How to hang art without damaging walls (a renter's guide)

Most of my customers in London rent. Most of their landlords think one nail hole is a crime against architecture. So every weekend, after someone picks a print at my stall, I get the same follow-up question: "But how do I put it up without losing my deposit?"

Here's everything I tell them.

First: check the rules

Read your tenancy agreement. Some allow small picture hooks, some say nothing, some ban anything that marks the wall. If in doubt, ask your landlord or agent in writing. A short email now beats an argument at check-out.

Option 1: Removable adhesive strips

Picture-hanging strips that peel off cleanly are the renter's best friend. They come in pairs that velcro together: one side on the frame, one on the wall.

How to use them well: 1. Check the weight rating on the pack and stay well under it. Heavier frames need more strips. 2. Clean the wall and the frame back with rubbing alcohol (not a household cleaner, which leaves residue) and let it dry. 3. Press each strip firmly for about 30 seconds. 4. Wait the time stated on the pack before hanging the frame. 5. To remove, pull the tab straight down slowly, parallel to the wall. Never pull it towards you.

Watch out for: freshly painted walls, textured walls, wallpaper and very cold or damp rooms. Strips don't love bathrooms.

Option 2: A picture ledge

A picture ledge is a narrow shelf with a lip. You fix the ledge once (or rest it on furniture) and lean frames on it. Swap art whenever you like, layer frames in front of each other and never make another hole.

It's perfect for gallery-wall people who change their minds a lot. Which is everyone.

Option 3: Lean it

The simplest option of all. Lean a big frame on a sideboard, a mantelpiece, a chest of drawers or even the floor. Layer a smaller print in front for a relaxed look. It looks deliberate, it costs nothing and it's how a lot of interiors magazines style rooms anyway.

Use a small piece of non-slip pad or a bit of blu-tack on the bottom edge so it doesn't slide.

Option 4: Picture rail hooks

Lots of older London flats have a picture rail, the wooden moulding running round the room near the ceiling. Hooks sit over the rail and art hangs from cord or chain. No holes at all, and very period-appropriate.

Option 5: Tiny-pin hooks

If small holes are allowed, hardwall hooks with thin steel pins leave marks the size of a pinprick, easily filled with a dab of filler when you move. They hold far more than you'd expect. Use the right hook for your wall type (plasterboard and solid walls are different).

Option 6: For light, unframed prints

An unframed A4 print weighs almost nothing. You can use:

• Washi tape on the corners, which looks fun and peels off easily.
• Bulldog clips on a nail or hook, for a studio look.
• Magnetic poster hangers, wooden strips top and bottom.

Avoid sticky putty directly on the back of prints you care about, as it can leave oily marks on paper and on some paints.

Weight guide

Acrylic glazing is much lighter than glass, which matters a lot for strips. More on that in how to frame art prints.

Where to hang it

Same rules whatever you use: centre of the art around 145 to 150cm from the floor, and 15 to 25cm above furniture. Full details in what size art print for a living room.

Moving out?

1. Remove strips slowly, pulling straight down.
2. Fill any pin holes with a little filler and smooth it with a damp cloth.
3. Touch up with matching paint if you have it.
4. Take photos of the walls before and after, just in case.

Student or first flat?

If you're decorating on a tiny budget, read art for student flats or art prints for your first home. Prints are £20, and a whole wall can go up in an evening without a drill in sight.

Hanging art questions