If you're not familiar with our wall decor pieces, you probably don't know they come naked. A scandalous business practice, right? What we mean is far less exciting than what you may be thinking.
By "naked" we mean we don't attach picture-hanging hardware by default. Still scandalous, right? We’re commonly asked, “Why don’t your products come ready to hang?” There are several reasons for this. Here are a few:
Why we don’t add hanging hardware by default:
Building restrictions: many of our customers have apartments, offices, or even tiny home trailers where they can’t or don’t want to put holes in the wall.
Personal preference: different people prefer different methods for hanging their pieces. Some like the simplicity of a single nail to hang a wire or sawtooth hook. Others prefer the security of a D-ring on each top corner.
Varying aesthetics: some people prefer the look of their wall decor flush against the wall, creating a classy, sleek look. Leaving the decision up to you allows total freedom to decide what look you want to go for.
Product placement: not everyone wants to hang their piece. For many, wall space is at a premium, and want to place their decor on an easel or lean it on a mantle or bookshelf. Not having a hanger on the back allows it to rest better against the surface and prevents scratching.
These are a few of the main reasons people appreciate having the option of what to do on the back of their decor. However, this fails to answer the follow-up question for those who DO want to hang their decor pieces, “HOW?”
Top 5 Ways to Hang Wall Decor:
For those making a purchase from us, you’re welcome to request sawtooth hangers be added to the back at no additional charge. If you already have one of our pieces or have other decor to hang, we’ve put together step-by-step instructions for our favourite five easy ways to attach picture-hanging hardware yourself according to your aesthetic preferences, hardware accessibility, and skill level.
1. Don't
As mentioned above, no hardware makes it easier and safer to put decor pieces anywhere other than a wall - against your favourite book collection on your perfectly curated bookshelf, in your bathroom strategically placed on a ladder shelf, leaning against the wall as a feature piece on your mantle, or in your windowsill as an accent to your outdoor scenery. This makes it super-duper easy to put up your decor and allows you to get creative in finding new places to put things. This is especially helpful when wall space is limited or building restrictions prevent you from making holes in your walls.
2. Command strips
Command strips are one of the most common and easy ways of hanging wall decor. They’re great because they don’t leave holes in your wall, are re-adjustable, can be found almost anywhere from online, to the dollar store, to your nearest grocery, and take virtually no skill to use. They also give a sleek, professional look to your decor by being flush against the wall.
Simply select the appropriate strip size and weight for your decor and follow the instructions by peeling off the protective coating on the correct side to stick to your decor, then peeling off the other side and pressing it firmly against the wall. Using a small level will ensure it's perfectly placed.
A few things to note about Command Strips is that although they are designed to peel off nicely without damaging the paint on the wall (or other surface), there is still a chance this can happen. Extreme temperatures or improper hanging may also cause the adhesive not to work after a while. Keep this in mind if there is anything (or anyone) below.
3. Command hooks
Command hooks are very similar to Command strips. They are just as convenient and easy to find. We recommend these hooks if you already have some kind of hardware on the back of the decor piece but don’t want to put a hole in the wall with a tack or nail. Just note that the same concerns may arise when using adhesive.
4. Sawtooth hooks
Sawtooth hooks are our personal favourite hardware to attach to the back of a decor piece in order to hang it on the wall. This is the method we use when customers request a backing be added. Sawtooth hooks can be purchased from Amazon, hardware stores, and usually come in picture-hanging kits. However, they do require some skill and special tools.
First start by measuring the width of your decor piece along the top where you’d like to attach the hook on the back (make sure that the piece is thick enough so that the screws won’t go through the front), then centre the sawtooth hook. Use a pencil to mark the screw holes and predrill the holes just deep enough to fit the first part of the screws. Again, make sure you’re not drilling through the front and aren’t using a drill bit thicker than your screws.
The next step is to set the hook in place and drill or screw the screws to securely attach it. If your screws are only slightly longer than the thickness of the decor piece, then don’t screw them all the way. And voila! Add a tack, nail, Command hook, or other hardware where you want to hang your decor and you’re done!
5. D-Rings or Triangle Rings
D-rings and triangle rings are essentially the same except for their respective shapes, as is indicated in their names. For simplicity, we will refer to D-Rings. Both offer added security but require a little more time and skill to hang the finished product (in our opinion). The benefit is that you’re attaching the decor piece to the wall at two points instead of one so there is little to no chance of hardware failure. The downside is that this doesn’t apply if you’re using the wire/string method. If not, then you must accurately align two nails the right distance apart on the wall.
The wire/string method:
Measure your decor piece from top to bottom on the backside. Use a pencil to mark ⅔ of the way to the top on the left and right sides of the back. Predrill your holes as described above. Then place the D-rings with the curve of the D towards the top. Drill in your screws, again making sure you’re not drilling through the front. Then attach a string or wire between the two Ds with enough tension to hold the piece in place once hung on the nail. The heavier the object, the more tension is needed to prevent it from sliding down and showing the nail and string. Or keep it loose if that’s your thing.
The dual nail method:
Measure your decor piece from top to bottom on the backside. Use a pencil to mark how far from the top you want the hooks (we recommend about 1-2 inches, making sure the hooks aren’t visible from the front). Make sure your measurements are accurate on both sides to prevent uneven hanging. Predrill and use your screws to attach the D-hooks as described above.
Next, measure the distance between the centre of each hook. Measure the wall space and use a pencil to mark where the nails or hooks will need to go. Make sure they are aligned horizontally to prevent uneven hanging. Then set your decor in place and enjoy!
NOTE: No drill? No problem.
While we prefer the pre-drilling method for attaching hardware because we find it easier and more accurate, you can skip this step and use a screwdriver to secure your screws with some elbow grease if you don’t have a drill.
We hope this answers some questions about our products and gives you some ideas on how you can hang them regardless of building restrictions or skill level! Let us know which method you prefer and why.
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