Best way to hang pictures on wall

Hanging a picture is a job you want to do once and do well – you don't want to create more work patching up holes that missed the mark. Take your time to work out the best location and arrangement for your art and study our hanging guide, so you know which fixtures to get and how to use them.

Location, location

The best place to hang an artwork is where you'll get maximum enjoyment from it, but out of direct sun and fluorescent lights, which can fade paintings and photos. Instead, consider placing a mirror opposite a window to reflect views and natural light.

The scale of your wall and the size of your art will influence what piece works where. Larger pieces can look striking on a generous blank wall, while smaller pieces are often better suited to more intimate zones like a hallway or above a desk.

Small print

A curated collection of prints, photos and art makes an eye-catching focal point. An eclectic mix hung in relaxed ‘salon style' exudes personality, while a linear layout with a theme – whether it's black-and-white photos or similar frames – will create a unified look.

To plan your gallery, 3M senior brand manager Jen McDonnell recommends mapping it out on the floor first: “Use your main image as the starting point and build around it. To define the wall area to hang within, mark it out with masking tape, aiming to leave the same amount of space blank on either side of the wall for balance.”

Centre stage

Rather than default to the centre of a wall, take cues from the furniture layout. As for height, Jen suggests: “Just over halfway up the wall at eye level is an ideal hanging height for most pieces, but it's dependent on personal preference. Wherever you choose, it should be pleasing to the eye.”

Hang it all

Two hooks hold better than one. To ensure they're in the right spot, make two marks on the back of the picture the same distance in from the sides. Hold the picture up by the wire exactly at those marks and measure the distance from the top of the frame to the marks – this is where the hooks need to go.

Remember, if you are hanging two pictures together, the wire heights will always be different, so measure both.

Hold steady

Wall studs are rarely where you want them for optimum aesthetic appeal, so don't stress about finding them. “Two hooks with two angle drive pins will hold a good weight in sound plaster,” says Rob.

For heavier pictures of around 6kg, use hollow wall anchors such as those made by Ramset. “For heavy duty – over 10kg – you probably need interlocking aluminium strips, using several wall anchors,” advises Rob. “On brick walls, use a plastic plug and at least an eight-gauge screw, preferably with a Ramset wall hook.”

Watch the video: How to hang a picture frame from a track

Holes barred

If you're renting and nails aren't an option, there are ways to display without leaving a mark. Command removable picture hangers can hold artworks up to 2.2kg, while four sets of the Command large picture-hanging strips form an interlocking hold of up to 7.2kg. 

“For the best results, ensure the wall is prepped correctly by using isopropyl rubbing alcohol, and that pack instructions are followed carefully,” says Jen McDonnell. 

Stick within the recommended weight range and, when you need to remove them, never pull the strip away from the wall or towards you – always pull the strip downwards, gliding your hand against the wall to ensure damage-free removal.

Get hanging

Now you know how to do it, it's time to start hanging those pictures! Check out our full range of picture hanging accessories to find what you need.

Hanging a picture on a wall is arguably the simplest of all DIY home-improvement projects. In fact, it’s almost impossible to do it wrong. Almost. As with most things, there’s a right and a wrong way to hang pictures. The most common problems include hanging a frame securely so it doesn’t fall, pinpointing the nail location so the picture hangs exactly where you want it, and hanging the frame so it’s perfectly level.

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There’s no one-size-fits-all way for how to hang picture frames because there’s so much variation in shape, size, and design but these tips will help you with the basics so you can fill up some wall space with perfectly level photos and art.

Strength

When hanging a picture, it’s best to drive the nail into a wall stud for superior strength. But chances are you’re not going to. Studs are typically spaced 16 inches on center and are only 1½ inches thick, so the chance that a stud will be in the same place where you want to hang your picture is remote—you’re much more likely to tap the nail into a void between two studs. And for small- to medium-size pictures, that’s okay.

A single 1 1/2-inch (4d) or 2-inch (6d) finishing nail will support most pictures, even when nailing between studs. The trick is to drive the nail into the wall at a steep angle, at least 45 degrees. That will provide much greater holding power than tapping the nail straight into the wall.

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Another option is to use a picture-hanging hook, which comes with its own small-diameter nail. These specialty fasteners come in a wide variety of sizes and are surprisingly strong—if properly installed. First, insert the nail through the sleeve on the hook, then hold the hook against the wall at the desired height. (The hook automatically aligns the nail at the optimum angle.) Next, tap the nail all the way in. Just be careful not to strike the hook, or it’ll cut into the wall.

Generally screws provide more holding power than nails, so they’re better for hanging large, heavy pictures. When hanging a picture between studs, use a hollow-wall anchor, such as a toggle bolt, molly bolt, or spiral anchor. A spiral anchor is the easiest to install: Simply drive it into the wall with a screwdriver, then drive a screw into the anchor. Some spiral anchors come with special picture-hanging hooks.

GorillaGrit Self-Adhesive Bumper PadsCredit: Amazon

Craftsman Torpedo LevelCredit: Amazon

Hommie Picture Hanging NailsCredit: Amazon

Hangman Double-Headed Bear Claw HangersCredit: Amazon

Placement

We’ve been there: You’re staring at the wall, trying to figure out where to you need to drive your nails so your pictures hang in just the right spot. Here are two quick, effective methods for figuring it out.

Method 1. Hold the picture against the wall at the desired height, then draw a short pencil line on the well that marks the top of where the picture will go. You don’t have to draw all the way across the top of the picture—just make a short line at the center.

Take down the picture; hook a measuring tape onto the hanging wire attached to the back of the frame (or whatever will be sitting on the nail to hold up the picture). Pull the wire tight and measure the distance to the top edge of the frame. Now simply measure down from the pencil line on the wall that same distance, mark the spot, and drive in the nail. If you’re using a picture-hanging hook, make sure the hook—not the nail—is level with the spot you marked.

Method 2. Make a simple picture-hanging tool from a wire clothes hanger. First, use pliers to cut a piece of wire about 12 to 14 inches long. On one end, measure in 3 to 4 inches from the end of the wire and bend it down at a right angle—this will be your handle. On the other end, bend the wire in the opposite direction to form a 1-inch-long leg. Snip the very end of the leg at an angle, creating a sharp point.

To use the tool, hook the short, pointed end under the hanging wire on the back of the picture. Hold the picture in position using the wire handle. Press on the picture with the palm of your hand. The pointed wire end will pierce the wall, indicating exactly where to tap in the nail.

Straightness

Sure, you know how to use a level to get straight pictures. But if you pictures don’t stay level, try this simple trick.

Go to a home center and buy a package of small rubber bumpers, the kind with peel-and-stick adhesive backing. Take the offending picture and place it facedown on a covered surface. Stick one bumper onto each bottom, rear corner of the frame, then rehang the picture. The rubber bumpers will provide a little traction and help hold the picture straight and level. And as a bonus, the bumpers create airspace behind the picture, which prevents dust and dirt from collecting and creating “shadows” on the wall.

Joe Truini is a former carpenter and cabinetmaker who writes extensively about remodeling, woodworking, and tool techniques. He's the author of eight DIY books and is a long-time contributing editor to Popular Mechanics.

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