How to hang artwork without drilling holes in the wall

Hanging artwork is a great way to decorate and express your personality through your home. However, there are certain places where you may want to hang art but cannot use nails, perhaps because you don’t want to leave large holes in the wall, cannot drill or hammer through the wall, or need to frequently change the artwork or layout. This is why it’s essential to know how to hang artwork without nails. You can use push pins, adhesive products, and many other creative methods. There are several techniques to choose from, and you can select the best one for your needs based on the available tools and the specific situation.

Remove any components that are used to hang the artwork. The adhesive hangers need a flat surface to stick to, so you must remove any protruding parts that were already installed on the back of the frame, such as nails, screws, hanging wire, keyholes, or threaded heads—anything that disrupts the flatness of the artwork's back.

• Picture hangers (as well as nails and adhesive hooks) are available at office supply stores, craft shops, home goods stores, or online retailers.

Clean the surface. The adhesive hanger requires a smooth surface to stick securely, so you must use a clean cloth soaked in alcohol to wipe both the artwork and the wall area where you plan to hang it.

• Allow the surface to dry before applying the adhesive.

Apply the adhesive hangers. For each set of adhesive hangers, press both sides of the adhesive together. For each set, remove the protective paper and press the sticky side onto the back of the artwork. Hold it in place for 30 seconds. Repeat this process until the necessary number of adhesive sets are applied.

• One set of adhesive hangers can hold up to 1.36 kg, and is sufficient for most artwork sized 20x28 cm. If using only one set, place it at the midpoint of the top edge of the artwork.
• Two sets of adhesive hangers can hold up to 2.7 kg, and are suitable for most artwork sized 28x44 cm. Place the two sets at the upper corners of the artwork.
• Four sets of adhesive hangers can hold up to 5.4 kg, and work for most artwork sized 46x61 cm. Place two sets at the top corners of the artwork and the remaining two sets at the sides, about two-thirds of the way down from the top.

Secure the artwork to the wall. First, remove the protective paper to expose the adhesive. Then, press the artwork against the wall. Gently peel the adhesive strips from the artwork by pulling the two bottom corners and lifting it up. Press your fingers onto the adhesive strips on the wall for 30 seconds.

Wait for an hour. This gives the adhesive time to dry and bond securely. After one hour, you can reattach the artwork to align the adhesive strips in their proper positions.

Clean the wall. Just like the adhesive hangers, nails, and hooks require a clean surface. Therefore, you need to use a clean cloth soaked in alcohol to wipe the wall and then allow it to dry.

• The back of the nails and adhesive hooks contains a sticky surface that will adhere to the wall, and you can hang the artwork using the pre-installed hanging components on the artwork. Depending on the existing hanging hardware on your artwork, you may need to purchase the appropriate adhesive wall hanging equipment.

Prepare the adhesive surface. Remove the protective paper from the adhesive and apply it to the hooks or nails.

• Some adhesive hooks already come with the adhesive backing in place. Skip this step and move on to the next if you buy hooks that already have adhesive attached.

Attach the hooks or nails to the wall. First, remove the protective paper from the adhesive on the back of the hook or nail. At the spot where you want to hang the artwork, press the hook or nail firmly against the wall for 30 seconds.

Wait about an hour for the adhesive to dry. After one hour, you can hang the artwork as usual using the hooks pre-attached to the artwork.

• Be sure to determine the weight of the artwork before purchasing adhesive nails, as they typically only support weights from 2.3 to 3.6 kg, while smaller hooks can hold between 0.5 to 0.9 kg.
• If you want to hang heavier artwork beyond the capacity of a single nail or hook, use multiple hooks. Make sure to distribute the weight evenly by using a level while installing.

Select the type of hook. Push-in hooks come in various brands and are designed to be pressed into the wall without the need for a hammer, nails, or any other tools. Popular brands include Hercules Hooks, Super Hooks, Monkey Hooks, and Gorilla Hooks. These hooks are made from different materials and are categorized by their weight capacity, but they do create a small hole in the wall. According to the manufacturers:

• The Hercules Hook can support up to 68 kg.
• The Super Hook can support up to 36.28 kg.
• The Monkey Hook can support up to 15.87 kg.
• The Gorilla Hook can support up to 22.67 kg.

Install the hook into the wall. Push the long, slightly curved, and pointed end of the hook into the wall. Once the pointed end is mostly in, position it so the hook’s head is facing upward (this allows you to hang items on it). Secure the hook by pushing the pointed end completely into the wall.

Hang the artwork. Push-in hooks are usually sold in packs of four or more. To hang heavy artwork using two hooks, measure the width of the artwork and divide it into three equal sections. Place one hook at one-third of the width, and the second hook at two-thirds. For heavier artwork that requires three hooks, measure the width and divide it into four equal sections. Place one hook at one-quarter, another at the center (two-thirds), and the last at three-quarters of the width.

Select the type of adhesive. Double-sided tape can hold lightweight artwork, though it is not designed for this purpose and may peel off paint when removed. Reusable adhesive is made for light-weight art, but it may soften over time and become difficult to remove from the wall.

• Reusable adhesive and tape have enough holding power to secure art without frames or posters (not within a frame), but they cannot support more than 0.5 kg.
• Single-sided tape can be converted into double-sided tape by cutting a long strip, then rolling it into a circle with the sticky side facing out, and tightly connecting the ends to form a closed loop.

Prepare the wall. Adhesives work best on smooth surfaces, so clean the wall with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol. While waiting for the wall to dry, wipe the back of your poster or artwork with a dry cloth.

• Wash your hands before using reusable adhesive to avoid dust and sweat transferring to the adhesive.

Prepare the artwork. Place the artwork face down on a flat surface. Press small adhesive dots or double-sided tape onto the corners of the back of the artwork. If the artwork is large, apply tape around the outer edges on the back side.

Hang the artwork. After positioning the adhesive or tape, lift the artwork and place it against the wall in the desired location, pressing the artwork into the wall to secure the adhesive or tape.

Find existing mounting points on the wall. Look for hooks, screws, vents, or protrusions that are already on the wall and can support additional weight. This method works best for lightweight artworks that are unframed.

• Look for protruding structures on the wall that you can loop a wire through without exceeding their load capacity.

Tie the wire. Cut a piece of wire, braided cord, or string long enough to stretch between two points on the wall. Leave some extra length at both ends for tying knots. Secure each end of the wire at these points. You can either tighten the wire or leave it slightly slack.

• A taut wire will appear stronger and more uniform, while a slack wire looks more artistic. Choosing between these two methods is purely a matter of aesthetics.
• Wires can be harder to tie than standard cord or braided string, but they create an industrial look and allow the picture to slide across the wire if you want to reposition it. Wire is thin yet strong, but it cannot sag.
• Braided and regular cords are easier to tie, and they can either hang slack or tight, giving a more rustic feel than wire. Braided cord is thicker and sturdier than regular cord, but regular cord is thinner and weaker.

Hang the artwork. Use clothes pins or general clips to secure the artwork to the wire. If the wire begins to sag more than expected or if the knots slip, the weight of the artwork may be too heavy. Consider using thicker braided cord or wire, or tie an additional string to other mounting points for a second row of artwork.

• To distribute the weight and number of artworks evenly on the wire, start by placing the first piece of art in the center of the wire using a measuring tape or by eye. Use the centered artwork as the focal point to divide the wire in half, then hang another piece at each of those midpoints. Continue halving the gaps and hanging artwork at each midpoint until all pieces are hung.

• A bulletin board mounted on or leaning against the wall can also be used to hang artwork.
• Push pins can be used to hang unframed art, posters, or very light-framed pictures with wire, as long as you can press them into the wall.
• Framed or unframed art can be displayed by leaning them against shelves, furniture, or other objects, or by placing them in a standing frame with a base.