Are you an art collector? Maybe not a professional one, but you love thrift shopping for unique pieces to hang in your home. Or maybe you’re a DIY crafter and love to create custom art for your gallery walls. Whatever you like to collect and whatever decor style you prefer, how do you hang pictures after you have them? We’ve all taken hammers and haphazardly nailed them to the wall, but there are a few tricks of the trade that make hanging up your favorite photos and art pieces a little easier – without damaging the walls! If you’re like us, and typically have stacks of frames and decor just sitting around, we can help you tackle your to-do list.
The critical factors to think about when hanging a heavy picture is to think about what weight the picture is, what wall you’re hanging it on, and what hardware is best for the job. Read on as we give you our best tips for how to hang pictures like a pro.
Easy Tips That Will Help You Hang Pictures That Are Heavy
Sometimes you can just go for it when it comes to hanging up your decor, but sometimes the better option is to take your time and plan a strategy. Hopefully we give you some helpful tips to make your house feeling like a personalized home.
Determine Your Wall Type
The first step is to determine your wall type. Most interior walls are built using a wooden framework and a covering like drywall and plasterboard. Both of these are not really suitable for hanging anything heavy. Light and medium sized art can be hung on dry partition walls with traditional picture hooks with nails or steel pins. However, when it comes to heavy frames and pictures, you’ll need something strong.
You should definitely want to aim for the stud frame when hanging heavier pictures, since wood provides a more stable structure. The downside to this is that more often than not, the chances of finding a stud right where you want to hang your picture is pretty low. And if you have plaster walls, which is common for older homes, you MUST find a stud or the wall will simply crumble and your pictures will fall.
Use The Right Hardware
Finding the right hardware goes hand in hand with establishing your wall type. Toggle bolts will hold the greatest amount of weight because they are spring loaded and provide support from the back of the wall. This is also the best choice for plaster walls, though they do require a wider than normal drill bit to install. Start by drilling a hole the diameter of the folded toggle bolt and fold the spring-load wings to insert the bolt into the hole. When you let go, the wings will spread out behind the drywall. Then pull it back out and tighten. You can then use a picture hanger or hang the picture directly from the screw.
There are many other ways to hang heavy images though, depending on the weight of your picture. Using two sturdy picture hangers on two studs is another great way to add support to your picture, as two bolts or screws will hold a heavy painting much better than a single one.
However, we know that drilling holes into any wall can feel like a huge commitment, especially if you’re renting. Another option is to use hole free options like Command hooks, which have sticky adhesive that sticks to both the wall and the hooks. They have velcro strips that can hold more than 16 pounds, so even your heaviest frames are safe with these, and they come off seamlessly. If you’re nervous about drilling, or just plain don’t want to deal with the hassle of finding studs, this is a great alternative.
Measure Your Wall Space
The next step after determining what kind of wall you have is to actually measure out the space you have. There is a little bit of science behind how to hang pictures at just the right height. According to most gallery owners and museums, the most appealing place to hang any centerpiece photo is for the center of your piece to be 57 inches above the ground. This is the average human eye level. Mark that height on your wall and then measure your photo accordingly.
However, when it comes to gallery walls, all bets are off. Gallery style decorating means you get free range to hang decor however you want. If you’re clean and organized, then measure out a grid and hang them evenly. If you’re more of a free spirit, then mix and match mediums to create a custom look unique to you.
Weigh and Measure Your Art
Weighing and measuring your art pieces will help you determine where to hang them in your home as well as what hardware and technique you will use to hang them. You already know that heavier pieces require sturdier hardware, whereas lighter pieces can get away with hole free hardware like we discussed above.
We suggest measuring your art before you buy the fasteners, as the packaging will tell you how much weight they can hold.
Consider A Shelf
Another option we give to a lot of home buyers just moving in who are trying to decorate is to consider a shelf instead of hanging a bunch of artwork and photographs. A shallow picture shelf in your living room gives you the opportunity to constantly change your pieces out and rearrange them however you want.
Especially since plaster walls can be tricky, a shelf or picture rail is a great solution for those who like to redecorate often and for those who want to save their walls from too many holes. You’ll only have to find the studs once, and then you can decorate your space however you want by simply leaning art pieces against the wall.
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