Holes in the wall are the last thing you want to fill before moving out. The trick is to pick the method based on the wall, not on whatever happens to be in the drawer.
Rented wall or fresh paint: removable strips
Strips hold well on painted plaster and plasterboard. Wipe the wall with a dry cloth first. On a kitchen wall, a little rubbing alcohol helps too. Press each strip for 30 seconds and wait an hour before hanging the frame.
When you take it down, pull the tab straight down along the wall, slowly. Pulling outwards is what tears the paint. Wait 2–4 weeks on fresh paint, or the strips will lift it.
| What I use | |
|---|---|
| 30×40 without glass | One pair of strips |
| 50×70 in a frame | Two pairs, or heavy-duty strips |
| 70×100 in a frame | A nail or a rail. Strips are not enough |
Changing things often: a picture rail
A thin rail just below the ceiling, with cord and hooks, lets you move pictures as often as you like without new holes. Worth it if you swap prints with the seasons.
Your own place: one nail, done properly
One nail and a frame with a wire hanger is still the simplest. Mark the spot with masking tape, measure twice, and aim for the centre of the picture at about 150 cm from the floor. That is roughly eye height when you are standing.
What I avoid
- Blu-tack on good paint. It leaves greasy marks.
- Five strips "to be safe". They pull the paint off when you remove them.
- Drilling into tiles without a tile bit.
Hanging several together? I wrote a separate piece on spacing for gallery walls, and our gallery walls are ready-made sets that fit together.
See also
Gallery walls