Benefits of Picture Hanging Systems

Are you considering the installation of a picture hanging system in your home, office, or showroom? In this article, we cover some of the main advantages and disadvantages of such a system. Whilst more prominently used in art galleries, the usage of picture hanging systems have become far more commonplace in homes, offices, and showrooms due to the increased flexibility and ease of adding, altering or removing pictures.

Browse a list of professionals who can advise or install picture hanging systems in Singapore.

Main advantages

Flexible and easy to use

The main advantage of installing a picture hanging system is providing an incredibly quick and flexible process for putting up, taking down, and re-arranging pictures on your walls. You can get pretty creative by adding multiple hooks to a single cable to easily stack multiple works in a verticle column for example.

No drilling, no mistakes

Whilst the installation of such a system does often require holes to be drilled into your walls [at the top of the wall, where it comes into contact with the ceiling] its hopefully a one-time ordeal, and can be done via a professional installation provider. Once the system is in place, you won't be required to leverage any tools or further damage your walls through drilling holes.

If you're prone to making DIY blunders, you'll also minimise any potential for making mistakes or misaligning works. With a picture hanging system, its as simple as clipping in a cable, and maneuvering your hooks into place.

Main disadvantages

Installation and drilling is still a requirement

Picture hanging systems are often sold on the benefit of flexibility, allowing you to change pictures without drilling holes. We even highlighted these elements ourselves above, but do bear in mind, that most systems do still require professional installation, and this usually comes with drilling holes, albeit well out of eye line, and usually it's a one-time thing.

Cables are not invisible

One benefit of drilling holes and hanging pictures is that the hole and screw and hidden behind the item. With a picture hanging system, you will always have cables coming down the wall in order to hook onto your picture. The vendors have tried to counter this by offering different types of cables, such as clear and white, but the fact remains - you can still see them. Its subjective preference, we don't mind the cables, but some folks may.

Different systems and cables handle different weights

Linked to the earlier point above, you should be mindful that most picture hanging systems come with a varying range of cables that handle different maximum weights. The clear or white style cables tend to max out at lower weight levels, say 5 - 15kg, whilst the more industrial-strength wires are typically a lot more bulky and obvious.

Therefore, if you are considering to hang potentially heavy works [say, over 10kg] do consider that you'll need stronger cables, which may in turn be a lot more obvious.

Pictures usually won't be flat against the wall

Again, this one plays slightly towards your personal tastes and desired finish, but it's fair to say that in most cases when you hang a picture via a cable and hook, it will not sit as flat against your wall than if you'd correctly drilled a hole, and installed your picture via a screw. Usually, the work will tend to fall forward a touch at the top, and therefore not be entirely flat.

In summary

  • Picture hanging systems enable complete flexibility and ease for installing, arranging, removing pictures from your walls.
  • After installation, you won't need to leverage any tools or drill any holes in your walls.
  • But, do take note of the system/cable weight limitations, and also consider the aesthetic finish. Are you ok with the cables showing on the walls? and are you happy if the works are not 100% flat against the surface of the wall?

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