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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.

How to Hang Heavy Wall Decor Without Studs | blesserhouse.com - One handy little tool to use when hanging heavy wall decor on drywall that's not on a stud. (With little damage and an easy way to level!)

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.

How to Hang Heavy Wall Decor Without Studs | blesserhouse.com - One handy little tool to use when hanging heavy wall decor on drywall that's not on a stud. (With little damage and an easy way to level!)

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.

How to Hang Heavy Wall Decor Without Studs | blesserhouse.com - One handy little tool to use when hanging heavy wall decor on drywall that's not on a stud. (With little damage and an easy way to level!)

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…

How to Hang Heavy Wall Decor Without Studs | blesserhouse.com - One handy little tool to use when hanging heavy wall decor on drywall that's not on a stud. (With little damage and an easy way to level!)

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

How to Hang Heavy Wall Decor Without Studs | blesserhouse.com - One handy little tool to use when hanging heavy wall decor on drywall that's not on a stud. (With little damage and an easy way to level!)

And then I just removed the level.

How to Hang Heavy Wall Decor Without Studs | blesserhouse.com - One handy little tool to use when hanging heavy wall decor on drywall that's not on a stud. (With little damage and an easy way to 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.

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How to Hang Heavy Wall Decor Without Studs | blesserhouse.com - One handy little tool to use when hanging heavy wall decor on drywall that's not on a stud. (With little damage and an easy way to level!)

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.)

How to Hang Heavy Wall Decor Without Studs | blesserhouse.com - One handy little tool to use when hanging heavy wall decor on drywall that's not on a stud. (With little damage and an easy way to level!)

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.

How to Hang Heavy Wall Decor Without Studs | blesserhouse.com - One handy little tool to use when hanging heavy wall decor on drywall that's not on a stud. (With little damage and an easy way to level!)

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?)

How to Hang Heavy Wall Decor Without Studs | blesserhouse.com - One handy little tool to use when hanging heavy wall decor on drywall that's not on a stud. (With little damage and an easy way to level!)

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

How to Hang Heavy Wall Decor Without Studs | blesserhouse.com - One handy little tool to use when hanging heavy wall decor on drywall that's not on a stud. (With little damage and an easy way to level!)

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

How to Hang Heavy Wall Decor Without Studs | blesserhouse.com - One handy little tool to use when hanging heavy wall decor on drywall that's not on a stud. (With little damage and an easy way to level!)

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:

How to Hang Heavy Wall Decor Without Studs | blesserhouse.com - One handy little tool to use when hanging heavy wall decor on drywall that's not on a stud. (With little damage and an easy way to level!)

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

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20 Comments

  1. Fantastic idea! Thank you so much for sharing this – I have multiple items I’ve been wanting to hang but have no desire to put a million holes in my wall finding studs. I love how simple this looks. And answering your question, we have tons of beach pics in our home because well, as a family, we love the beach! There’s a large print behind my sofa in the living room from a trip to Pensacola that was so special to us. I love that you have so many dear pieces hanging on the walls.

  2. Lauren – loved this post. First – AWESOME product and we are sooooo ordering some!

    Second – yes on having some fav places framed. Hubs and I love to travel. We totally adore The Biltmore – we were there when the roses were in bloom – just heavenly! I *adore* that picture and may have to check for something similar.

    You two were darling on your honeymoon. And finally, you look so so cute – actually beautiful – in that picture of you putting up those hooks and the art. Really purdy, lady – you had a super wonderful hair day, too. LOVELY!

  3. Thanks for sharing this site. I pinned it to my “Supply Site” board on Pinterest. I visited their site and I’m trying to figure out why or how this so simple device can hold such an amazing amount of weight. It is definitely something I will be checking into. Love your Biltmore print. My husband paints in oils. and we have beautiful paintings he has done of the Cotswold’s Weaver’s Cottages in England hanging in our living room. He also did a painting of Sax Fifth Avenue in New York, with the entire length of building hung with flags from the second floor windows. That one hangs in our family room. We love being surrounded by art that reminds us of “the places we’ve been!”