How to Hang a Shadow Box

What You'll Need
Drill (optional)
Hanging Hardware
Nail or hook
Shadow Box
Screwdriver or Hammer
Level
What You'll Need
Drill (optional)
Hanging Hardware
Nail or hook
Shadow Box
Screwdriver or Hammer
Level

A shadow box is a great way to display a small piece of artwork or a small picture. Shadow boxes are also popular for framing pressed flowers and sometimes even insects. Building a shadow box is a very easy project for anyone to do as long as you have the right tools and materials at your disposal. With a bit of patience and the right tools, you can create a pretty good finished product.

Step 1 - Getting Hardware

Some shadow boxes may include hardware to hang them on the wall but most of them won't. This is because most shadow boxes are designed specifically to sit on a desk rather than hang on a wall. If your frame didn't come with the necessary hardware then you need to make sure you get some before you can start work.

Any home hardware store should have the hardware required to hang your shadow box on the wall. You will need picture hanging wire, and nails or hooks. You might also need hot glue to stick the wire onto the corners of the frame.

Step 2 - Mounting the Hangers

You now need to mount the hanger on the corners of the shadow box frame. You can either use a small tack or even a blob of hot glue to stick the hangers onto the corners. Once you have done this you then have a very simple way of hanging the shadow boxes on the wall.

Step 3 - Positioning

Decide where you want to mount the shadow boxes by holding them against the wall and seeing what they look like. You might also want to ask your partner what they think about the shadow box positioning. Make sure that you are happy with the position before you put any fixings into the wall, otherwise you will end up filling and re-drilling holes which isn't easy.

Mark on the wall with a pencil line where you want the nail to go to hang the shadow box. It's important to mark instead of trying to hold your finger against the wall. Only then are you ready to put the fixings into the wall.

Step 4 - Hanging the Shadow Box

Once you have marked the right spot for the nail you can then proceed and hammer the nail in, remember though to leave enough space to hang the box on. It's also important to make sure that you aren't going to cause any damage to water pipes or electrical cables.

Instead of using a nail you might prefer to use a small hook, in which case you should drill a small hole and then screw the hook into place. Try and position the shadow boxes so that there is no gap between them and the wall, this will make them look like a much more natural feature of your home.

Then all that's left to do is make sure that the shadow box is level and not leaning to one side. If you don't already have a level, you can buy one at any hardware store.