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Look!: Picture Nail Covers

101508hang-01.jpgWe saw this idea yesterday when looking online for a alternative way to hang artwork--they're called picture nail covers. Check out how to use these beauties plus other options for hanging your artwork after the jump.

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101508hang-03.jpgThe online seller of these picture nails says that picture nails were popular a century ago and are making a comeback. We were worried that we could only use them if we had picture rail moldings but after research we found out that you can use picture nails anywhere. Basically, your screw or nail is inserted into the wall and then the decorative cover is placed on the head of the screw or nail. We love the fact that you can change the decorative cover on a whim.

Picture Nail Covers are just the tip of the iceberg on ways to hang your art. We've uncovered numerous ways to display your treasures here on Apartment Therapy. Here are a few of our favorite posts on hanging pictures (with pics from our home).

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[Images of Picture Nail Covers from Swan Picture Hangers]

Comments (8)

I'm baffled - Why would you hang a picture or mirror with exposed wires unless you have a picture rail?

posted by bepsf on October 15th 2008 at 2:47pm
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I don't want to have extra "dots" surrounding my artwork, I just want the artwork. That's why picture frames have nail hangers on the back!

If I did have picture rails and/or didn't want holes in the wall, I'd try to visually minimize the wire and nails as much as possible, not make them stand out.

posted by nashdp on October 15th 2008 at 3:37pm
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The photo of the back of it, in the first set of pics, looks exactly like a button cover. (At some point in the dim, murky past, we evidently weren't supposed to have people see that we had such mundane things as plain buttons on our clothes) So if you like this look, and/or you're like me and keep every damn thing, you're set. Otherwise, thrift store.

posted by oceandreamer56 on October 15th 2008 at 4:21pm
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that is visual clutter, in my book.

posted by maike on October 15th 2008 at 11:29pm
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I just went to Sagamore Hill this weekend (Theodore Roosevelt's home on Long Island) and noticed on the house tour that ALL the smaller pictures in the homes were hung this way, especially in the bedroom. It definitely must be a turn of the century thing, but I didn't like the way it looked. The only reasoning I can see as to why they did it is the hole was way up high in the wood molding where you could patch it and not notice it if you moved stuff, rather than poking holes in the expensive wallpaper. Still....

posted by kgenesius on October 16th 2008 at 5:27am
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I think that they would look really nice if you have artwork/mirror by pretty ribbon

posted by hanako66 on October 16th 2008 at 7:55am
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do you have a link for the picture hanging covers?

posted by hanako66 on October 16th 2008 at 7:56am
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picture nails can have other uses and there are other types of picture nails such as antique glass nails. I have a few examples in my shop solsticehome.etsy.com. I like to use them on memo boards.

posted by suet on October 16th 2008 at 7:27pm
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