It’s a common dilemma for renters to make a space feel like their own in regards to wall hanging, due to the limitations of their contract. No drilling, no holes, which typically means no hanging of frames or other decor on the wall.
How can a person liven up their bland walls with these types of restrictions?
Well, you’re in luck! We have some renter-friendly picture hangers and accessories that allow you to hang items while abiding by your landlord’s rules!
Adhesive Hangers and Hooks
Adhesive hangers and hooks are the ideal products to use in a rental property for hanging foam board or other very lightweight items on walls. They’re convenient, easy to use, and, most importantly, removable. Examples include sticky hooks, picture hanging strips, adhesive sawtooth hangers, etc.
We offer adhesive sawtooth hangers that are extremely easy to install.
- Wipe the surface and make sure it’s clean and dry.
- Peel the paper off the sticky adhesive.
- Stick it on to the back of the frame.
*The same procedure applies to sticky hooks to be installed on the wall.
Adhesive picture hangers in general can only support lightweight hangers. Our adhesive sawtooth, specifically, can only support 1-2 lbs.
With these picture hangers, you can quickly move frames around as the seasons change or whenever you want to. And when it’s time to leave, you won’t have to deal with filling the holes.
Picture Rail Hanging System
Another no-nail, no-fail picture hanging solution in rental spaces is a picture rail hanging system.
Unfortunately this system only applies to older homes or those with Ogee picture rail molding installed at the top of the walls, close to the ceiling. Ogee, OG, or standard picture rail molding is an architectural form with double curves that resembles the letter S. You can find them on walls, countertops, mantles, etc.
If you have this specific molding, you can easily hang multiple frames using our Gallery Kits, or our brass rods.
These 2 options offer very different looks; the brass rods are very classy and elegant and slightly more classic than the more modern gallery kits that include clear nylon cords or stainless steel cords. They’re all extremely easy to use and offer a level of flexibility most other hangers can’t.
Plus, they can be moved around seamlessly without ever drilling a single hole in the walls. What more could you ask for?
The OG rods are available in the antique brass finish and are 5 feet in length. We also just added a new white OG rod that is 4 feet in length for those who want the rod to blend in more with their white walls and offer a more modern feel.
Additionally, for Ogee rail molding, we offer Gallery Kits which include everything you need to set up your own picture rail hanging system using cords and adjustable hooks.
- Picture Rail Hooks
- These are S-shaped steel hooks designed explicitly for Ogee moldings. Two types of hooks are available in the kits: silver and brass wide picture rail hooks. We also carry narrow hooks also in the silver and brass finishes, but these are not offered in gallery kits, they are sold separately.
- Loop Cables
- These are 72-inch nylon or steel loop cables with a loop on one end. They’re hung on picture rail hooks, and the adjustable hooks are attached to these in order to hang the frames.
- Adjustable Cable Hooks
- These adjustable cable hooks are installed onto the loop cables, completing the whole picture rail hanging system. You can easily slide these hooks up and down the cable to adjust the height the frames are hung at on the wall.
Easel
Another way of showcasing pictures and art is by using easels. There are various sizes, colors and materials of easels available, however we offer a standard 6-inch clear acrylic for smaller items. We recommend using our clear acrylic easels for desktops, shelves, and countertops. There’s certainly a plethora of other easels available online, as well as in local craft and art shops.
Floor easels are a great option for large-scale artwork and pictures. However, they take up more space which isn’t the best option for smaller spaces.
Your options are definitely limited when renting, which is what makes these wall-friendly picture hangers very appealing. With these products, you can put personality into your space without breaking the rules!
More Creative Ways to Hang Pictures and Art
If you want more picture and art hanging ideas for your space, check out these creative ways to display photos and art.
Use Fun Washi Tapes
Using colorful and printed washi tapes is ideal for displaying unframed pictures and art. You can place the tape on the wall scrapbook-style or by creating faux frames around the pictures. With all the creative possibilities of Washi tape, it's easily one of the best ways to express your personality on those bare walls!
Let Frames Lean
Achieve a laid-back, effortlessly chic look by letting your frames lean against the wall. It can be done on a counter, shelf, or mantle. You can play around with different sizes of picture frames, canvas or textured art, and fun decor.
DIY Photo Wall
You've probably seen this a lot on Pinterest, and for good reason. It's simple but cute. This idea is perfect for dorms or a girl's bedroom, and you can add fairy lights to make it even better.
DIY Picture Rail System
This DIY picture rail system makes use of a tension rod. The tension rod stands in place of the Ogee molding or a wall track so you don’t have to drill holes. This is not a widely used option, but it’s definitely worth trying.
RELATED ARTICLE: 9 Wall-Friendly and Creative Picture Hanging Ideas
And Just In Case Your Landlord Will Allow a Few holes…
Don’t get us wrong, all the above ideas are great in cases where there is an absolute no-holes-in-the-wall policy. But if your landlord will allow you to drill a few holes, there are a couple more options available.
Wall Track or Wall Channel Kits
There are two different options that require just a few holes at the top of the wall, close to the ceiling, and almost are unnoticeable to the eye.
First is our brass wall molding, which can be used with the brass J Rods and monkey hangers for a sophisticated and elegant look. The second one is our White Gallery Track systems that include either nylon or steel cords and hooks, which are perfect for a more subtle and modern look.
Both require drilling a few holes to set them up. Install the wall track or channel just below the ceiling and get those frames hanging right away! Both systems are easy to install and allow for flexibility in hanging items at different heights on the wall.
Install a Pegboard
You can do many things with a pegboard, and you’d be surprised just how useful and flexible they can be. You can hang multiple pictures, adjust them quickly, and even add some organizational features to make it more functional.
They can be installed with a few holes like the wall track, and offer a lot of options. Your landlord may even decide to leave it in place for the next tenant!
Final Thoughts
A “no holes in the wall” policy can pose a great challenge when you want to decorate your walls. Finding a solution that works for you (and your landlord) makes things rewarding and more fun, right? We hope these picture hangers and creative ideas help you with personalizing your space.
If you end up using one of our picture hangers or any idea listed above, please let us know! You can comment down below or send them to us at support@picturehangsolutions.com! We’d love to see what you’ve done to your space.
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