How to Hang Heavy Wall Decor Without Studs

Compared to the last few improvements we’ve done in our living room lately, you’d think this very last one on the list would be a piece of cake. Sure, let’s just lime wash the fireplace during an easy, breezy afternoon and build a window seat like it’s no big deal.

But this one remaining blank wall, of all things, was the super tricky situation.

That wall. It has a secret. There is a big ol’ slab of brick under there.

We always suspected it back when we were figuring out that our living room was actually an addition in the 80s, and this one wall was originally the backside brick exterior of our 1960 colonial.

And then, during the powder room re-do, our flooring contractor confirmed it. Hanging anything remotely hefty on this wall was going to be tricky business.

I’d found this sweet antique-look print of Biltmore Estate on Etsy that I was just dying to hang here. (Biltmore was where Robert and I had our honeymoon and where we visited with our families throughout our childhoods, so it’s always had a special place in our hearts.)

But we didn’t want to start drilling away into the unknown since it’s not your average situation where you can hang a big piece of art from a stud on regular ol’ drywall. We had no clue what sort of framing was going on under there, and we didn’t want to potentially create lots of damage to find out.

Why do the simplest projects always seem to be the most difficult in older houses? What’s up with that?

About when Robert and I were trying to solve the brick wall debacle, I got an email from this company called High & Mighty asking if I’d like to try out some heavy duty wall hangers that eliminate the need for hanging on studs and hook right into your drywall. Total fate, y’all! For real. Not even making this up.

I just found the center of the wall at the height I wanted, used the level on the wall hanger to make sure it was straight…

…and pressed the little hooks into the drywall on each end of the metal bar.

And then I just removed the level.

Done! It took me all of 3 minutes tops and hooked onto the wire on the back of the picture frame perfectly. Mischief managed.

So now we have art! Every time we have some matted large piece of framed art, I suddenly feel like a grown up. (Even though most of my days are spent building with Legos and having princess tea parties with Olivia.)

I guess that makes this wall the official cherry on top because we’re really pretty much finished in the living room!

I mean, we still have a bajillion more blank walls in this house that we haven’t even come close to decorating, so we’ll probably be busting out more High & Mighty hooks on the regular now. But it feels awesome to call this room a wrap.

If you have a tricky wall in your house, or ya know… just don’t feel like lugging out the tool box and hammering big ol’ holes every time you want to hang a picture, you can snag the hooks at DesignedToBeStuckUp.com. (How stinkin’ cute is that name?)

And also how stinkin’ cute are these two kids on their honeymoon?

Every time I look at this wall, I go on a mini-vacation.

Between this Biltmore print and our two childhood home art pieces in the foyer, we have a thing for framed houses around here lately. It’s just where our hearts are right now.

Do you have a picture of your favorite place hanging on a wall too? Or a favorite collection framed all over your house? Or a funky, quirky house with brick hidden behind walls that leaves you guessing all the time?

If you want to save this post for later for when it’ll come in handy, you can pin it here:

This post is sponsored by High & Mighty. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.