How to Hang a Picture: Tips for Hanging a Picture on Your Wall

Hanging art is relatively easy if you have everything you need to hang a picture properly.

1. 1. Hammer: Use a hammer to pound in wall anchors or affix sawtooth hangers to the back of the picture frame.
2. 2. Tape measure: A measuring tape will help you mark out where to hang your home decor.
3. 3. Level: A level will help ensure that your picture is straight.
4. 4. Stud finder: A stud finder is an electronic device that helps you find wood studs inside your walls. Find one at your local home improvement store.
5. 5. Picture hangers: There are several different options for picture hangers. Plated nail hangers consist of a small metal plate and a single nail. They are suitable for hanging small pictures. Anchor screws work for heavy pictures and double as both a screw and drywall anchor. If you use anchor screws, use a screwdriver to screw them into the wall.
6. 6. Drywall anchors: There's not always a wall stud in the exact spot you want to hang a picture. Wall anchors help support heavy pieces and protect your walls from damage.
7. 7. Electric drill: If you're unable to find a wall stud and are hanging heavier pictures, you'll need an electric drill and drill bits to drill pilot holes for drywall anchors. This is particularly important when hanging pictures on plaster walls, which have a tendency to crumble and offer less support than drywall.
8. 8. Craft paper: If you plan on creating a gallery wall, craft paper can help you test out the locations for each picture before you hang it.
9. 9. Painter's tape: Painter's tape will help you mark out the location of your picture and hold up craft paper.
10. 10. Hanging wire: Hanging wire, or picture wire, allows you to adjust the orientation of the picture once it's on the wall.

Follow these steps to hang artwork in your home.

1. 1. Determine your picture hanging hardware. Look at the back of your frame to determine what kind of hanging hardware it requires. For example, if there are two D-rings on either side of the frame, use picture wire to hang it. If it has a sawtooth hanger at the top of the frame, you can hang it from a single nail. If there is no hardware on the back of the frame, you'll need to apply the hardware yourself.
2. 2. Apply hardware to the back of the frame. You can use D-rings, a sawtooth hanger, or picture hooks to hang your picture. Picture hooks are small hanging hooks that you affix to the inside of the picture frame. Using your level and measuring tape, measure and mark where you want your picture hooks to go. Drill two small pilot holes in the sides of the frame and apply the hooks by hand. Attach a piece of picture wire between the two hooks.
3. 3. Find your wall studs. If you're hanging heavy pictures, it's ideal to use the support of wall studs. Use a stud finder to find the wall studs and mark their locations. This will help you determine how many wall anchors you will need to use as well.
4. 4. Plan the placement of your picture. If you're planning a gallery wall, use craft paper and painter's tape to mark out where you want the pictures to go. Measure and cut a piece of craft paper to match the dimensions of your picture frame. Then hang the paper using a piece of painter's tape. You’ll typically want to hang pictures at eye level.
5. 5. Mark the wall. Place a piece of painter's tape along the edge of your level. Lay the level across the back of the picture frame. Using a pencil, mark the center point as well as where your sawtooth hanger or D-rings are on the piece of tape. Then place the level on the wall where you want to hang your picture, level it, and transfer the marks to the wall.
6. 6. Install wall anchors. If you're using picture wire, you only need to install one wall anchor to support the weight of the picture. Drill a pilot hole that is the same size as the threaded portion of your wall anchor. Using your hand, screw the wall anchor into the wall. If your wall anchor is not threaded, gently tap it into the wall using a hammer. Using a screwdriver, fasten a screw into the wall anchor, leaving a quarter inch of the screw sticking out of the wall.
7. 7. Hang your picture. Hang your picture so that the picture wire is securely resting on the nail or screw. If you need to adjust the placement of the picture, simply tighten or loosen the picture wire accordingly.

If you want to avoid making screw or nail holes in your walls, consider using removable adhesive picture hangers to hang artwork. Simply peel off the backing from one side of one piece of the adhesive hanger and apply it to the back of the piece of art. The Velcro side of that adhesive strip should be exposed. Clean the wall where you want to hang the piece of artwork. Allow it a few minutes to dry.

Attach the other adhesive strip on top of the first one by connecting the Velcro sides together. Peel off the backing and press the picture firmly against the wall so that the adhesive hanger sticks securely in place. If you need to adjust the picture, carefully remove the picture frame so that the adhesive hanger on the wall stays in place. Then you can either reattach your picture frame to adjust it slightly, or peel the adhesive hanger off the wall and start over with a new wall-facing strip.

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