

Oversized prints or artwork is a great way to decorate large walls, so don't let the weight of these put you off. By getting a little clever with your overall piece, you can shed some of that heavy excess and enjoy vintage hangings in any room on almost any surface. Just when you thought Mod Podge couldn't serve any more purposes, it also helps you decorate your walls in a new and inventive way!