How to Hang Artwork in Front of Curtains
This is one of my go-to designer tricks for a layered look! I know it’s not for everyone, but I’m a big fan… whether you’re installing artwork in front of canopy bed panels or you’d like to float artwork in front of your stacked drapery between windows, this quick tutorial is for you! This layered artwork installation instantly adds dimension, softness, and a designer touch to any vignette- but it can be tricky to execute. In this post, I’m walking you through exactly how I do it. I’m sharing my tools, measurements, and the simple steps I rely on to securely hang art in front of drapery, while keeping everything looking clean, elevated, and intentional. Click through for my DIY on how to hang artwork in front of curtains!
Whether you’re finishing a bedroom or styling a living room, this is a method you can reuse again and again. It’s also one of my favorite designer hacks to layer visual interest without giving up functionality or texture. If you’re on the hunt for drapery that looks elevated but doesn’t stretch your budget, I recently shared a roundup of The Best Budget Curtains That Look Custom. It pairs perfectly with this tutorial if you’re pulling a space together from scratch. Let’s get started!
Why I Love This Look
Hanging art in front of curtains adds a layered and thoughtful aesthetic you don’t see every day. It’s definitely a styling decision that makes a room look more considered and elevated. I’ve used this approach in bedrooms, dining rooms, and living rooms when wall space was limited or the vignette needed a little something extra. It’s a great way to bring art into a space without sacrificing beautiful window treatments.
What You Will Need
Here’s what we used for our installation:
- Artwork (sized to work well with your wall space or curtain panels)
- Scrap wood (cut to match the height of the artwork)
- Small wood blocks (to build out the projection)
- Picture Hanger (I used a sawtooth hanger)
- Laser Level (or regular level)
- Tape Measure and Pencil
- Power Drill
- Drywall Anchors & Screws
- Sticky Tack (for stabilizing)
I used leftover materials from other projects, so don’t overthink sourcing these. A few scrap pieces of wood and a simple hanger will do the job just fine!
Step-by-Step: Hanging Art in Front of Curtains
Step 1: Mark Your Center Line
We began by measuring the center of the wall and used a laser level to mark exactly where we wanted the artwork to hang.
I always make sure the piece is centered between the drapery panels and placed at a height that doesn’t interfere with the rod or finials. In this case, I used our canopy bed to frame the artwork.
Step 2: Prep Your Artwork
If your art doesn’t already have one, screw a sawtooth hanger directly into the back. I prefer this to wire hangers because it keeps the artwork tight to the wall and doesn’t allow it to tilt or sag.
We located a scrap piece of wood and cut it to the exact vertical size of our art, spanning from top to bottom.
Step 3: Create Spacer Blocks
This part is key. To float the artwork out in front of the drapery panels, we made two “block sandwiches” from scrap wood to match the depth we needed. Built this out as far as you’d like for the projection.
Here’s a closer look at our little wood block sandwich… we needed two of these (one for the top and one for the bottom) that perfectly match, in regard to depth.
These give the illusion that the artwork is floating and create space between the curtains and the art.
Then, we double checked our measurements, moving the strip onto the wall, making sure everything was aligned and properly measured.
Step 4: Mount the Blocks
We used drywall anchors to securely attach the blocks to the wall. One goes behind the top of the artwork and one behind the bottom.
Next, you’ll set the drywall anchors. These are especially important for installing heavy, oversized, or custom framed pieces of art. They add stability and ensure the artwork doesn’t rip from the wall… especially for pieces that project or appear to float, as they pull away from the wall.
Screw the first block into the wall, and repeat the process with the second block. Remember- they don’t have to look pretty, as they’ll be totally hidden.
Step 5: Attach the Vertical Support
Next, we screwed the narrow wood strip into the blocks. This vertical strip supports the artwork and keeps it in place without letting it lean or swing.
Step 6: Hang and Stabilize the Art
Add a nail to the strip, then you’re ready to hang your art! Keep in mind, it will be a bit wobbly, but we’ll address that in the next step.
My easy secret weapon for hanging and securing artwork is sticky tack. On the backside of the artwork (between the art and the wood strip), I rolled up generous balls of sticky tack, pressing to secure the art at the bottom. Once secured, check the art to ensure it is no longer wobbling or can be tilted.
Step 7: Style Your Drapes
After the art is up, I like to train the curtains around the piece using my steamer or a few pins. If your drapery is mostly decorative and does not need to move, it’s worth styling once… then allow it to sit that way. Check out this post on how to train readymade curtains– it’s a must-read for this tutorial.
Why I Always Come Back to This Method
I use this trick all the time because it solves a problem I run into often. When the perfect wall for art is already covered in fabric, it might seem off-limit… but art actually enhances the vignette by adding depth. You can absolutely layer art right over your curtains with just a few simple tools and a bit of planning. It adds so much charm without making the space look too busy, and once it’s up and styled- I always adore the end result.
FAQ
They are still functional, but it’s more of a pain to keep them looking nice and styled. I primarily use this trick when the curtains are purely decorative (like behind my bed). It’s great for layered window treatments… when you’re using the roman shades for function, and the drapery panels for aesthetics.
Definitely. I’ve done this with pinch pleats, linen panels, and even heavy blackout curtains. As long as the panels hang straight and aren’t too bulky, you can layer art in front.
Absolutely! You can find my bed here… it’s actually on sale right now. Check out our maroon guest bedroom tour if you missed it. It’s one of my favorite spaces we’ve tackled on a budget.
Related Posts
If you’re planning a room refresh or are working on styling for the season ahead, here are a few more posts that walk through similar design details:
- Timeless Tips for a Bedroom Refresh Without a Renovation
- Best Affordable Bedding for a Designer-Looking Bed
- Traditional Neutral Gallery Wall Picks
- How to “Train” Readymade Curtains
- 20 Things Every Bedroom Should Have (According to A Designer)
- How to Install Casual Linen Drapery Panels
- How to Choose the Best Picture Light for Your Artwork
- Maroon Guest Bedroom Reveal
- Designer Picks: The Best Bed Frames from Wayfair
If you’ve ever been stumped on how to hang art in front of curtains, I hope this post gives you the confidence to try it! It’s such a simple upgrade that can really pull a room together. Let me know if you try it… I’d love to see your results. Here’s to a beautiful long weekend ahead. We’re enjoying time away in Jackson Hole to close out the summer season.
Good morning! What a clever solution! I absolutely love the layered look of the art and the drapery, but I’m not sure I could have conjured that MacGyver on my own. I am the laziest of art hangers. On the rare occasion when I deign to measure, my results still lack precision. I actually think my eyeballing is more accurate! Ha. I’ll definitely have to keep your sticky tack tip in mind. I recently endeavored to move a painting, and the double-sided tape hanger pulled a chunk of paint off my wall.🤬 Color me displeased. Art installation at my house really is fraught with complications. Anyway! I’m living for these sneak peeks of the guest room! That’s going to be a super-fun reveal!
Happy to hear that you had a rejuvenating adventure in Jackson Hole! Your pics of the hotel were certainly adorable. I so admire (and envy!) your intrepid spirit. We should add quick weekend getaways to our travel repertoire. Until then, I’ll keep vicariously enjoying yours.😄 Cheers to a lovely week, Sarah!💜
Thanks, Peggi! I’ve also seen some people use curtain brackets to hang art in this way, but my artwork was far too heavy for that. I think either way, it’s a MacGyver situation. Ha! I am SO with you on eyeballing. Emmett always measures, but asks me to double check because I feel like I can usually tell when it’s off. You should see the art in our Tuesday Made office… I just went around hunting for existing nails and plopped things onto the wall. It’s a haphazard situation I should probably correct soon- a painting here, a print there, etc. I’m just waiting on my art to share the guest room. I’m having some of my photos framed. Jackson Hole is always a fun time! The hotel was really charming, the skiing was good, and I definitely indulged in some foods I shouldn’t be eating at the moment, whoops. I’ve got a little blog post with a recap lined up for Friday- and I came home with a couple vintage pieces I thrifted. A good trip, indeed. I’m so excited you’re going to Maine this year!! Hope you’re having a great week!
Well, aren’t you clever! I was wondering how you installed it when I saw the photo. It is beautiful above the bed and in front of the curtains! The size and print is so pretty! I thought you used fishing string to hang from the bed frame LOL! Your method is much more stable & brilliant! My husband & I had to repair half of our wooden fence door due to a certain dog who visited and chewed it up. After several tries, it is finally mended and back up. We made a couple of “newbie” errors but with crossing fingers it is up and hopefully will not be torn up when the dog returns. Ha!
Your trip to the mountains sounds perfect this time of year. Look forward to seeing the completed room. Hope your Monday is off to a good start!
Thank you, Danna! Hey- I suppose fishing line would also work? Hah! I’m so sorry to hear about your fence… oh, dogs. I’m glad it’s finally mended and back up. That’s no easy feat. Way to go you two! Jackson Hole was such a fun getaway. I love that all these mountain towns are within driving distance from us. I’ve been enjoying our winter road trips. I hope you’re having a wonderful week! xo
I love the look you’ve gone for here- completely missed the sneak on Instagram, but that just means I’ll be even more blown away by the reveal. Ha! I’ve never endeavored to hang art in front of curtains, but it is certainly dreamy. And thanks to your always thorough tutorials, should I ever desire to, I’ll know just how to tackle it! The artwork looks incredible against the ticking stripe and the bed. I am itching to see it all come together and what other surprises you have in store for us. I did get to see your ski views and the lovely images of Jackson Hole. It definitely brought back memories of skiing in Coeur d’Alene and exploring Jackson Hole on our way to Yellowstone. What a lovely weekend getaway! I hope your Monday is less windy than mine- it feels like a tornado is working it’s way through this morning- we’ve already had heavy patio furniture blown across the yard, our deck box lid ripped off the hinge, and our AC unit slid off its concrete pad. 😳 It’s blustery to say the least. Hahah. We’re sliding into the week hanging on for dear life over here! Have a great one Sarah!
Thanks, Lauren! I’m anxiously awaiting my artwork from the framer, so I can photograph everything. I decided to print some of my photos and have them framed, so it will be fun to share those, too! Jackson Hole was such a fun weekend- I love that it brought back happy memories for you. It’s one of my favorite places. I even came home with some vintage taxidermy, which I know you’ll appreciate! Our weather this week has also been kind of crazy… snow, snow, and more snow- with fog mixed in. Not as much wind though. I hope you didn’t have any serious damage! I hope sliding into Wednesday is going better than Monday, haha! xo
Happy Monday Sarah! So glad you had a wonderful weekend skiing, I know how much you enjoy it and a weekend of outdoor fun was a perfect getaway indeed.
Well I loved getting a glimpse into the guest bedroom with this mornings post. Looks gorgeous 😍 I love, love the wall color and the layered sophistication of curtains and artwork. Wow! How incredibly clever 👍 And beautiful! Can’t wait to see the reveal, it’s going to be exciting! How amazing it is Emmett can tackle any project you request with such precision and perfection. Andrew hung curtains here in this house in Florida and unfortunately he wasn’t so precise 🙈 This type of task is not his strong suit, but bless his heart he really tries. Most artwork he can hang pretty well but a project like this might be risky ☺️
We are so happy to be enjoying the sunshine and warmth, and seeing our wonderful neighbors and friends in Florida. Wishing you a fabulous Monday! Xoxo
Hi Colleen! I’m playing catch up here this morning, as I’m watching the snow fall. We’re actually headed to Canada in a few weeks for a ski trip, and it will be my first time visiting CA (so crazy, I know)! We’ll be in Banff & Revelstoke, if you have any suggestions. I’m really excited to share the bedroom. I’m just waiting on my arrive to be framed, then it will be ready to photograph. I’m happy with how everything has come together. It’s making me want to tackle our main bedroom next. Ha! Aw, Andrew… so sweet of him to hang the curtains (even if they weren’t totally perfect). I’m so glad to hear you two have been enjoying the sunshine, warmth, friends, & neighbors in Florida! That sounds like the best time. Enjoy it!! xox
You have such an amazing eye for things. What laser level do you use? I want to start installing picture frames myself! Thank you!