In a world where we often focus on the stylish aspects of interior design and home improvement, it's easy to overlook the real heroes that ensure safety and stability. When it comes to questions like how to hang a heavy mirror or how to hang heavy pictures, safety is vital. It all comes down to proper hardware.

Hardware solutions like the ones we will discuss in this article play a crucial role in securing heavy items. If you’ve got that wobbly bookshelf or that heavy picture frame that looks like it will tear out the wall anytime soon, you might want to sit down and have this conversation with us.

Let’s get started!

We keep saying heavy, but how heavy is “heavy?” A big picture frame may be heavy enough, but you might not even need the most heavy-duty hardware to get that up on the wall. Here’s a general reference you can come back to if you’re not quite sure:

Now that we got that out of the way, here comes the fun part: What kind of heavy objects can you hang on your walls? If you’ve got a fun, creative spirit, the answer is absolutely anything! Having big things on your wall is one way to feature an accent wall and make a statement. Below are just some of our ideas to make that wall come to life:

• Statement mirrors
• Ornate picture frames
• Floating bookshelves
• Pegboards
• Corkboards and cork walls
• Decorative wall sculptures 

Here’s an idea from The Spruce that hobbyists and collectors can take a page from:

Once you’ve figured out what you want on your walls, this is where we come in. We specialize in ensuring that homeowners, decorators, and gallerists alike are armed with high-quality hardware and can confidently hang anything. Here are some of what we offer you might want to look at.

We often get asked about how to hang pictures without nails, and this is our answer. Our No-Stud hook can carry up to 200 lbs in drywall, ideally 1/2” and ⅝” thick. It’s specifically designed to make the wall carry the object instead of letting the nail bear the load. Whatever heavy thing you want to hang with this hook should be good as long as the drywall is in good condition.

Check out how to install this hook here.

While sawtooth hangers are often conceived as lightweight picture hangers for small to medium-sized frames, our Mega Sawtooth Hangers are designed to carry much more than that. With a weight rating of up to 250 lbs, these sturdy hangers can take most things you want to put up on your wall, like heavy mirrors, frames, and plaques, as long as you use the proper screws to ensure long holding power.

If you have one of these hardware heroes, check out how to install them here.

Strap hangers are basically D-rings with a longer body and more screw slots to accommodate bigger, heavier frames. These hangers are ideal for hanging heavy artwork with ornate antique frames, oversized mirrors, and more. They can even accommodate more unusual statement decoration choices like 3D sculptures.

These hangers are meant for wood frames and can carry up to 200 lbs. Learn more about them here.

The Furniture Anti-Tip Kit is a homeowner's best friend: a heavy-duty device that keeps furniture from tipping over and causing accidents. The kit includes brackets and steel wire to fasten bookshelves, cabinets, dressers, and even TVs to the wall and hold them in place. You won’t have to worry about their strength capacity either – these nifty devices can hold up to 400 lbs.

If you’re thinking about getting an Anti-Tip kit, you may want to consider looking at our shop. Our kits are designed to be child-safe because the locking pins need to be forcibly removed before they let go.

🛠️ TIP: If you want to get to know Anti-Tip Kits a bit more, check out our buyer guide: What is an Anti-Tip Kit and Why You Need Them

French cleats are a set of two beveled pieces of wood or metal designed to interlock with each other to secure a frame, panel, or mirror on the wall. The z-bar, light cleat, and flare cleat profile allow each part to fit perfectly against each other.

We strongly recommend getting the right cleat length according to your item’s size to get the most out of your French cleats. We’ve made this easier for you below:

We offer several sizes of French cleats in our shop. Here’s what we recommend for hanging heavier pieces:

• Cleat 90 inch - pair - Supports up to 750 lbs
• Heavy Cleat 48-inch set - Supports up to 100 lbs

Our French cleats are made of aluminum, making them more durable while retaining a thinner profile. This results in a less visible wall standoff, which is a plus if you want your picture frames, corkboards, or pegboard panels to hang flush against the wall. Aluminum also makes them more versatile and appropriate for both indoors and outdoors.

🛠️ TIP: Cleats may be a bit more complicated than you think. Check out our buyer guide for the full rundown: What is a French Cleat Hanger and Why You Need Them

Adjustable J-hooks are heavy-duty picture hooks that come in two parts to allow adjustments on picture frame placement (height and leveling) without having to remove the frame from the wall. A bolt and a hex nut join the two parts together. They can support frames up to 100 lbs and are best used on drywall or wood walls.

The kit comes with accompanying nails per hook. They are best used with standard picture hangers like D-rings, strap hangers, and even wired picture frames. Check them out here.

🛠️ TIP: An adjustable J-hook kit is only one of our solutions to keep picture frames level. If you want to know more, check out this article: How to Keep Frames Level with Picture Hangers

One thing you should consider when dealing with hardware is that it’s all about compatibility. Other than matching the frame material and weight with the hardware’s weight rating, there are other factors you have to consider. Make sure to include these on your checklist:

• Determine your wall type first. Drywall and plaster may look identical, but a good rule of thumb is that if your home was built in the last 50 years, your walls are likely made of drywall.
• Your wall type will determine what hardware you’ll want to buy. Manufacturers usually indicate if a picture hook is for drywall, concrete, or brick walls.
• Do some extra digging on the maximum weight limit you can hang on your walls. Even with proper heavy-duty hardware, drywall, often just half an inch thick, may be too weak or soft to hold the object.
• If you’re worried about your wall’s capacity, invest in other materials to help your hardware secure the object. Plastic anchors, toggle bolts, and molly bolts help drywall hooks hold the weight.

Hanging large and heavy objects on your wall is no easy task and even impossible if you don’t have the correct materials. Like any other art form, half of the success comes from the hardware that makes it work.

If you used any of our products in getting decorations up on your wall, we’d love to hear from you! Feel free to send photos and share the magic with us. 

Happy hanging!