Artwork, posters, and family photographs help make your space truly your own. However, it’s important to hang items properly to avoid damaging your walls—and the need for drywall repairs. Here are a few tips for hanging pictures in a way that keeps your drywall intact while allowing for a steady and secure connection between the wall and picture frame.
How to Hang Pictures Without Needing Drywall Repair
1. Choose Lightweight Frames
Before hanging, place each frame on a bathroom scale and weigh it. If it’s under 10 pounds, your drywall can likely accommodate it with no issue. Lighter items—those under 5 pounds—can usually be hung with adhesive solutions like strips or mounting tape. Frames between 5 and 10 pounds should hang safely with just strong nails in the drywall.
2. Use Anchors
For items over 10 pounds, the drywall will need some additional supports in place. Anchors are an ideal tool for this purpose. An anchor goes between the nail/screw and the drywall, firmly gripping the wall to create a secure foundation on which the frame can hang. Anchors are made from either plastic or metal and prevent the drywall surface from crumbling.
3. Find the Studs
For a frame over 20 pounds, be sure to install the anchor directly into a wall stud. Studs are the naturally stronger wood elements that support the walls of your home. Locate them by using a stud finder, a device that senses the denser areas of the walls where studs are usually situated.
If you don’t have a stud finder, you can often locate a stud by knocking on the wall. Most of the wall will emit a hollow sound when knocked, but a stud will produce a fuller, more solid sound.
If decorating ends up damaging your walls, contact the drywall repair professionals at BRS Custom Painting. Serving the St. Charles County and St. Louis County areas of Missouri, they offer drywall repairs as well as interior and exterior painting services for homes and businesses. They also provide power washing and wallpaper removal. When you need your home or business to look and function its best, trust this team of experienced experts. Call (636) 219-9749 or visit them online to request a free estimate.