Conventional wisdom usually dictates that you hang a piece of art by finding a stud in your wall and drilling into it. But studs are typically spaced 16 inches apart from center to center, with about 14.5 inches of empty space in between, according to Doug—so even if you find one where you want your artwork to go, what about the hardware on the other edge of the frame?
For hanging into drywall in those hollow-wall situations, Kaiser-Schatzlein likes Ook Professional Picture Hangers, which are designed for drywall without a stud behind it. (Although other brands sell similar-looking hooks, he recommends Ook specifically.)
Ook picture hangers are also sold in different weight capacities that, the company claims, can accommodate artwork up to 100 pounds. Urlacher’s rule of thumb, however, is that any piece that weighs more than 20 pounds should be anchored into a stud.
Because Ook picture hangers mount into a wall with thin, brad-like pins rather than screws or nails, they can be pushed in by hand if need be (see a video demonstration here) and can be removed with very little damage to a wall. “They’re easier to pull out, and they just leave these pinholes behind,” said Kaiser-Schatzlein. “You can barely see them.”
Although these hooks are designed to be used with a picture wire, Kaiser-Schatzlein said that it should be fine to try resting a frame atop an Ook picture hanger, much like his screw hack above, so long as the piece isn’t too heavy.
