Picture frames and wall decor can make any room look better. However, if you’re renting, you may not want to risk damaging the walls. The best way to avoid doing that is by opting for command strips, but they’re not suitable for every type of wall.
Read on to learn about the alternatives to command strips that won’t cause a lot of damage to your walls.
When Should You Avoid Using Command Strips?
If you want to hang pictures up without damaging your walls, command strips are a great way to do so. You simply stick the strips to a picture frame and adhere the other side to your wall.
You can use command strips on wood, metal, tiles, glass, and any other smooth and solid surface. If you opt for the larger variety, command strips can hold a frame that weighs up to 16 pounds. Therefore, you won’t have to worry about the frame falling down and breaking or damaging your furniture.
Command strips are quite durable and non-damaging. However, they won’t stick well to every surface. For example, if you have textured walls, it’s probably better to opt for another way to hang your frames. Since the surface of the wall isn’t smooth enough, the strips won’t stick to it well enough.
Additionally, command strips won’t hold well on any non-stick or rough surfaces. Therefore, if you have any wallpapers or fabrics on your walls, you should avoid sticking the command strips onto them. Moreover, don’t use command strips on brick walls. They will remain durable only if the bricks don’t have any texture to them and if you can avoid the gaps between the bricks when applying the strips.
9 Alternatives to Command Strips
It’s difficult to find a way of hanging items on your walls without causing any damage. Although command strips can be quite useful, they aren’t fit for all wall types. Depending on the type of wall you’re dealing with, and how heavy the items you want to hang are, you should opt for one of these nine alternatives to command strips:
1. Nails
If you don’t rent and don’t mind damaging your walls a bit, opt for regular nails. They are a great choice for those who have textured walls or wallpapers. Additionally, if your frames are light enough, you’ll likely only need one nail to hang up each frame. Therefore, you’ll minimize the damage to your wall greatly.
Furthermore, if you use the right tools, you won’t cause much damage to your walls. For example, picture hanging kits can be quite handy to have around. They contain all the elements you need, such as nails, screw eyes, and hanging wires. Additionally, some of them contain a level, so you can make sure the frame is not crooked.
2. Adhesive Hooks
You’ve likely used adhesive hooks before. They’re quite handy, as they can hold a lot of weight and don’t damage walls as much as nails. However, although adhesive hooks work well on wallpapers and walls with a smooth finish, they may detach from overly textured walls. Still, if your walls are smooth, adhesive hooks are quite easy to attach.
Firstly, make sure to clean the surface with rubbing alcohol and wait for about a minute for it to dry. Once the surface is dry enough, peel off the paper that’s on the back of the hook and press the adhesive part in place. Hold the hook in place for 30 seconds. Afterward, let the adhesive set for about an hour before hanging anything you want from it.
3. Wall Anchors
If you’re dealing with textured drywall, neither command strips nor nails by themselves will be able to keep your picture frames in place. However, with high-quality wall anchors, you can hang items as heavy as mirrors onto drywall. Otherwise known as wall mollies, these plastic anchors are meant to hold screws in place.
It’s easy to find high-quality kits online with various screw and anchor sizes. Additionally, it’s quite easy to install a drywall anchor. Simply twist the plastic part into the wall with a power drill and place the matching screw into it. The anchor will protect your wall from breaking down due to the weight of the item that’s hanging off the wall.
4. Drywall Hooks
Using drywall hooks, otherwise known as monkey hooks, is among the least damaging ways to hang lighter items. Unlike command strips, you can use monkey hooks on textured walls. However, you won’t be able to use them on harder materials, such as metal and wood. Additionally, if you want to hang up heavier frames and mirrors, a standard drywall hook may not be strong enough to hold it in place.
Monkey hooks are quite easy to install. Firstly, determine where you want to hang up the item. The bottom part of the drywall hook should be at about the same height. Push the bottom part of the hook into your wall until it penetrates the wall completely. Once only the top of the hook is left, rotate it and push it further into the wall until only the very top peeks through.
5. Hardwall Hangers
If you want to hang items on a brick or a concrete wall, hardwall hangers are your best option. None of the previous four options are able to penetrate a hard wall well enough without causing damage. Even command strips don’t hold up well when it comes to textured brick walls. Luckily, a high-quality hardwall hanger can hold up quite heavy items without causing a lot of damage to your walls.
Hardwall hangers are usually plastic, and they come with three or four pins. The pins are usually made of stainless steel, so they don’t deteriorate over time. Since they are thin, you can easily hammer them into a hard wall, and they won’t leave much of a mark. Once you secure the pins in place, you can hang whatever you want from the plastic hook.
6. Double-Sided Tape
Double-sided tape is one of the most versatile interior design solutions you can find on the market. It may not be as heavy-duty and durable as dedicated wall-hangers, but its versatility makes it a convincing competitor.
Whether you want to hang spoons and spatulas in your kitchen, or school supplies in your office, double-sided tape is easy-to-use and customizable to fit almost any application. It can be a good option for hanging pictures as well, but the wall should be smooth for best results.
7. Adhesive Putty
If you’re looking for an all-around good option for hanging items on just about any surface, look no further than adhesive putty. It forms to the surface of the wall, whether it’s smooth or textured, and sticks to the back of your pictures and other home decor items with ease.
To use, all you need to do is ensure that the surface you’re hanging on is clean and dry. Roll a piece into a small, warm ball. Stick the ball to the back of what it is you’re hanging, and then press the item into the wall, holding for up to a minute.
The downside to mounting putty is the weight limitations. It can only hold up to one pound.
8. Magnetic Dots
Hanging decorative items on the walls can be stressful if you like to move things around a lot. Magnetic dots offer a way around the commitment.
All you have to do is mount one magnet to a wall using either double-sided tape or Velcro patches, and mount the other magnet directly to the items you intend to hang.
Once you have magnets on the wall and magnets on your pictures, you can easily rearrange whenever you want!
9. Shelving
If you live in a strict apartment complex or a dorm room, there’s a good chance that you’re not allowed to hang anything on the walls. In these instances, you always have the option of using shelving to display all of your home decor items.
If you’re able to hang items on your walls, another good option is to install shelves directly on the walls. This way you can have the best of both worlds—a place for your books, and a stylish display for all your small home decor items.
In Conclusion
Which of these nine alternatives to command strips you opt for will depend on the wall type and the weight of the decor you want to hang up.
Still, no matter which option you go for, it’s important to buy a well-crafted product. That way, you can ensure your decor will stay put for a long time, and the damage to your walls will be minimal.
1 Comment
I have put up command strips on a few of my walls,There isn’t anything heavy either but in this past week 2 of my decorations have come off the walls. One was a small dish I had hung, the other a light wreath. A few months ago I had a copy of the painting Pinky that had a little glass frame on the front. The command strip let go and ruined the picture when the glass broke and fell to the floor cutting the picture. I am disgusted with command strips. I have other places in my home that these things have let go of too numerous to mention. I am tired of all the damage they have done so I will no longer be using them. It’s just not worth the expense of losing so many of my possessions. The glue on these things stink. I’d save my money if any one has precious things they don’t want damaged. There slogan of Do No damage is not true. These command strips have done plenty of damage in my home.