SAFETY TIP
FIXER UPPERS
TO WEIGH A
LARGE PIECE, HOLD
IT WHILE STANDING
ON BATHROOM
SCALES, THEN
SUBTRACT YOUR
WEIGHT FROM
THE TOTAL
Different wall materials require specific fixings
Plasterboard
For regular plasterboard walls, Bryce suggests
angle drive hooks. “They’re a great all-round
option, come in a range of weight loads up to
30kg and are designed to be used on timber
panelling, too.” See next page for instructions.
Masonry walls
Specialised hooks like Everhang solid picture wall
hooks are a great option for brick or concrete
walls. “Choose hooks suitable for the wall type,
but ensure they can take the weight of the piece
you’re hanging,” says Bryce. For heavy-duty
hanging, use hooks up to a 45kg capacity. And
for a stronger hold, install the anchor into the
brick, not the mortar.
Timber frames add more
warmth to the look of
artworks than plain black
or white, but can still have
a slim, modern profile
a slender space such
as a study nook or shelf.
A general rule is to aim for
the artwork’s centre to sit
around eye level. “When
hanging larger pieces
above furniture like sofas
and sideboards, you want
the artwork to feel visually
linked to the surrounding
elements,” Jessi explains.
“So you may only need to
allow 10cm between the
top of a sofa and the
bottom of the work.”
For a gallery-style hang,
plan the placement on the
floor. “Once you’re happy
with the layout, measure
the distances between
each piece and replicate
it on the wall,” says Jessi.
Hanging
Before drilling or hammering
hooks into a wall, use a stud
finder to pinpoint the wall’s
framework (or stud). Plus,
this means you’ll avoid
drilling into wiring or pipes,
explains Bryce Bicknell of
Gallery@Home.
“For large, heavy artworks
it can be beneficial to
drill into the stud for extra
support,” he says. “It’s
important to ensure the
artwork’s weight is matched
to the capacity of the
hooks and wire. For smaller,
light artworks you may
simply need two angle drive
pins to slot D-rings into.”
Embrace a traditional
timber picture rail by
Damage-free options
Alternatives to nails and screws include adhesive
strips and hooks that can be removed without
damage. Command picture hanging strips come
in a size that can hold heavy items up to 7.2kg. Filiz
Bensan from 3M suggests hanging framed mirrors
and pictures where they can’t be knocked off
or subjected to external force, and never over
beds or cots. As long as the indoor wall they are
adhering to is above 10°C, the hooks should stay
put. “Their holding power should last indefinitely
when used according to pack instructions, and
will hold as long as the temperature stays
between -5 and 40°C,” she says.
hanging works from it with
specialty hooks. Another
option for a sophisticated
gallery-style display is
a track hanging system,
where artworks hang by
wire cable from a track. “It’s
a fantastic way to create
a feature wall as the track,
which can be painted to
seamlessly match your
walls, allows you to hang
multiple pieces from a
single wire that can be
adjusted to different
heights,” Bryce explains.
Scan the QR code
Learn more about the
art of placing pieces:
bunnings.com.au/hangpaintings-and-frames
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