The rumors are true—our collection of hangers and all things picture hanging at Picture Hang Solutions is curated to a standard that would satisfy any professional in the industry. But while we’re proud of our catalog, we also know how many types of picture hanging needs it caters to, and it’s a wide variety. For dedicated art collectors, it may be a tad too much.

Building an art collection is quite a different process from occasionally picking up an art piece and putting it up next to personal mementos and photos. When hanging up art, the stakes are higher for an art collector—whether that’s because of the time and effort they’ve put in for their collection, the knowledge they’ve accumulated, or the monetary investment involved in the process.

Thus, with high-stakes picture hanging comes high-stakes picture hanging hardware. Art collection doesn’t end at the commissioning and sourcing and bidding—in fact, the mounting and display of your precious pieces at the end of the line is the most crucial of all. For this purpose, we’ve drawn up an expanded checklist of professional picture hanging tools for every art collector. This will not only simplify every shopping trip but refine the whole experience for you and your collection, too.

So get your notepad ready and let’s jump right into it.

The first part of this checklist will dress everything down to the essential of the essential. From wall hooks to frame hangers, which frame and wall hardware should be your basic go-tos?

☑️ Gallery systems

 For distinct/large collections and vertical layouts

When it comes to art collections, you can usually look no further than gallery systems, which are complete picture hanging systems beloved for their adjustability, elegance, and capacity to hold more pieces without more drilling. There are several types of gallery systems for art collectors:

• Wall track kits: Each kit is a combination of wall track (Track 100 or Track 101) and hanging cords. Track 101 has an open channel for cord hooks while Track 100 is a flat wall track with a hidden underside channel for cord hooks
• Gallery kit with rail hooks: Picture rail hooks for traditional ogee rail molding, loop cords, and adjustable picture hooks

• Gallery rod kit: Wall track, hanging rods, and adjustable picture hooks

• Ogee rods: Gallery rods for traditional ogee/OG picture rail molding

☑️ Traditional picture hooks

       For individual pieces

Traditional hooks are also called drywall hooks, and they are perfect for more individual orientations of display. These wall hooks are essential hardware that can secure light wall art as well as heavier pieces. “For the majority of works,” gallerist Vincent Milner shares, “I use brass picture hanging hooks with different sizes, based on the weight of the works.” They come in a clean, compact hook-and-nail design in a brass or nickel finish, and the nails leave miniscule holes, minimizing wall damage.

☑️ Art hangers

       For well-equipped frames

Once you’ve ticked picture hooks off your list, you’ll need the proper frame hardware for your pictures. D-rings and strap hangers are basic enough that they will often come with your wooden frame already, but if they don’t, that’s when this checklist comes in handy. Try starting with these:

If you need frame hardware for metal frames, you’ll be in safe hands with these:

The main event is all cared for, the frames supported, the wire hung, the walls fitted up—now to elevate the display as a whole and keep it in tiptop shape. What do you need to maintain an art collection that is aesthetically pleasing, protected, and easy to reorganize, no matter the scale?

With an entire collection of artwork, it can be tedious to move them around and challenging to make small adjustments because of hangers specific to each frame. But with adjustable hangers like the J-hook kit, you can reposition a piece without even taking it off the wall.

☑️ Adjustable strap hangers

The adjustable strap hangers are another group of hangers that are prized for their adjustability. Being adjustable means you don’t need to move a hanger to move a picture. The T-strap is perfect for hanging on picture hanging wire, while the single strap pair is designed to work with D-rings.

☑️ Bumpers

Bumpers are small tools that are easy to look past, but they improve your display in multiple ways: they save pictures from slipping out of place, protect your walls from scratches, protect art from bumping and shoving, and provide a well-ventilated gap between the wall and your collection.

A security kit is an anti-theft, earthquake-proof hanging package. If your art is housed in an area prone to disturbance, or if it’s a valuable collection that you’re anxious to protect, a security kit won’t fail you.

☑️ Canvas clips and spring clips

Hanging any canvas pieces? Maybe you own pieces that don’t quite have the perfect frame for them yet. Don’t endure flawed displays with ill-fitting frames and turn to canvas clips and spring clips to get rid of clunking art and prevent bending.

☑️ Wall anchors

Wall care can be as simple as using a wall anchor together with every piece of hardware you install on your wall. A wall anchor reinforces your wall hardware, ensuring proper support for your art collection and helping to keep your walls’ structural integrity.

Save the complete checklist for your collection as a graphic below!

No two picture hanging checklists are the same, and this is especially true for art collectors. A unique art collection and everyday wall decor can be worlds apart. But with this ultimate art collector’s edition checklist, we can bridge that gap and refocus on the most relevant picture hanging products, whether they’re universally loved or made for a niche picture hanging need.

Now you’re ready to display your art collection with pride and ease of mind, and if we missed anything, skip the guesswork and drop us an email or note below. 

Happy hanging!