Your living space can totally freshen up with beautiful wood wall art decor. However, hanging these pieces can be a challenge, especially when they are heavy. Plus, you also need different hardware for hanging heavy art on different walls, like plaster, drywall, concrete, and wood walls, etc. Heavy wood art can fall and break if you do not follow the right steps. Therefore, you must be aware of the right steps as well as the tools required to hang heavy wall art. So for the safety of your artwork and to save your effort, we are giving you a list of tools and steps to hang your wood art wall decor. So, let’s begin.
Table of Contents
ToggleTools For Hanging Heavy Wood Wall Art Decor
Now let’s shift our focus to different tools required for hanging wooden wall art decor without any worries. You will need to grab the following tools and stuff.
- Drill (can be corded or cordless)
- Drill bits (pick the size for your hardware and wall type)
- Hammer
- Stud finder (useful for drywall and wood walls)
- Tape measure
- Pencil or chalk
- Safety glasses
- Screws (make sure they’re the right size and type for your wall and wood art)
- Picture hanging wire or D-rings (to help hang the art)
- Wall protectors or felt pads (to prevent scratches)
- Drywall repair kit (just in case something goes wrong)
Quick tip: The exact type of tools you need will depend on how heavy your wood art is and also on what type of wall you’re working with.
Steps To Hang Heavy Wood Decor On A Wall
Now once you know which is the right type of tool for your heavy wood wall art decor, it’s time to hang it. Here are the steps to hang:
Find the Studs or Solid Support
- First and foremost, locate the stud on your wall. For this, you can use a stud finder or just give the wall a little tap to find where the studs or solid support is behind the plaster.
- Now, mark those spots with a pencil or some masking tape.
Pick the Right Hardware
Secondly, pick the right type of hardware based on how heavy your wood art is. Here’s what you’ll want to grab:
- For plaster walls – screws, wall anchors, or molly bolts.
- Dry Walls – Wall Anchors or Toggle Bolts:
- Concrete/Masonry Walls – Concrete Anchors
- Wooden Walls – Wall Anchors or Molly Bolts:
- French Cleats – Great for hanging really heavy wood art on any wall type.
Drill Pilot Holes
- After getting your screws right next, get a drill bit that’s slightly smaller than your screws.
- Now drill some pilot holes into the studs or solid backing at the spots you’ve marked.
Put in Wall Anchors or Bolts
- Now pop in the appropriate wall anchors or bolts into those pilot holes.
- These will help support the screws and the weight of your wood art as well.
Fix the Hanging Hardware
- Moving forward, attach the hanging hardware (like D-rings or picture hanging wire) to the back of your wood art using screws or the right fasteners.
- To help balance the weight, use two hooks or screws instead of one, spaced apart. Now attach wire to these screws
Hang Up the Wood Art
- Carefully pick up your wood art and set it against the wall, making sure to line up the hanging hardware with the holes or wall anchors you’ve got ready.
- Attach the hardware to the wall with the proper screws.
Check and Make Adjustments
- Use a level to double-check that your wood wall art decor is straight.
- However, if it is not leveled, then make tweaks to the artwork to position it properly.
Tighten and Finish Up
- Finally, when you’re happy with the position, tighten up all the screws or hardware.
- If you want, throw on some wall protectors or felt pads to avoid scratches or damage to the wall or your decor.
TIP: If you can’t find studs, use wall anchors that fit the backing material.
Choosing Screw Based On Weight Of Wood Art & Wall Type
To choose the right type of screws, you must first figure out the weight and size of your wood wall art decor. Next, think about how much weight each hardware can handle. The following table will help you choose the exact hardware (screw/bolt type) for your heavy wooden wall art decor.
Different Walls For Hanging Heavy Wood Art |
Hardware Type | Weight Capacity (Approx Values) |
Drywall |
Plastic Expansion Anchors | Up to 50 lbs (23 kg) |
Up to 75 lbs (34 kg) | ||
Heavy-Duty Drywall Anchors |
Up to 50 lbs (23 kg) |
|
Plaster |
Molly Bolts | Up to 50 lbs (23 kg) |
Anchors |
Up to 50 lbs (23 kg) |
|
Toggle Bolts |
Up to 75 lbs (34 kg) |
|
Concrete/Masonry |
Sleeve Anchors | Up to 300 lbs (136 kg) |
Toggle Bolts |
Up to 225 lbs (102 kg) |
|
Molly Bolts |
Up to 175 lbs (79 kg) |
|
Wood Paneling |
Nails or Screws (direct into studs) |
Varies, typically over 50 lbs (23 kg) |
Drywall Anchors (if no stud) |
Up to 50 lbs (23 kg) |
|
All Wall Types | French cleats |
Up to 250 lbs (113 kg) |
Note: All values are for reference only. Read the packaging of the hardware to know exact weight it can handle |
Why Wall Type & Tools Matter for Hanging Heavy Decor?
Different types of walls for hanging heavy wood art require different types of tools to hang wood wall art securely. This is because each wall is made of different material and strength. Her’s reasons for this are:
- Drywall: Now, this is pretty common in modern homes and consists of gypsum panels between two paper sheets.This type of wall is not very strong so if you do not use the right studs or anchors, your heavy art piece will fall.
- Plaster: You often find this in older homes. Although it’s quite strong, you must use the right hardware; otherwise, it will crack or chip.
- Concrete/Masonry: This wall is super sturdy and dense. Consequently, you need special tools and fasteners to drill it and mount hard things well.
- Wood Paneling: Now this type of wall is very delicate and hanging heavy things on it is very difficult. So, these too need special studs to work with.
Common Problems & Solutions
Even if you plan everything out, you might still run into problems when putting up your wood wall art. To begin with, here are some quick fixes:
- Crumbling Drywall or Plaster: Clean up the hole, slap on some packing compound, let it dry, and drill again.
- Stripped Screw Holes: Pop some toothpicks into the hole, break them off, and put the screw back in.
- Uneven Walls: Try using adhesive felt pads or adjustable hanging hardware to make the art sit straight.
Conclusion
Hopefully you’re now totally ready to hang your wood wall art decor. Just remember to keep safety first and take your time for the best results. With a bit of patience and the right techniques, you’ll totally change up your space with gorgeous wooden wall art that people will love for years to come.
FAQ
What should I do if I can’t find a stud in my wall?
If you can’t locate a stud, instead, use heavy-duty wall anchors specifically designed for drywall. This way, they will help distribute the weight of the art evenly across the wall.
How high should I hang my heavy wood wall art decor?
A common rule is to hang art at eye level, typically around 57–60 inches from the floor to the center of the piece. However, you can adjust based on personal preference and room proportions.
What precautions should I take when hanging heavy wood wall art decor?
First, always check the weight limits of your wall anchors. Then, ensure they are installed correctly. Additionally, consider using multiple points of attachment for very heavy pieces.