Art is one of the few universal elements of human culture. While it may differ from place to place and throughout the ages, art as an entity has remained regardless of who you are or where you come from. It's for this reason and many others that those who collect art on either a commercial or personal level should have the sense to display it properly, both for the sake of aesthetics as well as preservation. For the sake of the most valuable pieces of your collection, read over this guide on hanging paintings with a cable display system to learn how you can best present things in a safe and satisfying manner.

Find the Right System

Cable display systems are not all created equally. There are a few differences between different systems, these being in terms of both look and function depending on what you pick. For starters, consider the space you'll be hanging your art inside. How much room do you have? How much are you hanging? Where do you intend to hang it in the space? From there, you can decide whether your display system would work better mounted to the wall or hanging from the ceiling. Both are effective at hanging paintings and pictures with a few key differences in how they will eventually turn out. Wall systems tend to be better for smaller collections as they don't take up as much space while ceiling systems give you the option of hanging things in the middle of a room if desired.

Build the System

Making the decisions for what kind of system you want is just the first step; now you have to build it. Ceiling and wall rail systems are where you begin, the next part being to select whether you'd like a cable or a rod to hang pictures from. Functionally, there's not too much difference between the two, though a cleaner rod versus a more rustic cable can be an important distinction for aesthetic reasons. After that, you'll have to find a hook. Cables and rods both use their own style of hook with many different types of hooks available in each. The regular utility hook as an all-purpose asset, a safety hook for fewer accidents, an L-hook for added support on heavier frames, an anti-theft hook for galleries, and more are some of your basic choices. Modular cable display systems aren't short on options, so be sure to consider what you need (plus how much you need) as you go about building up your order.

Hang the Rails

Once you've got your hands on your system, it's time to start your assembly. Regardless of the type of rails you decided on, your first task will be to hang them up before anything else. This is generally a simple task requiring either a few screws in the rail itself or some wall adhesives on the rail track attachment. However, priming the area for hanging is a good idea to improve the look of your finished system and ensure a secure hold. Clean off the space you intend to hang and preemptively find any studs that will make for good anchor points. Additionally, try to find how level the area you're hanging is so you can adjust if needed.

Assemble the System

Once you've hung your rails, slide the cables/rods onto the rails. Give the system a light tug to make sure everything is secure and isn't falling down, then affix the hooks you're using to the ends of the cables/rods. From there, simply a hook up your pictures and enjoy.

A proper display system is one of the best ways to appreciate and preserve your art collection. If you're new to this kind of thing, try following along with this guide for both selecting and using a cable display system to get you off on the right foot. And if you're looking for a display system to use in your gallery, check out Systemic Art today.