What Not To Do When Hanging A Picture

"Here's what you'll need to hang those pictures." -Your Uncle Bob

Many people assume when they get a new piece of art or move into a new space they can just start hammering away, hanging stretched canvases with wire hangers left and right, and using zero forethought, proper tools, the right hardware, or even a way to level a picture with sawtooth hangers.

None of this makes any sense, but in a rush to make a new place our own, and perhaps get back to work or school, the disheveled method for (and we’re using the term loosely here) hanging pictures and art makes the joint look sloppy, and your precious art, photos, and other wall hangings look… depressing.

Here are a few pointers from YOUHANGIT to make sure you don’t go (literally) topsy-turvy when you start decorating your new place… or (let’s be honest) start hanging the pictures you meant to get up on the wall six months (or six years) ago when you first moved in.

Don’t take advice from friends on how to hang a picture: Not unlike Googling your symptoms instead of going to the doctor, listening to friends and relatives when they give you their “expert advice” on how to hang artwork in your new home, all kinds of conflicting opinions arise. Uncle Bob says drills and screws, your dad says nails, nails, nails, who cares, (you won’t get your deposit back with all those cats, forgetaboutit), and your mom and sister are on the side of taking one of those Home Depot workshops (I mean… wow).

Don’t read DIY tips that include the use of more than three tools: It just doesn’t have to be this way people! When you use the YOUHANGIT system to hang pictures and artwork, you don’t have to worry about using like a million tools. Again, the “experts” may suggest everything from square levels to hammers, drills, screwdrivers, crazy huge levels—that Uncle Bob will probably shoot his mouth off about some kind of whacky putty, Velcro, or plastic hooks with sticky business on the back you can use so you don’t leave marks. But when you hang a picture the right way the first time, you don’t have to worry about all of these things. Check out this video about how little you’ll need to hang a picture right the first time!

Never just drive a nail into a wall and slap framed artwork up there: it can fall, create a safety hazard (especially when artwork is heavy) and can cause pretty severe damage to walls. As per the previous comment from your dad about not getting that deposit back, it’s not just a poor choice to hang pictures on a wall without the proper hardware because of unsightly holes in the wall when you move out—it’s crazy dangerous and if you have kids, you’re creating an accident waiting to happen. YHI brings you Sexy Metal Hooks that can handle as little as 10 pounds, and as much as 100 pounds. If you use two of the 100-pound Sexy Metal Hooks—you guessed it—you can hang something that weighs 200 pounds! Then again, if you have a 200-pound piece of art, you may want to consider not using it as a place to hide your gold bars anymore.