Outdoor Picture Hanging: How to Create a Weather-Resistant Display

We often focus on making the inside of our homes look inviting, but what about your patio, deck, or backyard? Hanging art outdoors comes with extra steps: weatherproofing your pieces, choosing spots that avoid damage, and using hardware built to withstand the elements.

Designers know that outdoor décor can boost curb appeal and add value if you ever sell. A few throw pillows and planters help, but hanging pictures on brick or concrete walls is an easy way to bring personality to outdoor spaces. Here’s how to do it right.

Durability is your priority when hanging artwork outside. Leaving your art outside exposes it to all different kinds of weather, so you’ll need robust, weather-resistant material to withstand outdoor conditions. 

If you’re hanging exposed artwork, some pieces with specific media like watercolor or charcoal should be kept indoors because they can quickly dissolve with a bit of rain. Other types, such as acrylic artworks, are safe because exterior paint jobs, designed to withstand natural elements, are often made from similar chemicals. In general, you’re better off hanging photos or outdoor art prints on canvas. 

That said, if you already have some framed pieces you’ve been looking to hang, there are ways to help weatherproof your pictures so they will stand the test of time (and weather!). Here’s how:

1. Look for any loose canvas at the sides and tape them down. If the canvas is white, cover it with newspaper first.

2. Spray the entire front and back of the canvas with a clear acrylic sealer. Follow the instructions on the can. For added protection, spray a second layer.

3. If your art piece has a wooden frame, you must take it apart first. Spray the entire frame with polyurethane spray sealer.

Should you want to make your outdoor hanging art, here are materials you can look into that are safe for the outdoors and resistant to fluctuating weather conditions:

• Outdoor art canvas
• Sealant or lacquer
• Spray paint
• Outdoor acrylic paint
• Enamel paint
• Multi-surface paint
• Varnish

Frames should also be just as durable to protect the art or photo. For weather-resistant frames, look out for the following:

• Metal frames
• Plexiglass
• Outdoor-grade wood frames (teak, cedar)
• Plastic frames
• Varnished frames

Even after the pictures have been fortified with outdoor art protectants, it’s best to stick to spots away from direct sunlight, as they can quickly fade fragile or unprotected artworks. Placing them under awnings, roof overhangs, covered patios, and shadowy corners will help prevent excessive exposure to the elements. You can also place them further into the balcony to ensure they don’t get rained on.

Monitor the pictures regularly to check for signs of weathering. Look for signs of peeling, discoloration, fading, and warping on the artwork or its protective glass. Check frames' condition and integrity for moisture damage and to ensure they’re not cracked or scratched.

If you notice anything listed above, it may be a sign to move the picture to a drier or more shaded area or bring it indoors altogether.

Our top priority at Picture Hang Solutions is to ensure you choose the appropriate hardware. Regular indoor picture hangers may not be sturdy enough to withstand the elements or not strong enough for exterior wall materials like brick or concrete. To make things easier, we’ve rounded up our top suggestions for outdoor picture hanging hardware. 

Brick clips are a great alternative to drilling or hammering potentially damaging hardware into the masonry joints. Our clips are capable of holding up to 25 pounds per clip. The installation process is straightforward as they don’t need holes or tools, and the edges and upper teeth help secure a snug fit.

Our lead anchors are a perfect fit for hanging wood frames into brick or concrete walls. This is helpful for longer or larger frames that are over 24” and will benefit from an additional mounting point at the bottom corners of the frame. This means four mounting points in total for the frame, making the display more stable and secure.

If you’re wondering how to hang pictures on outdoor stucco, hardwall plastic hooks suit concrete, cement, cinder block, and hardwood walls. All you’ll need with these hooks is a hammer because the hook comes with nails built into the back surface. They can hold up to 30 lbs, so make sure the picture you’re hanging up is not too heavy.

These zinc-plated steel hooks can be used on any surface if you choose the right nails. For concrete and brick, we recommend using it with our Bear Claw Screw Hangers, which have a self-drilling tip or with our Wall Dog Screws.

Strap hangers are our go-to for hanging wooden frames of different types. If you check out our store, you’ll see that we have a range of strap hangers with different weight capacities. 

Super steel hangers, like strap hangers, are also great for wood frames and require multiple screws. The difference is that it’s less bulky and will allow the frame to stick closer to the wall, making it more stable.

Because you’ll need more stability to keep outdoor wall hanging decor in place in the case of strong winds, Wall Buddies come with a left and right corner piece to add strength and stability to the frames. The hangers strengthen the upper corner of the picture frame by acting as corner braces and eliminating the stress on frame rails and corner joints. Our Wall Buddies have two variations for both wood and metal frames.

Our Wall Dog screw has a heat-treated point that helps penetrate hard surfaces, making it appropriate for brick and concrete walls. They are best paired with our steel utility hangers or French cleats.

No fuss, no frills. Our concrete screws are pretty straightforward – they anchor and secure objects onto concrete. 

Stainless steel wires are our strongest available picture wires to hold picture frames in place. While they’re less flexible than our other picture wires, they have a more comprehensive capacity range to accommodate different frame weights. The material is also highly resistant to rust and corrosion and can withstand moisture, humidity, and temperature changes.

Indoor picture hanging alone requires a lot of meticulous planning, so hanging art outdoors demands even more consideration. By carefully choosing weatherproof materials and hardware and strategically placing them in suitable locations, you can protect your art from outdoor detriments.

If you need more help setting up your outdoor picture frame displays, go ahead and comment below or email us!