Get the Hang of Fixing (Almost) Anything to Your Walls
Whether it’s a vintage sign, heavy artwork or floating shelves you want to put up on your walls, these tips help you get it done right
Finn Koefoed-Nielsen
2 December 2015
Hanging a piece of art, a mirror or some shelving on which to display objects is a great way to give your home the personal touch. Here are a few tips I’ve picked up over the years to help ensure that whatever you want to display looks great – and stays secure too.
A large painting
Large-scale paintings like this really brighten up a room. They’re usually hung with cord attached to the frame, so it’s worth making sure these fixings are secure, particularly if it’s an antique.
A frame can be reinforced with corner plates if necessary. Alternatively, reframing needn’t be too expensive and might be worth considering to protect your artwork.
Use large, round-head screws secured to the wall with rawlplugs to prevent the cord from slipping. And remember (as with all the fittings discussed in this article) that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
Large-scale paintings like this really brighten up a room. They’re usually hung with cord attached to the frame, so it’s worth making sure these fixings are secure, particularly if it’s an antique.
A frame can be reinforced with corner plates if necessary. Alternatively, reframing needn’t be too expensive and might be worth considering to protect your artwork.
Use large, round-head screws secured to the wall with rawlplugs to prevent the cord from slipping. And remember (as with all the fittings discussed in this article) that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
A flat metal sign
When I was growing up, we lived upstairs from an artist who collected vintage enamel signs, which he called ‘street jewellery’ (and has since published a wonderful book of the same title). They’re quite the collector’s item nowadays, but good examples can still be found.
Unfortunately, they are prone to rust, so check the eyelets (the holes for the screws) and fix with washers either side if necessary. Use standard screws attached to the wall with rawlplugs. Screw heads and washers can be touched up with paint matched to the sign for a nice finish.
Fun ways to use road signs in your home
When I was growing up, we lived upstairs from an artist who collected vintage enamel signs, which he called ‘street jewellery’ (and has since published a wonderful book of the same title). They’re quite the collector’s item nowadays, but good examples can still be found.
Unfortunately, they are prone to rust, so check the eyelets (the holes for the screws) and fix with washers either side if necessary. Use standard screws attached to the wall with rawlplugs. Screw heads and washers can be touched up with paint matched to the sign for a nice finish.
Fun ways to use road signs in your home
An artwork or mirror above a fireplace
A large mirror over a mantelpiece is a classic look, particularly when the dimensions are perfectly matched, as above.
There are plenty of tips about how to hang a mirror or picture in the correct position available online, but my best piece of advice is this – measure at least twice and have some low-tack masking tape on hand to show positions on the walls without marking them permanently.
A large mirror over a mantelpiece is a classic look, particularly when the dimensions are perfectly matched, as above.
There are plenty of tips about how to hang a mirror or picture in the correct position available online, but my best piece of advice is this – measure at least twice and have some low-tack masking tape on hand to show positions on the walls without marking them permanently.
A heavy vintage shop sign
This great antique sign is perfectly suited to a vintage-style kitchen. Standard screw eyes won’t provide a decent fix for anything this heavy though, so look out for eyebolts instead. A decent ironmonger or builder’s merchant should point you in the right direction.
This great antique sign is perfectly suited to a vintage-style kitchen. Standard screw eyes won’t provide a decent fix for anything this heavy though, so look out for eyebolts instead. A decent ironmonger or builder’s merchant should point you in the right direction.
Floating shelves
These floating shelves look superb set against a dark background. Floating shelf fittings (which have extra supports hidden within the shelf when fitted) are reasonably easy to assemble and good if you don’t have lots of heavy things to store, but do still make sure you use good-quality screws and rawlplugs.
I often discard the screws included with self-assembly furniture and use alternatives, as they are often not great quality. Cheap screws are tricky to use, unreliable and often incredibly difficult to remove, so it’s worth spending a bit extra for a selection of decent-quality ones.
17 smashing shelving suggestions
These floating shelves look superb set against a dark background. Floating shelf fittings (which have extra supports hidden within the shelf when fitted) are reasonably easy to assemble and good if you don’t have lots of heavy things to store, but do still make sure you use good-quality screws and rawlplugs.
I often discard the screws included with self-assembly furniture and use alternatives, as they are often not great quality. Cheap screws are tricky to use, unreliable and often incredibly difficult to remove, so it’s worth spending a bit extra for a selection of decent-quality ones.
17 smashing shelving suggestions
A weighty rug
Sometimes a carpet is far too grand to sit on the floor. This rug has been hung using a curtain rail and finials for a traditional look. Bear in mind that handmade carpets can be very heavy, so use high-quality fixings.
Check your walls first; if they are solid, standard rawlplugs are fine. Partition and plasterboard walls will need special cavity fixings. If you’re concerned about drilling into hidden wiring or plumbing, a combination stud, AC and metal finder can be bought quite cheaply.
Heavy carpets can also be hung using an invisible rod attached to the back and hung with fishing line. Never use curtain rings, as these will pull the carpet out of shape.
Sometimes a carpet is far too grand to sit on the floor. This rug has been hung using a curtain rail and finials for a traditional look. Bear in mind that handmade carpets can be very heavy, so use high-quality fixings.
Check your walls first; if they are solid, standard rawlplugs are fine. Partition and plasterboard walls will need special cavity fixings. If you’re concerned about drilling into hidden wiring or plumbing, a combination stud, AC and metal finder can be bought quite cheaply.
Heavy carpets can also be hung using an invisible rod attached to the back and hung with fishing line. Never use curtain rings, as these will pull the carpet out of shape.
Light fabric
Lighter fabrics, such as throws and quilts, can also look pleasing displayed on the wall. In this bedroom, the homeowner has fixed the fabric to a large piece of thin wood, which is in turn screwed securely to the wall.
There is another way to hang light fabrics, which also uses wood: loosely sew a strip of velcro into the back of the fabric, then staple the other strip onto a batten attached to the wall. This has the advantage of allowing you to move the fabric into position easily.
Lighter fabrics, such as throws and quilts, can also look pleasing displayed on the wall. In this bedroom, the homeowner has fixed the fabric to a large piece of thin wood, which is in turn screwed securely to the wall.
There is another way to hang light fabrics, which also uses wood: loosely sew a strip of velcro into the back of the fabric, then staple the other strip onto a batten attached to the wall. This has the advantage of allowing you to move the fabric into position easily.
Hanging on tiled surfaces
Mirrored cabinets can look fantastic fitted over tiles. When fixing items onto tiled surfaces, make sure you use a diamond drill bit to avoid damaging the tiles.
It’s best to put masking tape over the area to be drilled, and take it slow. It takes a while to break through the glazed surface, and it’s a good idea to keep the tip of the drill bit cool by spraying water on it occasionally. And make sure the rawlplug is pushed beyond the tile, as it can expand and crack it otherwise.
TELL US
Have you had trouble – or great success! – hanging something tricky on a wall? Share your tips, mishaps and photos in the Comments below.
MORE
Why Not Hang Your Pots and Pans?
Why DIY is Good for Your Soul, Not Just Your Home
How to Decorate With Typography
Mirrored cabinets can look fantastic fitted over tiles. When fixing items onto tiled surfaces, make sure you use a diamond drill bit to avoid damaging the tiles.
It’s best to put masking tape over the area to be drilled, and take it slow. It takes a while to break through the glazed surface, and it’s a good idea to keep the tip of the drill bit cool by spraying water on it occasionally. And make sure the rawlplug is pushed beyond the tile, as it can expand and crack it otherwise.
TELL US
Have you had trouble – or great success! – hanging something tricky on a wall? Share your tips, mishaps and photos in the Comments below.
MORE
Why Not Hang Your Pots and Pans?
Why DIY is Good for Your Soul, Not Just Your Home
How to Decorate With Typography
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It is indeed very good to always locate the timber in the wall to hang things on. The thin sheet of wall plaster isn't strong enough to hold up a lot of things. There are devices that you can use up against walls that beeps whenever there is wood on the other side of it. Use that to make sure that you only nail into wooden parts. http://www.wadsworthtrussesframes.com.au
The one piece of advice I'd ad is don't use those Command self adhesive hooks. They are total rubbish & don't work. I've used these 3 different times & followed the instructions to a T & they always fall off after very little time. No way can they hold a 20k bag as they advertise.