Hanging pictures without locating a wall stud is a common task for many homeowners and renters. Wall studs provide solid structural support for mounting items, but they are not always present where desired. Fortunately, various methods and specialized hardware exist to securely hang items on hollow walls, such as drywall or plaster, without relying on stud support. This approach allows for greater flexibility in design and placement, ensuring decor can be displayed safely and effectively throughout a living space.
Assessing Your Wall and Picture Weight
Before selecting a hanging method, identify your wall type and estimate the picture’s weight. Most modern homes have drywall, which sounds hollow when tapped and can be punctured with a pushpin. Older homes often feature plaster walls, which feel denser, sound solid, and resist pushpins. You can check wall thickness around electrical outlets or in unfinished areas. Drywall is a single layer of gypsum, while plaster walls often show multiple layers, including lath.
Determining the item’s weight is equally important. Use a bathroom scale: weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding the picture, and subtract the first measurement. This provides a precise weight, essential because hanging hardware has specific weight capacities. Understanding wall material and item weight guides the selection of the most secure hanging solution.
Hanging Lightweight Items
For items weighing less than 5 to 10 pounds, several solutions offer minimal wall damage. Adhesive strips, such as Command Picture Hanging Strips, provide a damage-free option for small frames or wall art. These strips use a hook-and-loop system: one adheres to the frame, the other to the wall, after cleaning the surface with rubbing alcohol. Press strips firmly for 30 seconds, then separate the frame and press the wall strips for another 30 seconds, allowing the adhesive to cure for one hour before reattaching the frame. Different sizes are available, with some holding up to 16 pounds.
Small, angled picture hanging nails are another option for lightweight items. These specialized nails are driven into the wall at an angle for support. While they create a small hole, the angle of insertion can increase their holding power. A single angled nail in drywall can support up to 20 pounds. They are often used with traditional picture hangers for lighter frames.
Solutions for Heavier Pictures
For items exceeding 10 pounds, more robust hardware is needed to distribute weight across hollow wall materials. Drywall anchors are engineered for this, with various types suited to different weight capacities.
Expansion Anchors
Expansion anchors, often plastic, require a pilot hole. They expand as a screw is driven in, gripping the drywall interior. These support 5 to 25 pounds, depending on their size.
Self-Drilling Anchors
Self-drilling anchors, available in plastic or metal, screw directly into drywall without a pilot hole. They typically hold 25 to 75 pounds, with metal versions offering higher capacities. For installation, screw the anchor into the marked spot until flush, then drive the mounting screw.
Toggle and Molly Bolts
For the heaviest items, toggle bolts and molly bolts provide substantial support. Molly bolts are metal fasteners that require a pilot hole; as the screw tightens, the anchor expands behind the wall for a secure grip, supporting 25 to 75 pounds. Toggle bolts, with a bolt and spring-loaded wings, are among the strongest options for hollow walls, with some metal versions holding up to 100 pounds or more. Installation involves drilling a hole large enough for the folded wings, pushing them through, and then tightening the bolt to brace the wings against the back of the wall. Manufacturers often recommend using only 25 percent of the total rated weight capacity for anchors to ensure safety.
Removing and Wall Repair
When removing pictures or changing placement, proper hardware removal and wall repair are important.
Adhesive Strips
Adhesive strips, like Command, are designed for damage-free removal. Grasp the frame’s bottom corners and peel it from the wall. Slowly stretch the tab straight down against the wall for at least 15 inches to release the adhesive without residue or holes. Pulling the tab away from the wall can cause damage.
Drywall Anchors
Removing drywall anchors varies by type. Self-drilling anchors are unscrewed counterclockwise. Expansion anchors can be pulled out with pliers or unscrewed after removing the screw. Molly bolts are removed by unscrewing the bolt, which retracts the flanges. Toggle bolts involve unscrewing the bolt; the toggle mechanism usually falls into the wall cavity.
Wall Repair
Minor wall damage, such as small holes from nails or anchors, is easily repaired. For small nail holes or dents, apply lightweight spackling compound with a putty knife, ensuring it fills the hole and is level with the wall. After drying, the area can be sanded smooth with fine-grit sandpaper and then touched up with paint. For slightly larger holes, a self-adhesive mesh patch can be applied before spackling to provide additional support. Ensure spackle is completely dry before sanding and painting, which can take 15 to 30 minutes or longer depending on the product.