Adhesive hooks are convenient for hanging garlands, jewelry, calendars, and other lightweight items. But you risk damage if you use them to hang heavy or fragile items. You may even ruin the wall when removing the hooks.
We spoke to designers and home decorating experts to learn the seven things you shouldn’t hang with adhesive hooks.
Meet the Expert
- Willow Wright is the owner of Urban Redeux.
- Marcy Kelman is a home decor blogger with Church Hill Classics.
- Ana Cvetkovic is an interior designer and principal of Rowhome Design.
Mirrors
Absolutely avoid hanging mirrors with adhesive hooks or mounting strips, says interior designer Ana Cvetkovic. In fact, all design experts we spoke to said that mirrors and other glass objects were the number one thing you shouldn’t hang with adhesive hooks.
”Mounting adhesives promise to hold a certain amount of weight, but these promises rarely hold up when it comes to heavier objects,” Cvetkovic says. ”Your mirror will end up on the floor sooner or later, shattered in thousands of little pieces.”
Hang a heavy mirror with metal cleats drilled into solid wall studs. Hang a lightweight, frameless mirror with plastic clips.
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Framed Pieces
Framed items should never be hung with adhesive hooks, says Willow Wright, owner of Urban Redeux. Frames contribute extra weight to an item. Not only that but if the framed piece falls, the frame will likely be broken or jostled out of square.
”Even strong adhesive hooks can fail over time, especially with humidity or temperature changes,” Wright says. She adds that a fallen mirror or heavy framed piece can cause damage to the house or personal injury.
Artwork
Adhesive hooks should never be used to hang artwork, says Marcy Kelman, a home decor blogger with frame manufacturer Church Hill Classics.
”They should never be used to hang wooden or metal frames, including treasured artwork or other valuable items, as they may not support their weight and could fall,” Kelman says.
Vintage Pieces
Never hang vintage items with adhesive hooks, Wright says.
Vintage items might include fragile pieces like plates, tea cups, blown glass, ceramics, tiles, or Fiesta ware. Or they may include sturdier pieces that could be scratched or ripped if they fall—vinyl records, documents, advertising signs, classic toys, or lunchboxes.
Mementos
Anything dear to your heart that’s related to family or friends shouldn’t be hung with adhesive hooks. Even if the item won’t break if it falls, you may not want it on the floor.
Family heirlooms and any other irreplaceable mementos shouldn’t be hung with adhesive hooks, Cvetkovic says.
”If you’d be heartbroken if your grandmother’s wedding veil were to fall on the floor and get crumpled or rip, don’t hang it up with mounting adhesive and hooks,” she says. ”Even when we follow mounting instructions perfectly, these products can lose their hold, so it’s always better to be safe than sorry.”
Irreplaceable Items
Wright advises against hanging irreplaceable items with adhesive hooks.
It doesn’t matter what type of item it is. If it is one-of-a-kind and cannot be replaced, do not use adhesive mounts to hang it.
”It just isn’t worth the risk,” Wright says. Instead, she recommends drywall anchors.
You Might Need…
Not all drywall anchors are the same. Anchors range from self-drilling anchors for lightweight items to molly bolts for heavy items like floating shelves or curtain rods. We assessed weight capacity, ease of installation, and price to bring you the best drywall anchors.
Shelves
Keep shelves off of adhesive hooks and mounts, Kelman says. This is more about weight capacity than anything else.
”Most adhesive hooks cannot hold more than eight pounds,” she says. ”Regardless of the weight limit, adhesive hooks are influenced by humidity, air temperature changes, and wall texture.”
Install floating shelves directly to the studs or with expansion bolts or molly bolts. Heavy weight capacity utility shelves in garages or pantries are even easier to install, using slotted metal standards and brackets.
What You Can Hang With Adhesive Hooks
With so many things you can’t hang with adhesive hooks—what can you hang with them?
”Adhesive hooks are ideal for hanging lightweight items on a wall, such as fabric tapestries, plastic poster frames, or baseball caps,” Kelman says.
They should be considered a temporary hanging solution and are most suitable for rentals or dorm rooms, Kelman adds. Other items you can hang:
- Hairdryers
- Headphones
- String lights
- Holiday wreaths
- Keys
- Measuring cups