How to hang art without making a hole in the wall

Whether you're hoping to make your home your own with frames or mirrors, or get organised with shelves or towel hooks, there are plenty of reasons you might need to install something on the wall. But it's not always possible to drill through walls to do so. Perhaps you live in a rented home or you want to be able to change up your décor later on. Or maybe you and DIY just don't mix! Whatever the reason you're reluctant to make holes in the wall, there are also lots of solutions no matter whether you're installing indoors or outdoors.

Among the most popular options for nail-free wall hanging are adhesives which come in a range of formats. However, you do need to avoid using these products on certain surfaces such as wallpaper which can get damaged by things like double-sided tape. Otherwise, if self-adhesive tack or hooks do leave any residue, you simply need to gently scrape it off using a utility knife. For a cement surface, sprinkle a little scouring powder on a soft sponge, rub gently and that should do the trick!

Top 10 ways to hang art without making a hole in the wall

So without further ado, here are our top 10 easy ways to hang an item on the wall without leaving a hole.

1. Sticky tack: easy to apply and reuse

2. Picture hanging strips: strong and invisible

3. Adhesive hooks: suction pads or magnetic hooks

4. Adhesive screws: round, rectangular or triangular

5. Adhesive towel or coat hooks: self-adhesive, suction pads or magnetic

6. Double-sided tape: small but mighty

7. Velcro strips: perfect for cutting down to size

8. Masking tape: for a decorative touch

9. Construction adhesive: hang heavy items in seconds

10. Magnetic paint to magnetise your interior

• Sticky tack putty: this option is ideal for hanging light frames, paintings or even kitchen utensils. You simply need to tear off as much tack as you need and apply it to your item before pressing it onto the wall. Depending on the product, adhesive tack can support loads of 2 kg right up to 6 kg for power tacks. It can adhere to a range of surfaces including concrete, cement and tiles.

• Pre-cut adhesive tack: this reusable tack can be used to hang photos or posters weighing up to 250 g.

Adhesive tack is just as easy to apply as it is to remove and won't leave any marks on your walls.

Designed to adhere to various surfaces (painted walls, tiles, stainless steel, plastic, glass, etc.) and available in different sizes, picture hanging strips come in pairs and can be applied and removed without leaving a mark. One side of the strip is fixed to the wall while the other is attached to the item you want to hang. The two strips then adhere to each other via a Velcro system.

Self-adhesive strips can be used to hang frames or paintings weighing up to 7 kg, depending on the product.

Only suitable for holding lightweight items such as fairy lights, keys or tea towels, adhesive hooks can be applied to a number of different surfaces. An adhesive pad is stuck to the wall before the hook is applied to the pad and held firmly in place for a few seconds. Some models are water-resistant which means they can be used in a kitchen or bathroom.

Suction pad hooks

Hooks with suction pads can adhere perfectly to smooth, moist surfaces such as tiles or shower screens with some hooks able to withstand loads of up to 3 kg.

Magnetic hooks

Another option – magnetic hooks which combine an adhesive system with magnets to hold items weighing up to 4 kg.

Adhesive screws are specially designed to adhere to uneven surfaces like brick or stone but they also work perfectly on materials like wood, plastic and metal. Another bonus – they can be used indoors and outdoors.

You simply need to glue the screw in place and wait 12 hours before fixing the item of your choice using the nut provided. Adhesive screws can withstand loads of 2.5 to 7 kg depending on the model.

And to remove an adhesive screw, you simply need to turn it gently using a pair of pliers.

Designed to adhere to all surfaces, including tiles, adhesive towel hooks or coat hooks can be used to hang up towels or clothes weighing up to 5 kg with ease (depending on the product).

A towel hook or coat hook with a suction pad will adhere easily to smooth surfaces and can be used in the bathroom or kitchen.

Magnetic hooks can be fixed to any kind of metal surface.

Another great way to hang items without making a hole is double-sided tape. Sticky on both sides, double-sided tape can adhere perfectly to smooth walls and surfaces like metal or glass, and can even work in rooms with moisture like bathrooms. This tape can be used to firmly secure paintings, shelves or mirrors, for example.

Sold in rolls, double-sided tape can withstand loads of up to 80 kg depending on the product.

If you want to use this option outdoors, be sure to check that the product you choose is suitable.

Also known as hook and loop tape, velcro strips pull apart into two pieces: one side can be glued to the wall while the other is glued to the item you want to attach to the wall. The two strips are then joined.

Sold in rolls and available in different lengths and widths, velcro strips are easy to cut with scissors. They can be secured to any kind of flat surface to hold lightweight items and materials including:

• fabric;

• photos;

• drawings;

• small paintings;

• and so on.

Masking tape originated from Japan and was traditionally made using rice paper. It is commonly used for crafts. Available in a multitude of colours and patterns, masking tape can be removed and repositioned without leaving a mark. It works well for hanging photos or drawings and you can get creative designing all kinds of frames and shapes to surround your art.

Extremely durable and versatile, this type of adhesive mastic is specially designed to hang even heavy objects indoors or outdoors (provided you choose a product designed for outdoor use). Shelves, wall lights, mirrors, post boxes... this adhesive can be used on practically any surface or material.

There's no need to drill or even use hardware. You simply need to lay a bead of construction adhesive on the back of the item you want to hang before placing it against the wall and pressing firmly in place for about 10 seconds. The adhesive should cure within 24 hours.

Sold in cartridges designed to be placed in a sealant gun, construction glue can, depending on the product, support up to 350 kg/m2!

Magnetic paint contains fine iron particles which allow it to transform any part of a wall into a magnet board. Magnets can then be used to hang up photos, posters or other memos and receipts.

Available in several colours and easy to apply (provided you prepare your surface properly), magnetic paint can even be covered by wallpaper or a thin wall covering and still retain its magnetic properties.

Magnetic paint can only be used indoors and is best for smaller surfaces as it can be costly.