You may feel that it can be difficult to hang artwork on concrete walls. But with the right tools and techniques, you can safely display your favorite wall art without damaging the walls. Check out our Geometric Wall Art collection. Whether you are decorating an office, a basement, or a house with concrete walls. This article will show you the best way to install them in a sturdy and elegant way.

1. Choose the Right Hanging Method 

Since concrete walls are harder than plasterboard. Therefore, you can't use traditional nails to hang wall art. Typically, there are three common ways to hang wall art on concrete walls. Depending on the weight and size of the item, you can use sticky wall hooks, hard wall hooks, or masonry screws.

1.1 Sticky Wall Hooks

Sticky wall hooks are best for hanging small photos and lightweight wall art. See our selection of Minimalist Wall Art. Discover more options in our Contemporary Wall Art collection. They have an adhesive base that sticks firmly to the wall. Depending on the brand, adhesive wall hooks can typically hold up to 6 pounds. So if you don't want to drill holes in a concrete wall, sticky wall hooks are ideal. Even better, they are very easy to install and can be done in less than a minute. Here are the steps for using sticky wall hooks:

1. First, clean the area where you will be using the sticky wall hooks. Make sure the concrete wall is clean, dry, and free of grease. 
2. Once the clean area is dry, mark the wall where you want to install the sticky wall hooks. 
3. Remove the liner paper from the back of the sticky wall hook and press firmly. Rubbing or sanding the adhesive with a hard, smooth object will better activate the adhesive. 
4. Wait 24-48 hours before hanging any wall art. This will allow the adhesive to properly adhere to the wall.

It is important to note that if your wall art is heavier than the weight-bearing capacity of the adhesive wall hooks. Then, you will need another hook with more support.

1.2 Hard Wall Hooks

Hard wall hooks are also known as hard wall plastic hooks. These are concrete art hooks that are fastened to the wall using small metal nails. They are suitable for concrete, cement, cinder blocks, thin plaster over concrete, small smooth tiles, soft stone, and hardwood. Common hard wall hooks are available in small and large sizes, with weight capacities of 20 lbs and 30 lbs, respectively. Additionally, these hooks are more advanced than adhesive wall hooks, but just as simple to use. Installation requires only a hammer and two minutes of your time.

1. First, hold the back of the hard wall plastic hook against the wall with your thumb and index finger. Keep the hook as tight and stable against the wall as possible.
2. Simultaneously, hammer all the pins into the wall. Watch your fingers during this process. 
3. Stop hammering when all the pins are flush. Excessive hammering will weaken the grip of the hook. 
4. To remove the hook, slide a small blade between the wall and the back of the hook and gently peel it off. It is important to note that discard any removed hooks and do not reuse them. 

On the other hand, for heavier and larger wall art, you will need to use something more sturdy, such as masonry screws.

1.3 Masonry Screws

Also known as concrete screws, these durable hangers are used for concrete, concrete block, brick and mortar applications. These little things have a pointed head that can be driven right into the concrete. Masonry screws are strong enough to suspend framing when driven 1 ¼ to 1 ½ inches deep into a wall for maximum holding power.

While masonry screws and concrete walls can be a daunting combination. But knowing all about them is essential if you want to install larger wall artwork with ease. You may wonder if it is suitable to hang wood carvings in the bedroom. Moving on, let's learn how to use masonry screws:

1. First, decide where you want to place the picture or artwork. Then mark the location of the holes. 
2. Prepare an electric drill by attaching an appropriately sized masonry bit to a hammer drill. The holes should be drilled ½ inch deeper than the screws. This ensures that the screws will not bottom out in the hole. 
3. Drill the pilot hole at the slowest speed possible. Hold the hammer drill so that it is perpendicular to the wall. Remove the drill occasionally and remove dust with compressed air or a vacuum cleaner. 
4. When the hole is free of debris, place the bit back into the pilot hole and drill at medium speed. Stop when the desired depth is reached. 
5. Finally, insert the masonry screws and you're done. Then, you're ready to hang pictures and artwork on your concrete walls. Discover how to hang wall art without nails. Learn more about how to hang wall art.

We know concrete screws look great, but they're not the only hardware available. Next, let's take a look at other ways to hang wall art on concrete walls.

2. Other Masonry Hanging Hardware

In addition to standard picture frames, there are many other masonry hardware options available. Examples include sleeve anchors, recessed anchors, and split drive anchors. They allow you to hang large mirrors, wall art, shelves, and other heavy items on concrete walls.

You can find these tools at your neighborhood hardware store. Here is what you should know:

2.1 Concrete Screws

These are 3/16-inch screws with Phillips and hex heads. They are heavy-duty screws for quickly and securely fastening things to concrete walls.

2.2 Brick Clips

These hooks allow you to hang photos or artwork on a brick wall without having to drill holes in the brick. They have a weight capacity of 25 pounds and are only suitable for brick walls with recessed mortar joints. In addition, brick clips need to protrude at least 1/4” from the brick wall to be securely fastened.

2.3 Wall Anchor Screws

This hook is a screw and anchor in one. It can be used on drywall, plaster, brick, and concrete. Wall anchor screws have stronger threads and therefore have more holding power than regular screws.

2.4 Guide Anchors

These anchors are designed for #10-#14 screws and can be installed in brick, concrete block or concrete walls.

2.5 Premium T Anchors

It can be used to install a wood frame on a brick or concrete wall. They are optional, but their purpose is to keep the frame strong, burglar-proof, and prevent it from tipping over.

3. Summary

While hanging wall art on a concrete wall may be overwhelming at first. However, all you need are the right tools and concrete art hanging pieces. With these tools and tips, you can create a beautiful space on a blank wall. Explore our complete selection of wall art.