In This Post
Renter-Friendly Ideas for Hanging
Tips for Covering Tiny Holes in the Wall
Similar to our past post on decorating the walls of your rental unit where we had shared the best ideas to cover the walls of your rental unit without breaking the rental contract, we are now back with a list of renter-friendly ideas to hang things on the wall without using nails or damaging the walls in any other way.
Before we begin, here’s what inspired us to come up with this idea. While we were covering ways to make your rental feel like home, we briefly touched the subject of alternatives for adding layers to your rental walls, which inspired us to dig a little deeper and come up with another way to help renters.
Keep scrolling to find out more!
Top Renter-Friendly Ideas to Hang Things on the Wall Without Using Nails
Hanging personal favourite artworks or family photos is a popular way to transform any living space into a home. The story is a little different when you are renting that space. As such, renters are always looking for ways to personalise their homes without leaving holes behind or breaking the tenancy contract. Fortunately, we have some great ideas that can help you personalise your home without putting your security deposit at risk.
So, here are some great ideas to hang things on the wall without using nails or leaving any holes behind:
- Adhesive Hangers & Hooks
- Bulletin Board or Wall
- Hook and Loop Tapes
- Ropes and Strings
- Savvy Furniture
- Use a Prop
- Vinyl and Decorative Tapes
We will now individually discuss these techniques for decorating the walls of your rental unit without breaching any tenancy rules.
Adhesive Hangers & Hooks
The first and most popular idea on our list of hanging things on walls without using nails is adhesive hangers and hooks. There are abundant sellers in the market selling hooks and hangers with a unique bonding agent that can stick to your wall when you need them. You can also easily remove these hangers or hooks when you don’t need them anymore. The best thing about these adhesive hangers is that they can hold any items such as artworks, photo frames, or something decorative.
We would recommend you to read the packaging and know how much weight each hanger or hook can bear. Generally, adhesive hangers can hold a few pounds, but you can also find the ones that are made for heavier objects. To avoid any hassle, it is better not to just randomly pick it up from a store. Instead, have a clear picture of the object(s) you are going to hang. Talk to the salesperson and let them know what you are going to hang and how much it weighs.
Bulletin Board or Wall
If you already have some nails on the wall – enough to hang a bulletin board but not enough to hang your personal photos or artworks – we would recommend using a bulletin board. You can easily hang your personal favourite canvas or the pictures from last summer’s trip with thumb pins.
On the other hand, you can also install a bulletin wall easily to hang or pin decorative frames or photos on the wall. For a simple and cost-effective idea, you can take cardboard [of any size] and just lean it against the wall. The cardboard can be supported via a pile of books or a table in front of it.
As an alternative, you can get a pegboard if bulletin boards are not your thing. Taking care of a rental property could be difficult and pegboards are extremely easy to maintain. Pegboards come in a variety of colours and shapes and can be placed anywhere in your house. They can also be used to install small racks and shelves without having to hammer a nail in the wall.
Hook and Loop Tapes
The next entry on our list of renter-friendly ideas to hang things on the wall will make you put away hammer and nails. Whether you are a renter or a hostler, hook and loop tapes are the best alternative to hanging pictures in a rented property. They are also known as Velcro in the local lingo.
By using Velcro, you can hang pictures of all shapes, sizes, and weights without leaving a hole or mark on the walls of your rental unit. These tapes are also a great alternative for hiding any ugly patch on your wall. Photo frames, plaques, fabric, or anything else in between, anything can be easily affixed to the wall with Velcro.
Just be sure that you are buying the kind of tape that has a strong adhesive on both sides, so your artwork or decorative piece doesn’t fall off. Also, make sure to read the instructions on the packaging and follow them before installing it on your wall. It will help you secure your wall hangings better.
Ropes and Strings
Old and classic homes in Pakistan are usually full of character and come with built-in moulding that is ideal for hanging S-shaped hooks. You can attach a string with the hook and hang your artworks and photo frames. Further, if you can find a corner where you can tie a rope easily, you can use it to hang different decorative items using wooden pegs or hooks.
Savvy Furniture
The next item on our list of best renter-friendly ideas to hang things on the wall without damaging them is savvy furniture. It is best to invest in furniture that enables you to decorate your walls. Yes, you will have to buy adhesives separately, but if you move frequently, such furniture and adhesives will help you in the long-run.
For instance, you can get a custom-made frame with your bed or couch and easily hang things on it.
Use a Prop
If you are really dedicated to the cause of personalising your rental space and making it feel like a home, then using a prop to cover the walls of your rental unit is a brilliant idea. As such, bring a wooden ladder and use it as a shelf to display the items, or pictures, or artworks you wanted to hang. You can easily move this ladder from one place to another and take it off if it doesn’t go with your style anymore. Besides, using a ladder as a prop can make your rental appear a little off from the usual, and it will give your house a more minimalistic outlook.
Vinyl and Decorative Tapes
Sometimes a simple vinyl or washi tape can do the trick – mainly depending on the weight and dimension of the item you want to hang on the wall of your rental unit. There are many varieties and alternatives for simple vinyl tape, such as masking tapes, packing tape, and double-sided tape. These can be used to hang lightweight pictures or decorative items without going through the risk of breaching your lease.
Decorative tapes are not only a great way to hang things on walls without damaging them, but they can also be considered an additional decoration. They can give your dull wall a great colour and a unique pattern.
Just be sure to have enough knowledge on how to easily remove the tape from the walls before leaving your rental unit. As such, placing a damp and warm cloth on the tape can easily help you take off the tape without leaving a mark. You can also use a hairdryer to melt the adhesive on the tape to make it come off without chipping off the paint.
Some Tips for Covering Tiny Holes in the Wall
Just because you are renting, it doesn’t mean that you cannot talk to your landlord about your needs. Sometimes, holes become completely unavoidable in creating or personalising the space according to your needs. In such cases, you can communicate with the proprietor and assure them that you will either pay for the damage or repair it yourself. If they give you the go-ahead, you can quickly fill small holes in the wall with the tips shared below:
- Make a paste of white cement, just as much as you need, and use it to fill the whole.
- You can also fill tiny holes in the wall by using a mixture of plaster of Paris.
- Toothpaste is also a great way of covering nail holes in the wall.
Just remember these tips are only for white or similar coloured walls that wouldn’t look odd with small and white coloured patches. Again make sure that the landlord is well-informed about the situation and doesn’t have any problems with it.
This brings us to the end of our post on the top renter-friendly ways to hang things on the wall without using nails. Although every idea mentioned in this list is completely safe from holes, these ideas will help you avoid damaging the walls of a property on rent. It is best to talk to your landlord in advance about anything you wish to do. Let them know whatever changes you are planning to make, and whether you are using adhesive hangers or actual nails on the walls. Your landlord should stay informed at all costs. Even if you are not living in a rental space, too many holes in a wall is not a good idea in the long-run. It is best to avoid hooks and nails as much as you can and replace them with the ideas mentioned in this list. If you have any other idea that we missed to mention in this blog, you can share it with us at blog@zameen.com or send us a message on Zameen’s Facebook Page.
For more renter-friendly home decoration ideas, keep visiting Zameen Blog. Get our latest updates delivered to your inbox directly. Just enter your email address in the box on the right side of your screen.
Looking for a rental space in Karachi, Lahore or Islamabad? Take help from our virtual area guides.
