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.
Using picture hanging hooks to decorate the walls within your home usually results in straighter pictures and fewer damages to your walls, but it can be difficult to find an affordable product that works as well as the manufacturer claims. To simplify your life and make the space you live in even more enjoyable, many creative home hacks are available for you to try whenever you wish to hang pictures or make other DIY upgrades to your home.
For instance, soft close cabinet hinges are a must-have if you wish to reduce the sound of slamming cabinet doors in your kitchen and bathroom. However, the cost of installing them can easily exceed $70 per hinge, especially if you hire a professional to complete the job. To experience the benefits of soft closing cabinet hinges without the high cost of installing them throughout your home, you can simply mount a soft close cabinet door damper to the inside of each noisy cabinet.
Learn more about this inexpensive alternative to upgrading your cabinet hinges and explore several other useful hacks for your home in the sections below.
Picture Hanging Hooks Hacks
If you’re looking for a picture hanging hook to simplify your life, Floreat Hangers are an excellent option. Some models can hold up to 50 pounds, making them an excellent solution for hanging your heaviest pieces of artwork.
If you prefer to create your own affordable hook for hanging pictures, however, these hacks are worth trying:
- Use a screw to attach a soda can tab to the back of your picture frame. Then, use the soda can tab to hang the picture on the wall.
- Use super glue to attach the tops of two pushpins to one another. Then, insert one pin into the picture and the other into the wall.
How to Install Soft Close Cabinet Hinges
If you wish to add soft closing cabinet hinges to your kitchen or bathroom cupboards but cannot afford to upgrade each noisy cabinet in your home, you can create the same noise-canceling effect by mounting a door damper to the upper inside corner of your cabinets.
Available for less than $4 from Home Depot, these dampers are simple to install by yourself, and they are an affordable alternative to upgrading each cabinet with soft-close hinges.
Hacks with a Spring Door Stop
If the tips of your spring door stops are worn down and resulting in damages to your doors and walls, you can avoid the need to replace each stopper itself by purchasing a package of stud replacement tips from Amazon or your local hardware store.
Moreover, you can simplify the process of replacing each tip by heating the replacement studs in boiling water beforehand. To do so, simply place the replacement tips into a mug of water and microwave them on high for two minutes. Alternatively, you may choose to boil the studs in a pot of water.
In some cases, installing a hinge pin door stop to each door hinge will be a better solution than using a spring door stop, especially if you need to protect your walls from heavier interior doors that are constantly in motion. To protect interior walls from lightweight doors, however, you may only need to install this type of door stopper to one hinge per door.
To install hinge pin door stoppers without hiring a professional, you will simply need a hammer and straight-slot screwdriver to get the job done on your own. Here’s how you can complete the process in just a few easy steps:
- Close the door you wish to work with.
- Use a screwdriver to remove the top hinge pin from its place.
- Install the new doorstop.
- Reinstall the hinge pin.
- Test the stopper and adjust the door stop if necessary.
Hacks for Non Slip Rugs
You can easily turn any rug into a non-slip rug, even without placing a mat or rug pad underneath. These hacks are especially useful if you knit, crochet or weave your own rugs at home.
Here’s how to keep any rug in place:
- Spread lines of silicone caulk or hot glue onto the underside of the rug.
- Flip the rug over and place strips of double-sided indoor carpet tape along each side, as this will help the rug to stick to the floor without leaving residue behind.
- Attach strips of Velcro to your floor and the underside of the rug.
- Spray the back of the rug with Ruglock Non-Slip Rug Spray or another type of anti-slip spray.
- Purchase a package of rug fasteners, such as 3M Rug Anchors.
Wall Guard Hacks
In addition to using hinge pin and spring door stops to protect walls from door dents and scratches, other types of guards can help to protect the corners of your walls from other damages, especially those caused by pets, children and the sharp edges of furniture.
Known as corner or wall guards, these plastic, vinyl or metal protectors for your walls can help to preserve your paint, wallpaper and drywall, especially if you regularly move furniture around in your home, live with children or have free-roaming pets that tend to chew on the corners of your walls. Several affordable options for your home may include:
- Plastic corner guards, such as Prime-Line Products Corner Shields. On Amazon, you can get a pack of five guards for less than $22.
- Baby Mate baby-proofing wall protectors. On Amazon, you can get five slim wall protectors for less than $19.
Different Hanging Hooks for Clothes
If you’re short on closet space, different hooks for hanging clothes are available to simplify your life. Several creative options include:
- Space-saving hanger holders. Instead of using a hanger to store one single piece of clothing, these hangers allow you to hang multiple items of clothing vertically without taking up additional space in your closet.
- Command hooks. These affordable and easy-to-mount hooks are available in a variety of sizes and colors, giving you the opportunity to hang your clothes and accessories on any wall in your home.
- Soda can tabs. If you have soda cans lying around your home or recycling bin, remove the tabs and thread them through your clothes hangers. The tabs will allow you to hang multiple pieces of clothing from the same hanger, without taking up additional space in your closet.
- S hooks. Like many other hanging hooks for clothes, S hooks allow you to hang clothing pieces in your closet both vertically and horizontally.
