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The Daily Insight

What to use to hang pictures without damaging walls

Author

Andrew Vasquez

Updated on May 22, 2026

Picture-hanging strips are a great way to put up your pictures without damaging the wall, and they’re super easy to use. You can find them (as well as adhesive nails and hooks) at office supply stores, craft stores, hardware stores, and online.

How can I hang pictures without damaging my walls?

  1. Command Strips. This is probably the most commonly used method of hanging up frames, canvases, and any other decor without leaving a trace on the wall. …
  2. Command Hooks. …
  3. Hang Art From Your Molding. …
  4. Use Your Mantle. …
  5. Take Up Space on Bookshelves. …
  6. Embrace the Wall Lean. …
  7. Put the Art on an Easel. …
  8. Clip it Up.

Do adhesive strips damage walls?

Command strips can be beneficial during wall decoration as they enable you to hang pictures and other objects without harming your wall. However, if not removed carefully, they might ruin your wall by peeling off paint.

Do Command Strips work for heavy pictures?

The best way to hang heavy pictures, art, painting, or anything flat to drywall, wood, glass, tile, plaster, or most other surfaces in your home is to use Command Picture Hanging Strips.

How do you hang something heavy without damaging walls?

  1. Adhesive Strips: Adhesive strips aren’t only for lightweight projects. …
  2. Press-in Hooks: Press-in hooks are a fast and easy way to hang very heavy objects with little damage to the wall. …
  3. Drywall Anchor Studs: These are the traditional ways of hanging heavy frames.

What's the heaviest weight command strips can hold?

The large strips can handle a 24-inch to 36-inch object that weighs up to 16 pounds. The smaller hanging strips can only handle up to 4 pounds.

Is there anything better than command strips?

Adhesive Hooks Adhesive hooks are great Command Strip alternatives because they are very affordable, easy to use, and leave no residue on your walls. … Hooks may be more functional than command strips because they can hold heavier objects and they come in a greater variety of sizes.

Is 3M adhesive safe on wall paint?

The 3M adhesive is one of the best if not the best for daily home use, and it usually does not damage the paint of the wall, but that depends on the type of paint and the manner in which the adhesive is removed.

What surfaces do command strips work on?

To what surfaces will Command™ Products stick? Painted, stained or varnished wood, glass, tile, painted cinder block, plaster, metal, and painted wallboard.

Are Command Strips safe for walls?

Command™ Strips can be used on a variety of smooth surfaces including painted walls, tile, glass and wood. Our water resistant and outdoor strips can be used in all weathers and conditions.

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Will LED light strips damage walls?

LED strip lights are unlikely to damage walls, but this depends on various factors. The strength of their adhesive, the durability of paint or wallpaper, how long they’ve been applied for, and the climate can also impact how well LED strips bond to a surface.

Do Monkey Hooks really work?

Able to hold 50lbs per hook, these guys can be doubled and even tripled for heavy loads such as mirrors. The upside of this is that Monkey Hooks are super handy and work really well in drywall. … The downside is that they only work on drywall and they seem like overkill if you are hanging a few small pictures.

Do Command Strips damage Sheetrock?

Damage-free hanging surfaces Painted, stained or varnished wood, glass, tile, metal, painted drywall and other smooth surfaces.

Do Command Strips work on orange peel walls?

Today we ask the question if command strips will work on textured walls. The short answer is no. The official command strip website even says so. The longer answer is they will but not very well.

What can I use to stick pictures on the wall?

The fastest and probably easiest way to stick your pictures and photos on the wall is probably to use simple adhesive tape, picture hanging tape or picture hanging strips. The adhesive picture hanging strips are ideal for very small picture frames or light photos and post cards weighing up to one kilo.

Can multiple command hooks hold more weight?

Yes and No. If the hook you are using has the space for two to be side by side, or if you are putting it directly onto something and can put them side by side, all of the instructions indicate this does double the amount of weight that can be held up.

Will command strips hold a shelf?

4 Answers. I would not risk hanging a glass shelf with those strips. They are meant for hanging things directly from (like a towel, hair dryer, etc.), not a shelf that sticks out. Instead of just pulling down on the strip, it will pull down and away, almost a guaranteed recipe for broken glass.

Are Command Hooks strong?

Jumbo hooks allow you to hold up to 7.5 pounds! Using the revolutionary Command™ Adhesive, Command™ Decorative Hooks hold strongly on a variety of surfaces, including paint, wood, tile and more.

Can you cut Command picture hanging strips?

I hung it the same way – with the command strips. Just cut ’em in half, stick them to the back of your holder, and then slap them up on the wall. So much easier and less messy than a hammer and nails.

Do Command Strips work on plaster walls?

To what surfaces will Command™ Products stick? Painted, stained or varnished wood, glass, tile, painted cinder block, plaster, metal, and painted wallboard. Command™ Outdoor Products can also be used on smooth, sealed and finished surfaces including vinyl siding and fences, doors, windows, decks, gutters and trim.

Is foam tape safe for walls?

Since this tape is a strong adhesive, you may very well run into some issues when trying to remove it. Simply pulling at an edge of the tape will cause significant damage to the wall or wood on which the tape is stuck.

Is mounting tape safe for painted walls?

Unique double-coated mounting tape securely mounts posters and lightweight objects on wood walls or doors, tile, glass, refrigerators, vinyl wallpaper, and primed and painted walls. Easy removal.

Is Scotch Magic tape safe for walls?

The Wall-Safe Tape is made with Post-it brand adhesive technology, so it sticks well, but can be removed without damaging walls, photos, or art. It’s safe for many surfaces, including painted drywall, stainless steel, and other hard surfaces.

Do Command poster strips work?

Sometimes removing command strips can leave the wall clean but damage the poster, but when used properly, command strips are a super quick and effective way to hang posters without damaging the hanging surface.

How can I put LED lights in my room without damaging walls?

Just glue a few magnets to your LED lights, and you are in business. Get an inexpensive heat gun at a place like Harbor Freight. On the lowest setting, warm up the strip starting from the end. The adhesive will soften and allow you to remove the strip.

Can you take LED lights off your wall and put them back up?

The goal is to reuse your LED light strips after taking them down. There’s no reason you can’t use the strips on another wall. … Simply purchasing and applying another double-sided backing like Large Command Strips (on Amazon) or Double Sided Mounting Tape (also on Amazon) will enable you to restick your light strip up.

Will double sided tape damage wall?

It can stick to almost any smooth surface and is easy to disassemble without causing any damage. So, there will be no wear and tear on your walls. Also, this product leaves no residue of adhesive while removing, thereby leaving your wall stain-free.

Do Gorilla hooks really work?

Gorilla Grade Monkey Hooks held their maximum advertised weight 50 pounds but pulled down through half an inch of drywall, making the hole larger.

Will a monkey hook hold a mirror?

Hillman™ Monkey Hooks are a great way to hang your mirrors and pictures efficiently and securely. Standard Monkey Hooks hold up to 35lbs in drywall. Hillman™ Gorilla Hooks are designed for heavy duty hanging. … Hang pictures and mirrors in seconds.

What is a Hercules Hook?

Hercules hooks are a type of hardware used to hang items such as mirrors, clocks, photos, artwork, shelves and other items up to 150 pounds in weight. Made of reinforced steel wire, Hercules hooks differ from traditional screw and nail style hooks in that you don’t need to use a drill or hammer to install them.

Are Command Hooks safe on drywall?

Damage-Free Hanging Surfaces To what surfaces will Command™ Hooks stick? Painted, stained or varnished wood, glass, tile, metal, painted drywall and other smooth surfaces.