To most of us, it might seem like one of the simplest DIY tasks there is, but hammering a nail into a wall or general DIY know-how is something that doesn’t always come naturally. Whether it’s because we might worry about hammering our thumb or index finger by mistake; bending the nail out of place; or the mere possibility of permanently abusing our beautiful walls with a multitude of unsightly nail holes – it’s a task we might be tempted to shirk from.

Those of us who are averse to doing a little DIY or are scared of doing it because of an agreement with their landlord might wonder what, if anything, they could do instead without risking injury or ruining their walls, and ultimately losing whatever deposit expended to lease the property. As it happens, there are a number of alternatives to using nails to hang a mirror, pictures or piece of artwork. Here are some of the best tips:

Often seen as the next best thing after nails, these adhesive strips can be stuck and peeled off on most vertical and horizontal surfaces. Ideally, you should use a few to try and ‘hang’ a large picture frame, and they’re designed to hold frames as large as 24 x 36 inches. The fact that they’re easy to remove makes them far more appealing than nails. Furthermore, you also have the choice between permanent adhesive strips and temporary ones, the former of which has a better grip on the surface; however you would see significantly more transfer of paint or wallpaper if you decide to remove it at a later time.

Hanging pictures without hooks – picture rail hooks

Otherwise known as Blu-Tak, this adhesive is great for small pictures (without frames) and (small) mirrors. It’s also great for large posters, and is pretty cheap too. However, it doesn’t last quite as long as some of its sturdier equivalents, while it’s not really suitable for larger mirrors and picture frames, even if you use an entire pack. Have some handy for any smaller pictures/mirrors though!

All three are great alternatives to nails, and can help you to decorate your home without risking the damage caused to walls with permanent indents. This is especially useful if you live in rented accommodation and don’t want to risk having to pay your landlord a potentially hefty bill due to acting outside of your rental agreement.

Donovan Bridger, a decorator at Local Traders commented: “Ultimately, it’s really important to read your tenancy agreement and ensure that you understand all the terms of your agreement in full. If there is something that you are unhappy with, or fear that would be hard to comply with – try to renegotiate that clause. If the landlord understands that you’ll return the property in the same state that it was received in, they may be more open to listening to your qualms.”

Hang pictures without worry of holes in your walls

Image via: Wanelo

“Too many times, Landlords, who has had the property returned with large gaping holes, have called me out to repair poorly spackled walls done by tenants trying to hide their guilt or mishaps – something that could actually be avoid beforehand. Most of the landlords that I’ve come across have expressed their despair that the tenants still went ahead and added nail holes to the wall – but still expressed their willingness to reach an agreement with the tenant beforehand, because they do ultimately have to live there – so naturally they would want to decorate the house to feel at home there. This only goes to show that there is always room to make counter-offers and arrangements before the lease is signed – but if you don’t ask, you won’t know!”

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.