Picture hangers? Your confusion is almost over

Figuring out that nails aren’t the only method for hanging pictures is one thing. Figuring out what picture hanger is right for your purposes is another thing entirely. Picture hangers come in all shapes and sizes. Where to start?

STAS can help. We’ve been developing picture hangers for twenty years, so let us get you started.

Our picture hangers can roughly be divided into two categories:
1. Picture rail hangers
2. Decorative picture hangers

1. Picture rail hangers

Picture hanging systems are quite possibly the most flexible art hanging method on the market. Why? Because no nails, drills or other tools are required once the picture rail is installed.

Used extensively by art galleries, museums and businesses worldwide, many home owners are now discovering the benefits of these nailless picture hangers.

A picture hanging system works with a picture rail rather than with separate holes for each individual artwork. The narrow rail is mounted on a wall (just below the ceiling, or halfway down the wall) and can span the entire wall length.

For each framed picture you wish to hang, simply hook a matching cord or wire into the rail at the spot you desire. Slide a picture hook over the cord to the height of your choice and hang the frame on the hook.

The great advantage of a wire picture hanger like this, is that the wire eliminates drilling. No matter how often you rearrange the pictures (or other objects), the wall remains intact. A new wall collage or gallery wall can be created without any tools, mess or effort. Moreover, the rail can be mounted on all wall types, whether that be a brick wall, drywall, plaster wall or even a cubicle wall.

2. Decorative picture hangers

Using a molding hook on a wooden picture rail is a well-known picture hanging method that’s been around for centuries. The principle is similar to that of a picture hanging system: a decorative picture rail is mounted on a wall, the molding hook is hooked onto the molding. Art can be hung from the hook with all sorts of cords, cables, decorative ribbons, and ropes.

The main difference between a picture hanging system and a picture rail with molding hooks is its look. A picture rail with molding hook is a lot more visible and therefore often serves a more decorative purpose than a neutral picture hanging system.