- Picture hangers help keep a picture correctly placed. They also prevent heavier items from slipping off the wall or sliding on their axis. Further, they more solidly adhere the item to the wall than a simple nail. This is of particular importance if you live in areas that are prone to earthquakes.
- The type of hanger you use depends on the weight of the article being hung as well as the method you want to use to hang it. If your room includes a picture rail--that thin rail that runs about 16 or so inches below the join of the wall and the ceiling--then you can hang the item using a specially-molded s-curve that supports the picture at the height of the the rail. Or you can use fishing line and this type of hanger if you want the item lower on the wall. If you don't have a picture rail, then a standard kit for picture hangers is your best bet. The kit typically includes a nail and a hanger that is rated for different weights. But there's a huge variety of actual hangers, from sawtooth to heavy-duty. See Resources below for an extensive set of examples.
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You can use a picture hanger against almost any surface. The method by which you attach the hanger may vary, however. With the standard dry wall construction found in most modern houses, you can use a simple nail and hanger. But if you're adding something to brick, you'll need masonry screws, as regular nails aren't strong enough to penetrate the brick.
Picture hangers typically appear on the in the middle upper half of the back of a picture. Heavier pictures or items may have two picture hangers already on the frame. These are typically at the top upper corners and help stabilize a heavier item, though they do make it more difficult to hang something straight. Use a level to help set the nails you use with this type of picture hanger. - Look at the weight of the picture that you're hanging as well as the location of the picture hanger on the back. Make sure the hanger is rated for the weight of the object you're hanging so it doesn't get pulled out. Note that not all pictures include a hanger, so double-check before setting a nail without a hanger attached to it. If the picture includes a wire across the back, set the nail and hanger at a level that accounts for the slack in the wire so the picture doesn't hang too low.
- If you're seeking a solution that avoids using nails altogether, consider 3M's Command Strips. They provide a new way to adhere pictures to a wall without the use of nails or picture hangers. Their simple solution makes it easy to adjust pictures and move them to alternate locations without leaving a mark on the wall.
