How to hang pictures

Tips and tricks for hanging your picture prints

• How to hang posters

  A variety of methods to hang a poster.

• How to hang picture frames

  Practical advice for hanging picture frames.

• How to hang a canvas

  7 easy steps to hang a canvas.

All very neat, good looking solutions for how to hang pictures but inevitably a little bit of DIY is always needed. Happy hanging!

1. Clips

   Bulldog clips are available in a variety of sizes and colours and one in each top corner of the poster print which is then hung onto a small nail or screw is a great easy way and if you find that the bottom of the print is curling up then why not attach a couple more at the bottom as paper weights. You can also use crocodile or alligator clips.

2. Magnet Clips

   Magnetic cable clips can be used in a similar way but another way is to tape something magnetic to the wall like a paper clip or a thin magnet and use something like a notice board magnet to hold the poster on the wall. If it’s a panoramic poster print then just place as many magnets along the wall as required.

3. Velcro

   Self adhesive Velcro tape, need I say more other than make sure it wont damage your wall when removed.

4. Pins or Tacks

   One of the most common ways to hang posters on the wall is with the good old drawing pin or thumb tack. Quick and easy to do but can only really be done on a plasterboard or wooden wall and does leave small holes.

5. Blue-Tac

   Blue-tac is probably the second most used method; little bit on the back of the poster in each corner, if needed along the edges, press into place, job done. If you want to replace it or move it then it only takes a few minutes.

6. Clothes Hangers

   Yes you read it right, clothes hangers or more precisely the type that you use to hang trousers or skirts, the ones with clamps either at each end of the hanger or my preferred favourite the older style wooden variety that clamps together. Again depending on the size of the posterprint you can use one, two or more.

7. Magnets

   Another slightly more involved way to to hang a poster without a frame is to use magnets.

   • Get 4 pieces of wood about 20-30mm wide and about 10mm thick, cut to the length of the top and bottom of the print. You will also need some magnets that are smaller than the bits of wood like about 10mm diameter by 2-5mm deep and a drill bit the same size as the magnet diameter.
   • Measure in from each end about 30mm and mark with a pencil and depending on the weight and size of the print mark one or several points in between making sure they are identical on all of the bits of wood then drill a hole deep enough so that the magnet will sit flush with the surface but not too deep as to go all the way through the wood so the use of a vice or clamp is recommended. Place all the magnets into the wood with a bit of glue to hold them in place making sure that you use the two faces that attract each other and once set take two bits and clamp the bottom of the poster between the two bits of wood.
   • For the top take one of the bits of wood and fit two small screw eyes and attach a piece of cord between them to hang it on then clamp the top of the poster in the same way as the bottom.

8. Tape

   Tape can be used on most surfaces but try to use a variety especially made for the purpose that is easy to remove without causing damage to the paint or wallpaper you are sticking it to.

9. Any Ideas?

   A lot of people either don’t want to place their poster print into a frame either because their print is not a standard size, they don’t want the extra expense associated with a frame or they just prefer to hang the print on the wall as it is.

   We’re sure there are many more ways of hanging your posterprints and if you have one that you would like to share then please email us and we will add it to the list. We hope this answers your questions about how to hang a posters.

1. Before Starting

   Before making a hole in any type of wall look down at the bottom of the wall to make sure that there are no electrical sockets below and up to make sure there are no light fittings on the wall. If there are then the electrical wires for them may come directly up or down the wall. If you are unsure then either move the location of the fixing or purchase a wall scanner that is able to detect electrical cables behind the surface.

2. Weight

   You will need to consider the overall weight of your framed poster before deciding how to hang your picture.

3. Picture frame hooks with hardened nails

   These can be purchased with either one, two or three nails and can be used on plasterboard walls for smaller, lighter frames or plastered masonry block but can be difficult to hammer in without causing plaster to chip off or nails to break.

4. Tip

   A lot of people make the mistake of drilling the correct size hole and then hammering the raw plug in so that only half goes in before it deforms with the hammer blow then they remove the plug and drill a bigger hole which is then too big and leads to a weak fixing. The way to do it is drill the hole and gently tap the plug in as far as it will go then get your screw, place it in the plug and tap the screw which will in turn push the plug into the wall for a nice tight fixing. I generally prefer to use a red raw plug with a drill size of 6mm for a very hard wall or 5.5mm for softer versions.

5. Wall type

   Take a look at the type of wall you will be hanging it on; stud wall with plasterboard, plastered masonry block or stone.

   • Stud wall with plasterboard

     If you have a stud finder then use that or if you have a good ear you can go along the wall tapping the plasterboard and listen for a change in tone which will normally indicates a stud at that location. If you are lucky enough to have a stud then it’s a simple case of either carefully hammering in a suitable nail or use a suitable size screw at the required height. If no stud is available, for smaller framed posters then a simple raw plug and screw is more than sufficient. Make a hole in a downward direction in the plasterboard with either a drill or even a small screwdriver that is slightly smaller than the raw lug. Tap the raw plug gently into the hole and screw in the screw. For larger frames then a metal self drive plasterboard fixing with self tapping screw will be ideal but don’t bother with the plastic versions.

   • Plastered masonry block

     The easiest wall when it comes to how to hang picture frames. My preferred method is the good old raw plug and screw.

   • Stone wall

     If your stone wall isn’t rendered then find a suitable size stone to drill a hole into and use a raw plug and screw. If it is rendered then it can be a little bit of trial and error finding a stone and not a joint. If you do drill into a joint then that would generally not be good enough for a fixing.

1. Location

   Your canvas photo print will come ready to hang, all you need to do is decide where you want to hang your canvas and fix a suitable place to display your wall art.

2. Fixings on the canvas

   Smaller canvas prints generally come with one canvas hanger in the middle at the top so will require one fixing but large canvas prints noramlly come with two hangers placed near the top mounted on the side bars and will require two hanging points.

3. Marking

   Once you have decided where to hang your canvas print hold it up against the wall at the required height and with a pencil lightly mark the wall at the top of the canvas taking care not to mark your canvas print.

4. Measuring

   Next measure down from the top of the canvas to the bottom of the canvas hanger and transfer that measurement onto the wall. If you have a canvas print with two hanging plates then you will also need to measure the distance between the centre of the plates to find the two fixing points on the wall.

5. Wall types

   Please see our "How to Hang Picture Frames?” above for more information on wall types and fixings.

6. Fixing to the wall

   The type of fixing you use will depend on the type of wall and the weight of the canvas print but generally they are quite light and only require a light fixing.

7. Hanging

   When you have attached or drilled your fixing to the wall it’s a simple case of just hanging your canvas print over the fixing and making sure its level.

8. Tip

   If you don’t have a proper level but you do have a smart phone then on Apple devices go to the Measure App, tap on level, place your phone carefully on top of the canvas print but don’t let go of it and level away. For Android phones there are several free Level Apps that do the same thing.If your canvas print has two hanging plates and you didn’t quite manage to get the two fixings perfectly level then loosen the screws securing the hanging plates to the canvas frame only enough so that you can move them up or down as required then re-tighten the screws and check again.