The EASIEST Way to Hang Photos

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Want to hang something easily without using a hammer & nails and putting big holes in your wall?

You have got to check out Gorilla and Monkey Hooks! I recently discovered these hooks after hearing about how great they are from Collin and her sister, Bryn. Yesterday, I started a new gallery wall in our hallway and used them to hang a few photo frames.

The Amazing Monkey Hook is one of the most innovative and fun-to-use products you have ever discovered! It’s Low Profile feature results in a hook that is only nominally visible and makes only a tiny hole. The Amazing Monkey Hook is a lightweight, super-strong spring steel product that enables anyone to hang a picture, mirror, or wall accessory of up to 50 lbs. securely and in just seconds, with No Tools Needed!

monkey-hooks

I picked up this handy variety pack from Amazon that comes with…
  • TEN original Monkey Hooks for hanging photos and signs weighing up to 20 pounds
  • TEN Gorilla Hooks that can hang heavier items up to 40 pounds
  • TEN Flush Mount hooks for hanging items less than 10 pounds flush to the wall.

how-to-use-monkey-hooks

These are SO simple to use!

Puncture the drywall with the long end, twist it around to lock and insert the rest of hook. Make sure the end of the hanger hook is facing up as shown. Then just hang your picture or sign.

Note: Monkey Hooks are meant to hang items conveniently through drywall between studs in the wall. They will not go through studs.

cell-phone-level-tool

In all honesty, hanging photos, artwork, or signs is one of my least favorite tasks because I’m not patient with it, but it’s also one of my favorite ways to personalize our space!

Hip Tip: if you’re just hanging one thing, then your cell phone can be used in a pinch with lots of free level tool apps available.

gallery-wall-2

If you’re hanging a bunch of photos in a row, like this gallery wall I completed previously in my home, then a Point & Line Laser Level tool is your best friend. We used it to point and draw straight lines using chalk to guide where to hang, and then just easily erased lines when done.

Ps. I love using IKEA photo frames because they are inexpensive and clean looking when hung in a group!


Lina (lina@hip2save.com) loves cooking new recipes, thrift store shopping, and DIY home decor projects.

Up Next: Channel Your Inner Joanna Gaines! Easy DIY Industrial Pipe Shelving

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Comments 39

  1. Vasu reddy

    We use gorilla hooks, they are so easy to use.

  2. Lauren

    We love these too!

  3. Christina

    Love love love these.

  4. Janet

    Would these be good to use to hang light items from the ceiling? Tia!

  5. sinda Miller

    I think the 3m picture hanging strips are much easier as long as you use the right size and number of strips recommended for your picture. As long as you follow the instructions they make picture hanging so easy! I have the gorilla hooks too but the strips are easier.

    • Lina (Hip's Modern Martha)

      Yes those are wonderful too! Especially for lighter things! Also I get the command tape to add to the back of frames that tend to move around on their hanger.

    • Kristy

      I remember using the 3mm to hang my son’s potty seat on the wall and didn’t he accidently bump the seat and the hood was ripped off including a piece of the wall! ugh

  6. Alexis

    These look easy but I really love the command hanging strips. They work great and NO holes!

    • Happymama

      Question…would the strips hold larger framed pictures?

    • Shannon

      YES!! Definitely agree!!

    • Lina (Hip's Modern Martha)

      Great idea!

    • Chris

      I agree about the Command Products from 3M – they work well and have no holes when you remove them to change wall designs – I also use a Command Mirror in our showers, a Command hanging basket under the sink (organize things) and Command hooks in the kitchen (to hang lids). I think we have countless other Command products throughout the house!

    • Deb

      In my experience the Command stuff leaves a greasy mark on the wall or takes down part of the drywall with it on removal. I love them for other surfaces like cabinets or doors though.

  7. Ihearthip

    I’m excited to try these out. Thanks for the review. I had never heard of them. We’ve had great success with 3M strips but good to know about other options!

    • Lina (Hip's Modern Martha)

      Yes love those as well!

    • Donna bradshaw

      You can get them at Walmart, Home Depot, or lowes and not have to order on amazon.

  8. peepslob

    Thank you so much for posting this. I didn’t know about the Command Strips or these Gorilla Hooks.

  9. Shannon

    These things make a long hole and are hard to get out after because of the way it’s curved. My new house had about a million of these left by the previous owner and I wished they just used a regular nail.

    • Jaime

      We’re about to move and my husband said we have to remove all the nails and putty the holes back up for the new owners! I confirmed with our realtor that it’s normal moving out etiquette. Sounds like your sellers weren’t so kind.

    • Lori

      I agree with the long holes. We are a military family and were asked by a previous landlord to use gorilla hooks. Held well, but four years later we had holes 2 to 3 times the original size to repair upon moving out. Not sure if I would use these again unless I wasn’t planning on ever taking them out.

  10. MrsBee

    I do love these. I used them to hang my mother in law’s decor in her living room and they were super easy. She gave me a few to try at home and they are not as super easy on plaster walls 😁

  11. Brittany

    Do you feel comfortable using these (or command strips) in a house with small children running around? I am paranoid about frames with glass falling, but would love an easier hanging method!

    • Erin

      I have small children and have not had trouble with anything coming off — I trust conman strips more because I feel like I can attach things more securely. Pictures used to get bumped and fall off all the time with just a nail. I even hung a really heavy wooden advent calendar with command strips and they played with it all the time and there was never a problem.

  12. Krissy

    Awesome! Anyone have a recommendation for a good laser level?

  13. Pauline

    Great info from all! Thank you!

    Off topic, Lina. What is the color of paint on your wall, if you don’t mind sharing? Having a time trying to find a REAL gray!

    • Jaime

      It’s going to depend on the natural light in your house. The same grey will look different in two different houses. Best thing to do is get a bunch of samples…

      • Pauline

        Thank you, Jaime!

    • A.Rich

      Revere pewter by bm is a super popular grey on pintrest, in my home I used aged stucco by Glidden I had a very hard time finding a true grey too I noticed that most either had a blue or green undertone especially the lighter you go the one I chose has a green undertone I think it is deciding what you can live with. Hope this helps.

      • Pauline

        Thank you, A.Rich! I’ve gotten sample jars of paint and applied to a piece of drywall and move that around the room. Wil have to try the shades you mentioned!

    • Lina (Hip's Modern Martha)

      Thanks Pauline! The walls in my photos are Sparrow Blue by Behr. It does have blue undertones in different light. πŸ‘πŸ»

    • Lina (Hip's Modern Martha)

      Also check out Seattle Mist by Benjamin Moore. We have part of our home in that gray and its a little warmer than this blue gray and we love it too! Grays are hard. I bought at least ten samples πŸ˜€

      • Pauline

        Thank you so much for the info, Lina!
        Truly enjoy your posts! You surely are talented and must be super organized! Keep on posting! Love it!

    • amy

      I had the same problem of finding a neutral gray and was making myself crazy…and probably my husband too who was standing next to me with my hands full of dozens of gray paint chips… and so I tasked the paint folks at lowes to find it. I mostly go with Sherwin Williams colors, but the most neutral gray they came up with was Olympic’s Flagstone and I am 100% pleased. I thought maybe when we got it home and into different light it would show a different undertone, but it has remained completely neutral!

      • Pauline

        Happy to hear that, Amy! I’ll get a sample!

  14. Stephanie

    We love these hooks… I do have small children and feel safe using them. Cute house!!

    • Lina (Hip's Modern Martha)

      Thanks Stephanie!

  15. Jen

    Am I the only one who uses push pins ( more than one for big art) I use thumbtacks if I’m doing a photo grid. Holes are easy to fill with a tiny dollop of plaster too. I’ve got a 7 pound paining hanging on 3 push pins that hasn’t fallen in the 3 years I had it up.

  16. Olivia

    I have always used Ooks hanging nails. I LOVE them! These gorilla ones look interesting as well! The Ooks do require a hammer, but are super easy to install! And I haven’t had any holes travel downward with them either. I buy mine at Home Depot in their hardware section.

  17. Karen Bedingfield

    I have used these for a few years now……….LOVE THEM………awesome and work fantastic.

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