How To Display Antique Cast Iron Floor Grates

Those old square cast iron floor grates make great decorations. Many of them have interesting designs that look wonderful when hung on the wall. Proper placement is key to making them look right.

You have found a great floor grate which go great with the décor in your kitchen. Now that you’ve brought it home, you put a nail in the wall near the fridge placing your floor grate over it. Viola!

Taking a step back, you admire your new purchase. You move your head, looking at the hanging from all angles. Then you do a double take and stare at the grate. Something is definitely not right but you cant put your finger on it.

If you find yourself standing back from your hanging décor, dissatisfied with the look, dont despair. It is not uncommon to make these mistakes that you can see look awkward but you do not know how to fix. Use the guidelines below when hanging pictures or wall hangings on a wall:

Hanging Large Grates:

Larger floor grates could be an area of focus so it needs to go in the appropriate spot. Where is the best spot to hang large décor? Try over a couch, behind the dining set, over a fireplace or on a feature wall. A feature wall is where the placement of furniture or the layout of the home naturally guides the eye to a wall - a great place to feature unusual grates.

Hanging Small Grates:

Smaller pieces should be grouped together so that they do not get “lost” in the rest of the décor. Using similar or matching frames and matting make this look more pleasing. Hang a single smaller piece low on the wall and as close to the furniture as possible, otherwise it will seem to be floating.

Grouping Floor Grates:

The key to grouping pieces together is to space them properly. Space them about 3” away from each other. But how to you figure out which piece to put where? Try laying them out on the floor first – that way you can arrange and re-arrange until you get the perfect setup, without making a lot of holes in the wall.

HEIGHT:

Floor grates looks best when hung with the center point at eye level. That means the center should be about 60 to 66 inches from the floor. If you've visited a gallery you will see that the frames are not lined up by their top or bottom edges but that the pictures are all centered at the same height.

If the grate will be viewed from the couch or while sitting at the table, then it should be hung at sitting eye level.

If you are hanging it behind the couch, make sure it is no more than 10” above the back.

With these easy tips you should have no problem creating wonderful arrangements that will have designer appeal.