How to Hang Pictures Without Nails:
8 Creative Solutions 

Photos and prints are a great way to personalize your space. But if you don’t want to put nails in your wall, you might feel like your decorating options are limited.

However, decorating your walls doesn’t have to mean you have to make a permanent mark. With options like picture hanging strips and press-in hooks, you can still decorate to your heart’s desire.

If you want to decorate your walls without damaging them, you’re in the right place. These damage-free ways to hang pictures without nails will help you decorate your room in no time.

Can You Hang Pictures Without Drilling?

Short answer, yes! If you want to decorate your home without damaging your walls, consider wall adhesive options like picture hanging strips or stick-on hooks. Keep reading to find out more ways to hang pictures without nails.

Tip: If you have textured walls, opt for press-in hooks as an alternative to making drill holes. Options like adhesive strips and stick-on hooks likely won’t stick to textured walls, but the texture will make small holes much easier to hide later on.

1. Use Velcro Picture Hanging Strips

Picture hanging strips are a great choice to hang wall art or tapestries without nails. Most velcro picture hanging strips can hold up to 16 pounds, making them a great decorating choice for lighter pictures. However, it’s important to follow the correct steps to ensure your picture is properly secured to the wall and to prevent any paint from chipping.
 

1. Remove any hanging hardware from the back of your picture. It could damage the wall.

2. Clean the wall surface with rubbing alcohol to remove oil and dirt.

3. Separate the photo hanging strips and attach velcro sides together.

4. Apply velcro hanging strips to the back of your picture, pressing firmly for 30 seconds.

5. Apply the picture to your wall, pressing it in place for at least 30 seconds.

6. Remove the frame from the wall for one hour to allow time for the adhesive to set.

7. Reattach the photo to the wall and ensure the strips click into place.

Are Command Strips Good For Hanging Pictures?

Command strips are a great choice to hang pictures without damaging your wall. While command strips may be a little more pricey than nails, these adhesive strips can hang pictures without creating holes, leading to a damage-free wall.

2. Opt for Stick-on Hooks

Stick-on hooks can be used to hang pictures that have an attached wire. These hooks can hold up to eight pounds — but if you want to hang artwork heavier than this, try using multiple hooks to increase the maximum weight load. Here’s how to hang pictures without nails using stick-on hooks.

1. Clean the wall with rubbing alcohol to remove oil and dirt and let dry.

2. Apply adhesive strip to stick-on hook.

3. Apply hook to wall and press firmly for 30 seconds.

4. Wait at least one hour for the adhesive to set.

5. Hang photo on hook once adhesive is set in place.

3. Use Press-in Hooks

While press-in hooks may not always seem like a damage-free hanging option, these hooks are a great choice if you have textured walls or a heavier picture. It’s important to note that press-in hooks create a hole around the size of a pushpin — much smaller than a typical nail hole. Read below to learn how to use press-in hooks to hang pictures.

1. Choose your hook depending on how much weight you need to carry.

• Hercules hook: 150 lbs
• Super hook: 80 pounds
• Gorilla hook: 50 pounds
• Monkey hook: 35 pounds

2. Push hook into wall, being careful to insert the lightly curved side (not the hook side).

3. Reposition fixture so the small outside hook faces upwards.

4. Hang photo on the press-in hook.

4. Lean Art Against Your Wall

For a creative way to show off your pictures without damaging the walls, try leaning them against your wall using a bookcase or shelf.
 

• For an elegant and classic look, use a large picture as the focal piece.
• Create a fun boho feel by layering different sized pictures.

5. Display Art on a Bookshelf

For a mobile way to display your art, consider using a bookshelf or similar piece of furniture. A bookshelf can be moved around your home so you can display your picture (and any other decor items) with peace of mind that your picture is safe and secure. Here are a few different fun ways to display your pictures on a bookshelf.  
 

• For a unique trendy look, showcase smaller pieces of art on a ladder-style bookshelf.
• To create a statement piece, hang a larger piece of art in front of your bookshelf as a statement piece.
• For a cool layered look, place multiple pieces of art on one shelf.

6. Hang Art from Molding or a Frame Rail

If you want a unique way to display your pictures on a wall and have molding in your home, consider using molding hangers to display the art. Alternatively, a frame rail is a great way to get a similar look in your home. All you need is picture wire and a molding hook.
 

• For a boho-chic feel, create a gallery wall with multiple pieces of hanging art.
• To create an orderly art arrangement, hang multiple pictures of the same size in a grid formation.
• For a one-of-a-kind focal piece, use a large photo with multiple crown molding attachments.

7. Add a Bulletin Wall

A great addition to any bedroom, bulletin walls or bulletin boards can be constantly redecorated with no damage to your walls. Here are some ideas to get started creating your bulletin wall today.
 

• For a globetrotter feel, add postcards from your favorite places around the world.
• To create an instagram-worthy wall, add your favorite snaps in a grid pattern.
• For a unique and trendy home office, add a calendar, reminder board, and to-do list to the wall.

8. Try Office Clips

While office clips are typically used to hold together stacks of paper, they can also be used to hang art prints or pictures from your walls. Just fix the office clip to the wall using command strips and swap your pictures out as much as you want.
 

• For an eclectic look, create a gallery wall with different sized photos.
• To create a statement piece, use two office clips to hold up a large picture.
• For a cool modern feel, create a grid pattern with square pictures.

There are so many creative ways to hang pictures around your home without damaging the walls. From adhesive stick-on hooks to crown molding gallery walls, creating the perfect wall decor for your home (and getting your deposit back) has never been easier. Ready to get started decorating your room? Check out our stylish wall art for teens to get started.