How To Hang A Picture On Sloped Ceilings And Walls

Sloped ceilings and walls can often create an appealing geometric look to any room. But they are also famously challenging to decorate. You may feel that sloped ceilings and walls are the only drawbacks to your perfect new home. Although safety is always a primary concern, you likely want to keep your valuable pictures intact, too. Fortunately, we have carefully researched how to safely and properly work with sloped surfaces to hang a picture.

There are several effective and popular tools that will hang your pictures on a sloped wall or ceiling:

• Keyhole hangers
• Hook and loop tape
• T-Lock hangers
• Museum putty
• L-brackets or J-brackets
• Fishing line and hooks

Curved walls can make it difficult to hang a picture frame. But slanted ceilings can also make it dangerous. As such, most of the solutions will require some work. But the investment will be worth it to make sure that your room is both safe and attractive. Keep reading to learn each method that can beat the odds!

How To Hang A Picture On Sloped Ceilings And Walls

Keyhole Hangers

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Keyhole hangers are small brackets that are made with a literal keyhole shape. This allows you to slide the mounting screws into a locked position. It is always advised to attach a keyhole hanger to each corner of the picture frame.

Keyhole hangers are reliable, and they also allow you to keep the frame flush to the wall. Flush simply means the frame will be totally flat against the surface. Because you can slide your picture frame right onto the mounting screws, it will be easy to work with slanted ceilings. As such, this method is arguably the oldest and most effective trick if you need to defeat gravity.

Fortunately, keyhole hangers are also quite inexpensive. This makes them ideal for anyone on a budget, as opposed to complicated mounting systems. But keyhole hangers also require a lot of drilling. You’ll need to consider how many pictures will need to be hung up and how heavy they are. Heavier pictures may demand more keyhole hangers, resulting in more surface damage.

Hook and Loop Tape

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The name doesn’t actually refer to any effort on your part. Hook and Loop tape is actually named after the method of its adhesion. The tape is self-adhesive by binding tiny fabric hooks with loops. This adhesive is better known by the popular brand name, Velcro, which became the generic term for the material.

If you use hook and loop tape, you’ll want to run it all across the perimeter of the picture frame. But you’ll also need to make sure the tape on your picture frame lines up with the tape on your ceiling or wall. This can become a little time-consuming.

Hook and loop tape will also limit the size of your picture frame. It will only hold so much weight before you should begin to worry about an accident. You can always use a test frame with the tape first before using the actual artwork you intend to display. You can also use staples on the tape. This may leave small holes, but it will also give you more peace of mind.

Can You Use Command Strips On Sloped Walls?

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Command strips are another famous adhesive for hanging pictures. But command strips can be very finicky tools. Even on clean, flat surfaces, command strips are known to give away for a number of reasons. For example, poor weather conditions or a little too much weight, and your pictures may end up in serious danger.

Although many command strips promise to hold everything together, some reviews from everyday customers have advised against command strips. On occasion, command strips are even known to cause damage to paint.

True, you won’t need to drill any holes. So, you’re certain to save on time and tools. But you are also asked to rely entirely on adhesion for the frame’s support. It’s possible that command strips can be useful with smaller picture frames. Command strips are also great for delicate materials. For example, you can read this post about how to hang up a mirror without nails.

T-Lock Hangers

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This hanger system boasts a very unique and sturdy method. T-screws are screws with a head shaped like the letter 'T.' This screw is designed so that only a particular kind of wrench can turn it. The screw slides between the mounting plate and the frame, so it would be basically impossible to twist the screw without the security wrench.

This also makes T-lock hangers ideal for a slanted ceiling or wall. This level of security is actually intended to prevent theft. So, you can be sure that your picture is totally stable.

Museum Putty

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Museum Putty isn’t as expensive as it sounds. In fact, it’s actually rather cheap and easy to apply. Further, this clay-like substance won’t deal any damage to your walls or ceiling. If you absolutely must avoid causing damage, then it’s a perfect solution.

Museum Putty was originally intended to prevent valuables from destruction during the course of an earthquake. This means you can likely rely on museum putty to secure your picture frames. Still, museum putty realistically bears all the same risks that command strips have.

L-Brackets or J-Brackets

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There is actually a variety of J-Brackets that will accommodate different needs. However, all of these brackets are naturally shaped like the letter 'J.' This structure can be very useful for a sloped ceiling since it can really hold the bottom of the picture frame.

Similarly, L-brackets are shaped like the letter 'L.' This shape is more likely to work with the curve of a sloped wall or ceiling. It can also provide more support than a traditional bracket.

Fishing Line and Hooks

This is more of a DIY solution and may not always work. But it is possible to use some fishing line to hang your picture from the ceiling. The frame can either be flush to the wall, or it can be hung loosely. This is because the fishing line is also hard to see. That will make your pictures appear to float, and you can adjust the fishing line as needed.

Using this method might also allow you to hang pictures evenly against a sloped wall. A level ceiling will actually compensate for a sloped wall.

You can try to use eyelet hooks along the edges of your picture frame. Eyelet hooks look like a question mark, but some of them also close the hoop. The latter is more ideal. Although this DIY method is a little uncertain, it has been floating around online.

Click here to see Eye Screw Hooks on Amazon.

How Do You Hang Pictures On A Curved Wall?

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Gallery rails are considered to be the most professional method for hanging pictures along a curved wall. Gallery Rails are also known as picture rails. It’s a somewhat complicated system, but it’s also very useful and flexible.

Basically, a rail system is used to support a series of adjustable hooks and wire. This way, you only have to drill holes for the rail system instead of several picture frames. After installing the rail, you can adjust your picture frames in any direction.

If you use multiple, short picture rails, you can run them along the length of a curved wall. This way, all of your pictures can be perfectly arranged. It’s especially useful if you plan on rearranging your pictures or exchanging them for new ones. You can also check out this post about other types of picture hangers.

Can You Put A TV On A Slanted Wall?

If you’ve just moved into a new home, you may also be wondering how to set up that crucial television. Fortunately, it is possible to mount a TV on a slanted wall. Many mounting brackets are designed with adjustable arms or fasteners that will allow the TV itself to be turned.

However, your wall may be curved instead of simply slanted. This means that you will have to measure the curve and adjust your stud placement accordingly. The studs won’t be evenly distributed since they need to accommodate that curve in the wall.

How Do You Decorate A Sloped Wall?

The majority of people advise against hanging your pictures on sloped walls, no matter what. It’s often suggested that the display just won’t look quite right, regardless of the fastening. So, you’re probably wondering just how to fill all that empty space.

The most popular methods involve contrasting paint, fabrics, and shelves. The right paint will make your sloped wall appear less strange. Canopies and drapes can also be used to soften the angle of your wall. Creative shelving will require more effort, but it can also make your sloped wall appear more deliberate.

Summary

Most people will simply suggest that you avoid sloped walls and ceilings altogether. But they’re visually interesting and sometimes worth the challenge. Now that you know how to work around some of those frustrations, you can cover your walls in just about anything!