Hanging is fun

People see hanging paintings as a chore but you should approach it as an exercise that can be great fun - like trying on new clothes. When hanging paintings, put them on the ground along the wall in roughly the positions where you think they'll go. Then make selections from the paintings and move them around to make a composition in which the paintings will be seen in their best light.

Do the unexpected

If you have one or two paintings it is tempting to hang them symmetrically and put one over a fireplace or two in alcoves either side but, especially if you are in a modern home, you should think about hanging them more imaginatively and in unexpected places. The way to do this is to experiment and move them around until you find a place in which the painting looks good and where it invigorates or indeed calms the space. You can hang paintings anywhere including the stairs and hall. Because kitchens and bathrooms are steamy, watercolours will have to be glazed.

No need to match

Don't feel that you have to pick out colours in the painting to use in your interior. Paintings stand alone and do not have to be similar to wall colours.

Balance the look

In some cases a painting can be so strong that if it is, say, in one corner of the room, it can weigh down that area and will need to be counterbalanced by another painting or an important piece of furniture. This is especially the case in rooms with an irregular shape and layout. Living spaces need balance and repose.

What's your group?

Many people find the notion of putting lots of paintings on one wall a difficult one. It's like creating a mosaic of paintings and can be done well although it may be difficult to enjoy a particular painting from the group.You can approach it practically by grouping paintings, for instance by artist, period or subject. You could have portraits in one room, landscapes in another and nudes in the bedroom.

Don't hang 'em high

A common mistake people make is to hang their paintings too high. Remember that galleries hang their paintings to be seen from a standing position and in homes, they're usually seen from a sitting, or in bedrooms, even a lying position.

Choose the right frame

Another mistake people make is using frames which don't complement the painting although there are no standard rules about whether you should have an ornate frame or wooden one and so on. It is very much to do with the painting. You also need to make a decision about how the painting will be mounted and whether to have glass.

Not on the nail

If you hang a painting from a picture rail with a fishing line you will be able to change its position more easily than if you hang it from a nail, as every time you move it you will damage the wall.

Damage by daylight

Daylight damages all paintings, especially watercolours. For this reason, the National Gallery shows its Turner paintings only in January. To prevent direct sunlight hitting your paintings you could hang them either side of a window, although then you'll be looking directly into the light when you view them so they won't be very clear. Watercolours should always be protected by glass.

Buy from the living

I would urge people to follow a rule of thumb to buy only from living artists and from painters who are younger than you or your parents. Encouraging young painters is a nice thing to do and it would be great if people sacrificed some other luxury in order to buy a painting. There are many good galleries around the country which have fine paintings by talented artists. When choosing a painting take your time over it, go back to the gallery a few times and consult with your partner. Many galleries will let you have a painting on approval so you can look at it in your home. Most galleries will give you a background on artists and they often keep portfolios. You can phone a gallery in advance and say that you want to see the work of a certain artist and they will mount a mini-exhibition for you. This way you can choose from a number of works and are more likely to find something that really appeals to you.

The pleasure principle

We need to change our attitude to buying paintings. We shouldn't see it as an investment but as something that will give us pleasure for life. If it appreciates in value, then that's an unexpected bonus, although it may throw you into a quandary about whether to sell it because people become extremely attached to paintings. After having gone to the trouble of buying a painting, you should take time out to look at it. Every so often, sit for half an hour in front of your artwork and befriend it.