Disclaimer: The information found on this page is for informational and educational purposes only. Always make sure to get the proper clearances and to consult the advice of a professional before attempting any repair or improvement.
Installing decorative hooks in various areas throughout your home may seem like a straightforward process, but there are correct and incorrect methods of doing so.
For instance, it is important to understand the different situations in which adhesive hooks may be appropriate and where these types of hooks could do more harm to your walls than good.
When installed correctly, however, decorative wall hooks can bring style and personality into your living space.
Moreover, you can install other types of hooks throughout your home if you wish to hang plants from ceilings or you need additional storage space for hanging your scarves, purses and other accessories.
To learn more about installing hooks that can be used to hang plants, pictures and clothing, review the information below.
How to Install Decorative Hooks
Decorative wall hooks are a unique type of hook that can add style and personality to your walls, while also providing you with additional space for storing, organizing and hanging keys, coats, purses, jewelry, hats and other lightweight objects.
To match the other décor in your home, these hooks are available in a variety of colors, finishes, shapes and sizes. Some of these hooks even hold mirrors and shelving units.
To install a decorative hook correctly, carefully read the installation instructions that came with the product, as this information will help you to determine where the hook can be mounted to reduce the risk of damaging your wall.
Depending on the type of hook you purchase, you may be able to mount the hook into solid wood studs, or you may use wall anchors.
If you choose to mount your decorative hooks into solid wood studs, you will first need to use a stud finder to locate studs behind the walls.
If you do not own a stud finder, you can knock onto walls to determine whether a stud is present. If a stud is present, knocking will produce a solid sound. Once you locate a stud, use a pencil to mark the area.
About Picture Hanging Hooks
If you wish to install a picture hanging hook to a wall, using a pre-assembled picture hanging kit can help to simplify the process.
These packages contain the different types of hardware you’ll need to hang a picture frame on your own, including the following:
- D-ring and sawtooth hangers
- Wall fasteners
- Hanger wire
- Screw eyes
While these kits are especially useful if you’re learning how to hang a picture for the first time, it is important to purchase a kit that has been designed to hold the weight of the picture you wish to hang.
Moreover, there are other ways to hang a picture as well. In addition to using picture hanging hooks, you may use a hammer and nail or a drill and screw to attach a picture to a wall.
If your picture weighs more than 20 lbs, however, you should use a spiral anchor or toggle bolt instead of a picture hanging kit, nail or screw.
About Hanging Hooks for Plants
If you’re eager to test out the plant hanging ideas you’ve been seeing all over Pinterest, it is important to familiarize yourself with this process before getting started.
If you incorrectly hang a hook from a ceiling, you could damage your ceiling as well as the plant.
Once you’re ready to install a hanging hook for plants, complete the following steps:
- Purchase a package of hook screws
- While standing on a ladder, use your knuckles to knock on the ceiling or use a stud finder to locate a ceiling joist
- Once you locate a ceiling joist, use a pencil to mark the ceiling
- Drill a hole into the marked area on the ceiling
- Gently push the hook screw into the hole, twisting it clockwise until it lies flush with the ceiling
- Test out your favorite plant hanging ideas and enjoy
In some cases, you can mount an adhesive hook to your ceiling if the surface is flat and the plant weighs less than five lbs.
For heavier plants or textured ceilings, however, you will need to use one or two hook screws rather than adhesives.
About Clothes Hanger Hooks
If you wish to install a clothes hanger hook to a wall in your home, you can use these hooks to hang scarves, hats, coats, towels, robes or other lightweight clothing items.
Complete the following steps to simplify the process of installing these types of hooks:
- Use painter’s tape to mark the parts of the wall where you wish to hang clothes
- If installing multiple clothes hanger hooks, use a tape measure to space the hooks as evenly apart as possible, and move your painter’s tape around if necessary
- Use a level to mark a space for your screw holes
- Drill your pilot holes directly through the painter’s tape
- Remove the painter’s tape
- Finish attaching your hooks to the wall
About Command Wall Hooks
If the idea of drilling decorative hooks into your walls is off-putting, or you live in a multi-family property where drilling or hammering nails into walls is not allowed, you may choose to use adhesive hooks for hanging lightweight objects on your walls.
While these hooks are not designed to hold framed pictures, you can use them to hang belts, hats, purses and other lightweight accessories.
Command picture hanging strips are also available for purchase, as these products can be used to hold heavier objects.
Before installing your hooks, it is important to keep in mind that you can only use 3M adhesive hooks to hang lightweight items from smooth surfaces such as painted walls, tile, varnished wood, metal, glass, laminates and concrete.
You cannot use Command wall hooks to hang items from wallpaper, textured walls, brick, fabric and other non-stick surfaces. Additionally, you must wait at least seven days after painting walls to use these hooks.
If you have a smooth wall surface that your adhesive hook can stick to, complete the following steps to install the hook correctly:
- Use rubbing alcohol to clean the surface of the wall
- Remove the red liner from the 3M strip and attach the adhesive side to the plastic hook
- Remove the black adhesive liner from the 3M strip
- Firmly press the Command wall hook against the wall for at least 30 seconds
- Wait at least one hour before hanging items from your hook
