In this post, I’ll teach you several different products that I’ve confidently used to hang objects safely and securely on the wall of your home, from light frames to heavy televisions and more. Let’s jump right in.
Table of Contents
Photo Frames, Posters, and Other Light Objects
TL;DR: Use 3M Command Strips ($19, Amazon).
Best Option – Command Strips
In most of the cases where you are hanging a photo frame, a poster, or another similar light object, 3M Command Strips are the appropriate solution.
Buy the correctly-sized Command Strip for the weight of your object:
- For mounting posters or paper, use small strips ($9.06/64, Amazon).
- For mounting static loads of up to 12 pounds like medium picture frames, use medium strips ($18.11/32, Amazon).
- For mounting static loads of up to 16 pounds like large picture frames, use large strips ($17.12/28, Amazon).
Pros
- Super easy to use
- Designed to remove cleanly with no damage to your wall (follow the instructions)
- Actually works
Cons
- If applied incorrectly or to certain surfaces, your mounted object will fall off of the wall.
- Can still pull paint off of the wall or cause other damage, even if you follow the instructions.
Notes
- Don’t use Command Strips to hang shelves or other objects whose static load can change.
- I’ve used Command Strips to secure a removable kitchen utensil tray in a drawer so it doesn’t move around. There are tons of uses for Command Strips!
Alternative Option – Picture Hangers
If you’re OK with making small holes in your wall, use picture hangars like those included with this kit ($8.99, Amazon).
Pros
- Very secure when following your hooks’ maximum load guidelines
Cons
- Challenging to position properly relative to the top of your hung object
- Leaves small holes in the wall
- Can’t hang objects that don’t have appropriate receiver hooks
Lamps, Hooks, Small Shelves, etc
Use plastic ribbed drywall anchors and the appropriate screw, like those included with this HongWay kit ($15.99, Amazon).
Small plastic anchors like this can easily hold objects like:
- Lamps
- Coat hooks
- Small shelves with small static loads
- Small speakers
- Large photo frames
- Mug racks
To use an anchor like this, drill a properly-sized hole in the wall, push the anchor in with your fingers, then secure your object to the wall with the right screw.
Floating Shelves, Wire Shelves, Metal Pegboards for Tools, etc
Use either:
- Hammer-in steel anchors like these ($13.98/100, Amazon), or
- Self-drilling nylon anchors like these ($12.99/100, Amazon).
The hammer-in steel anchors feel more secure to me, even if that’s not necessarily true. I also still find myself having to drill at least pilot holes for the hammer-in anchors, because just hammering them in requires a ton of force and generates lots of noise.
I prefer to use one of these two kinds of anchors for higher loads and more confidence, even though I could sometimes get away with using the above ribbed plastic anchors for some of these objects.
Anchors like these can easily hold objects like:
Televisions, large glass whiteboards, and other heavy objects
Use 1/4″ snap toggle bolts for heavy objects like TVs and glass whiteboards. I prefer TOGGLER-brand snap toggle bolts, like these ($10.98/10, Lowe’s).
Pros
- Holds up to 265 pounds in 1/2″ drywall (wow!)
- Super easy to use
Cons
- Requires drilling a relatively large 1/4″ hole in your wall
Notes
- I wrote a detailed tutorial for how to wall-mount a TV into metal studs using these snap toggle bolts. You can read that tutorial here.
Conclusion
I hope you learned more about the right ways to hang objects on your wall, whether you rent or own. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.