How to Hang Pictures Securely in Rental Flats in London
Living in a rental flat in London doesn’t mean you have to live with bare walls. At Gilbert Art Services, we help hundreds of tenants safely transform rental properties into stylish, personal homes, without risking deposits or damaging delicate walls.
Whether you need one picture hung or a full gallery wall installation, our team of professional art technicians and picture hangers can guide you through the safest, most secure methods for every type of London property.
1. Know Your Walls Before You Start
London rental flats come with all kinds of wall types: from plasterboard in new builds to old lathe and plaster in period conversions. The wrong fixings can damage walls or cause artwork to fall.
At Gilbert Art Services, our professional picture hanger London team assesses your walls and selects the right hardware for safe, long lasting installations.
Most common wall types we encounter:
Brick / concrete – ideal for secure picture hanging
Plasterboard – needs special anchors or heavy-duty drywall fixings
Lathe-and-plaster – fragile and easy to damage
Dot-and-dab walls – tricky without professional assessment
If you’re unsure what type of walls you have, our art technicians can identify them during your installation.
2. No Damage Solutions Perfect for Renters
Many tenants want to personalise their homes without drilling. We offer several deposit friendly options:
Deposit-safe hanging methods:
Adhesive hooks / Command strips for small frames
Tension mounted picture rails (a modern version of traditional picture rail installation London)
Leaning displays for canvases or framed prints
If you want art displayed beautifully without a single hole, we can advise on the best method during your booking.
3. When Drilling Is Allowed (and Safe)
Most London tenancy agreements allow small fixings as long as holes are filled later.
For secure and professional results, our picture hanging service London residents trust uses:
Precision drilling
High strength plugs
Weight tested hooks
Laser levels for perfect alignment
This keeps both your artwork and your deposit safe.
For larger, heavier or valuable pieces, we strongly recommend working with experts like us to guarantee safe, clean installation.
4. Heavy, Valuable, or 3D Artwork
Hanging heavy mirrors, framed artworks, or fine art requires specialist fixings and technical skill.
At Gilbert Art Services, we use:
Museum grade picture hanging systems
French cleats for large pieces
Anti-theft picture hanging for shared spaces
Load tested wall anchors
Secure cleat systems for heavy artwork hanging London projects
Our art handlers London team is trained to install valuable and fragile items with museum-level care.
5. Building a Stylish Gallery Wall in Your Rental
No two gallery walls are the same. Our gallery wall installation London service includes:
Full layout planning
Paper mock-ups
Exact spacing and alignment
Safe fixings that minimise wall damage
Whether you want a minimalist grid or an eclectic display, we design and install it perfectly.
6. Mirror Installation Done Properly
Mirrors are deceptively heavy—and risky to install without experience.
Our mirror hanging London specialists ensure:
Correct weight rated fixings
Reinforced placements for plasterboard
Exact levelling
Clean, safe installation
This is essential for both safety and your deposit.
7. Staircase & Hallway Installations
Staircase installations are complex due to height, angles, and access.
Our art installation service London includes:
Safe ladder work
Laser alignment on angled walls
Multi-frame staircase layouts
Hire a specialist art technician London team like ours to avoid damage and ensure everything is installed perfectly.
8. Commercial vs Residential Installations
Residential art installation London
For tenants, homeowners, collectors, and interior designers.
Commercial art installation London
For offices, hotels, restaurants, galleries, and developers.
This includes:
Anti theft fixings
Security anchors
Heavy duty mounting
Insurance compliant installation
Wherever art needs to be displayed securely, Gilbert Art Services delivers.
9. When You Should Call Gilbert Art Services
You should work with a professional art hanging company London like ours if:
The artwork is heavy or valuable
Your walls are delicate or uncertain
You’re installing multiple pieces
You want a perfectly level finish
Your tenancy has strict no-damage rules
You want guaranteed safe installation
From canvas hanging service London to large mirror installations, we handle every project with care and precision.
10. Make Your Rental Feel Like Home Securely
You deserve a home that reflects your personality even if it’s a rental.
At Gilbert Art Services, we ensure your artwork is hung securely, beautifully, and safely, using the correct techniques for every wall type.
Your flat becomes truly yours the moment your art goes up.
