In a standard lease, landlords usually list what tenants can and cannot do to the property. These include changing floors, drilling holes in walls, painting and other customizations.
Depending on the apartment community, these changes may be prohibited or put a pricey fine on any damage done. That’s why you should do your research before putting nails in your apartment walls.
1. Removable Adhesive
When you move into an apartment, the first thing that most people want to do is get their walls decorated and hung up with art, pictures, and more. It’s a great way to bring some character into the apartment and make it feel like home.
Whether you’re decorating for a long-term rental or just moving in, it can be difficult to find a way to hang things on brick walls. Luckily, there are a few different ways that you can use adhesives to stick your stuff up without damaging your wall or the items you’re hanging on it.
The first thing to do is try a removable adhesive. These types of adhesives are often used in craft projects and can be removed without causing damage to the item or the wall.
These types of adhesives are usually available in hot melt or latex form, with low VOC emissions. They also have a high tack that allows them to be applied easily to most surfaces.
However, some of these adhesives can build up strength over time and can be difficult to remove. This is why it’s important to test the tape on another surface before using it on your walls, so you can make sure that it will not damage anything when you eventually try to remove it from the wall.
One of the best options for putting nails in apartment walls is to use an adhesive that’s specifically designed for this purpose. This type of adhesive is called a “removable” glue and is typically made from a non-carboxylated styrene-butadiene latex.
If you’re unsure about putting nails in your apartment walls, it’s always best to contact your property manager or landlord first. They will be able to tell you if and when it’s safe to do so, and they may have some rules that you must abide by.
Generally speaking, it’s usually okay to put nails in your apartment walls as long as you repair them before the lease expires. This can help you avoid any issues later on when you’re trying to get your security deposit back and you have to deal with fixing the walls that you hung nails in.
2. Poster Putty
Poster putty is a reusable and damage-free alternative to tapes, push pins and fasteners for hanging lightweight items such as paper posters and photos. This nontoxic, repositionable mounting putty adheres to a variety of surfaces and is able to hold up to 1 pound. This putty is great for temporary outdoor use or for hanging small whiteboards, blackboards and other light weight decor items in your home or office.
If you’re an artist or a model, you may have seen poster putty used for quick masking and airbrushing projects. It can also be used as a holding device for parts you want to glue together, or for holding small pieces when painting or otherwise treating them. In fact, Tabletop Minions has a brief video on using this material for making organic camouflage masks for airbrushing.
For those who are renting apartments or condos, it can be difficult to hang art without using nails. Some property owners forbid tenants from using nails on walls and will require that they use removable adhesives or other wall hooks to display their favorite works of art.
The easiest way to avoid nail holes on your walls is by avoiding putting heavy paintings and pictures on the walls. If you do decide to hang a picture or piece of art with nails, make sure to hang it on a smaller-sized nail so that the hole does not grow larger and cause damage to your drywall.
Another way to avoid nail holes on your walls is to use spackling paste. Spastic paste can be applied to a hole in your wall with a putty knife and smoothed down. Once dry, the spackling paste will seal the wall and prevent holes from forming.
A few spackling pastes are available, including the one from Loctite. It comes in a 2 ounce package and is easy to apply.
Once the spackling paste dries, you can paint over it to match the rest of your wall color. The spackling paste can also be used to fill in large holes that you have in your wall.
3. Wall Hooks
Hanging things on the walls of your apartment can make it feel more like home. But it’s not always easy to do so without causing damage to the walls.
One of the easiest ways to do this is to use wall hooks. These come in all shapes, sizes and designs and are a great way to get creative with your space.
You can find single hooks for hanging coats, hats and keys or racks that will accommodate multiple items. Look for natural wood, modern metal or mixed media designs to match your style. You can even browse architectural and sculptural hooks for contemporary style in your living area or master bedroom.
The most important thing to keep in mind when using these hooks is that you want them to hold the weight of what you’re hanging. A common mistake many people make when hanging objects on the wall is to post them directly into drywall, but this is not a good idea for heavy items.
Another option is to post them into hollow wall anchors. These are a popular alternative to nails and screws and often work with drywall, cinder block, thin plaster over concrete, small smooth brick, and softstone.
If you’re not sure where to place your anchors, you can use a stud finder to determine the best place for them. It’s also a good idea to double check the anchors’ weight capacity before putting them in the wall.
Depending on the size of the item you’re hanging, you may need to purchase special hooks or anchors that are designed for heavier objects. They include conical plastic anchors that are perfect for lightweight pictures and smaller art pieces, as well as winged anchors for heavier items (25 pounds and up).
There are also toggle bolts that look like boat anchors and can support objects up to 50 pounds. These can be a great alternative to screws and nails when you want to avoid damaging your walls. However, they’re also not as secure as the hooks or anchors that are rated for heavier objects.
4. Nailless Hanging Devices
When you are decorating an apartment, putting nails in the walls can be a big pain. Not only do you have to worry about damage to the walls, but if you’re not careful you can also make the place look dirty and messy.
If you’re a renter, there are a number of nailless hanging devices that can help to ensure a clean and uncluttered appearance. These include removable adhesive, poster putty, wall hooks and other easy-to-use tools that can help you avoid damaging your apartment walls.
Removable adhesive is a great option for light objects such as posters and prints. This is especially useful for apartments that don’t have drywall or concrete walls, because it’s an affordable and convenient way to hang artwork without damaging the wall.
Another option for art prints and pictures are tacks or double-stick tape, which can be used to attach them to the back of your wall. You can also use washi tape to create a faux frame around the image. This is especially helpful if you have lots of pictures and don’t want to spend the time or money framing them all.
Using hooks is an option for heavier objects such as frames, mirrors and large oil paintings. Depending on the brand and the weight limit, you can find a wide variety of options to hang heavy items with ease.
You’ll need to measure the space where you’d like to hang your item before purchasing any of these nifty wall hardware. This is because different pieces of hardware have varying degrees of strength.
Command strips are one of the most popular options for people looking to decorate their homes without causing any damage to the walls. These adhesive strips are available in various sizes and can be used to hang just about anything, from small posters to big canvas prints.
They are a great choice for apartment dwellers and anyone else who might not be able to drill or hammer nails into the walls. These strips have adhesive on one side that sticks to the wall, while the other side has small hooks that are able to hold a variety of medium-weight objects.