How to Hang Stuff on Walls Without Leaving Marks

Co-authored by Jason Phillip

Last Updated: October 5, 2021 References

One of the biggest deterrents to hanging up decorations, especially if you’re a renter and worried about your security deposit, is not wanting to damage your walls. However, there are ways to get around this with a little creativity. From using adhesive hangers or cork boards to taking advantage of architectural features like mantels and molding, you can easily hang any item without leaving a mark on your wall. Don’t wait any longer to decorate with that stuff that’s been sitting on your floor or in a closet waiting to find a home on your walls!

1

Command strips

Hang heavy items up to 16 lb (7.3 kg) using Command Strips. Peel off the backing from 1 side of 1 Command Strip and press it sticky-side-down against 1 back top corner of the item. Repeat this for the other corner, then peel off the backing from the exposed side of each strip. Press the item against the wall and hold it firmly against the wall for 30 seconds.^{[1]
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- Read the front of the Command Strip packaging to ensure it can support the weight of the item you want to hang.^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Jason Phillip
  Handyman
  Expert Interview. 2 July 2020.} The strips come in different sizes with different weight capacities up to 16 lb (7.3 kg).
- You can use Command Strips on pretty much any smooth wall surface without damaging the wall. However, avoid using them on wallpapered walls because they can rip the wallpaper.
Tip: You can also get a type of Command Strips that come with hooks if you want to stick hooks on your walls for hanging up jackets, towels, or other such items.

2

Hook-and-loop tape

Hook-and-loop tape is super easy to take down. Cut the hook-and-loop tape to fit in the top back corners or along the top and bottom edges of an item you want to hang. Peel off the backing from 1 side and stick the tape to the item, then peel off the backing from the other side and press it against the wall.^{[3]
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- Hook-and-loop tape is more commonly known as Velcro tape, since that is the most well-known brand that makes it.
- You can hang items up to about 10 lb (4.5 kg) using this method.
- This is also a great option if you want to hang something flexible, such as a tapestry. You can even hang such items on a curved wall this way.
- When you want to remove the tape from your wall, carefully slide a sharp utility knife or razor blade between the adhesive and the wall to take it down without damaging the paint.

3

Putty or double-sided tape

Putty and double-sided tape are great for light, unframed items. Cut some double-sided tape into small, fingernail-sized pieces or tear off some pieces of poster putty. Stick a piece of tape or putty in each corner of the item you want to put up and press it firmly against the wall to hang it.^{[4]
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- Avoid using any industrial-strength tape, such as duct tape, to put things on your wall. It could damage the paint when you remove it.

4

Washi tape

Use washi tape to stick light artwork to the wall with an extra decorative touch. Washi tape is decorative tape that comes in all kinds of colors and prints. Stick it along the top and bottom edges or across the corners of things like posters, photographs, or other unframed pieces of printed art to hang them on the wall with added flair.^{[5]
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- Washi tape peels off very easily from all surfaces, so don’t worry about damaging your artwork by sticking it across the front.

5

S hooks and wire

Hang framed items from molding using S hooks and wire. Screw a small screw eye into the back of a framed item and wrap 1 end of craft wire around the loop. Wrap the other end of the wire around 1 side of a metal S hook. Hook the other side of the S hook over a strip of built-in wall molding.^{[6]
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- A screw eye is a small screw with a metal loop at 1 end, typically used to attach wire across the back of a picture frame.
- An S hook is a metal hook in the shape of an S. They come in different sizes, so you can choose a hook that is appropriately-sized for the molding you plan to hang it on.
- Craft wire is flexible metal wire, like the kind you would normally use to hang a picture.

6

Cork board

Turn your wall into a cork board to pin stuff up without leaving marks. Cover your wall in cork board, using double-sided tape or adhesive strips to stick it to the wall. Pin things like posters, photographs, and prints to the corkboard using thumbtacks to hang them up without damaging your wall.^{[7]
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- This is also a good idea for a home office or a wall by a desk. You can pin up work-related notes or other temporary items up so they’re easy to see when you need to refer to them, then take them down when you don’t need them anymore.

7

Fireplace mantel

Prop items up on a mantel rather than hanging them on the wall. Take advantage of architectural features like a fireplace mantel to put decorations up on your wall. Set framed items or other heavy decorations on the mantel and lean them against the wall for support.^{[8]
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- You can mix in things like vases and candle holders when you prop framed artwork up on a mantel to add variety to your decorations and make it look more purposeful.

8

Wall trellis

Place a metal or wooden trellis behind a piece of furniture to hang things from. Put a large wooden or metal trellis, which looks like a grid, on the floor behind a heavy piece of furniture, such as a bed or couch. Push the piece of furniture up tightly against the trellis to hold it in place. Hang light stuff like small framed art from the trellis using hooks and wire or pin paper prints and photographs to the trellis using clips.^{[9]
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- You can get wooden and metal trellises at a home improvement or garden center.

9

Yarn and clothespins

You'll only need to make a couple of small marks to hang multiple items with this method. Screw a pair of hooks or hammer a pair of nails into your wall at either end of the wall. Tie a piece of decorative string or yarn to each hook or nail so it stretches across your wall. Hang unframed prints and pictures along the string using clothespins.^{[10]
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- You could also use colorful paper clips or binder clips as an alternative to clothespins.

10

Monkey Hooks

Use Monkey Hooks to hang heavy framed items from drywall. Monkey Hooks are metal hooks that only require you to make a tiny puncture in the wall and can support up to 50 lb (23 kg), for when no other solution works. Drill a tiny hole in the drywall, then insert the long end of the Monkey Hook through it and rotate it until the hook is facing up at the ceiling. Hang a heavy framed piece of artwork on the hook using picture frame wire attached to the back.^{[11]
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- When you remove the hooks, you can easily fill in the tiny holes left behind with a tiny bit of wall putty. There’s no need to repaint or do any major repairs to the wall.

11

Pegboard

Put up a pegboard to hang up lots of stuff without making tons of holes. Pegboard is a type of hardboard with predrilled holes, typically used for organizing tools. Mount a large piece of pegboard on your wall using furring strips so it covers your whole wall or a section of wall, then hang things up on the pegboard with hooks or pegs.^{[12]
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- You’ll create a few holes in your wall to install the pegboard. However, they can easily be filled when you take it down and you can hang up many things on the pegboard without the need for any more holes.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How can I hang something without using nails?

Jason Phillip
Installation Specialist
Jason Phillip is a handyman specializing in mounting and hanging objects onto walls. With over five years of experience professionally mounting and installing objects through his company, Jason's Handyman Services, Jason's work includes working with mounting window AC units, designing art gallery walls, installing kitchen cabinets, and replacing light fixtures on drywall, brick, and plaster. He has been rated a "Top Pro" every year since 2016 by Thumbtack for being one of the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack.

Jason Phillip

Installation Specialist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

You can always try using adhesive-backed hooks, but it may not work well if you live in a hot or humid climate.