Using decorative knobs to hang art

March 20, 2014

I was cleaning up in the Bub’s room the other day and was reminded of a fun little decorating tip using decorative knobs for art. 

Years ago when I redid his room I hung some art on one wall:

filling wall space

Well first I hung molding, painted it all out and then hung the art, but whatever.

There’s a little trick to using cute knobs as more than just functional art for your dressers and I’m here to tell you how. You’re welcome.

On that wall I “hung” each frame from the knobs (more on that in a minute). The knobs I used were from Hobby Lobby and I spelled out “fly” since the room has an airplane theme. (Go here to see more of the room.)

The knobs from Hob Lob have this long screw that is glued in:

using knobs in the wall

Because of that I just put them into the wall that way – just screwed them right in to the drywall. At least one I got into a stud (be sure to drill with a drill bit first), the others are just in the wall and aren’t crazy sturdy.

I was able to get away with doing that because I actually ended up hanging the art with a nail:

using knobs in the wall

The knob and ribbon are just decorative really. I did that because the frames were kind of pulling away from the wall when they were just hanging by the ribbon only and it was bugging me.

So they are secure on the nail – it just looks like they’re hanging from the ribbon:

using knobs in the wall

BUT. There’s a way to make pretty much any knob work as a sturdy “hook” of sorts. Two actually. This first way is useful for those Hobby Lobby knobs because so many of them come with the screw glued in to the actual knob. I’ve tried getting them out before and they won’t budge. So if you’ve got something like that you can use anchors: favorite anchors

Those are my favorite anchors. They make a bigger hole than regular ones but there’s no need to drill a hole and pound them in – you just screw them in to the wall.

So if you’ve got a knob like I have you can insert the anchor into the wall first and then the knob. (Make sure the screw for the knob matches the size of the anchor.) Does that make sense? This way you’re knob will be really secure in the wall and will be able to hold some weight.

There’s another way to do this as well. Most knobs that you’ll find at the hardware store have a screw that you remove to install them. You can’t use that to hang them, so pick up some of these instead:

using knobs in the wall

You’ll have to do some searching in the nuts and bolts aisle but they are there. They come in different sizes too, so bring your knobs that you want to use.

The non-pointy end goes into the knob. The pointy end screws into the wall. Again, if you want to hang something heavy from it you’ll want to use an anchor with this anyway.

Here’s a few of the knobs I have in my stash – you can see the one on the left with the long screw is from Hobby Lobby:

using knobs in the wall

I put one of the doubled ended screws into the one on the right, which is actually an old lamp finial, but that’s a whole other post. ;)

So basically the possibilities are endless! I actually thought of a project while digging through my knobs (that is an odd statement) so hopefully I’ll share that soon.

Here’s another shot of the airplane art in my boy’s room with the knobs as hooks:

hanging art from knobs

So many fun ways to use these! I shared some of my favorites from Hobby Lobby – they have the best selection I’ve seen anywhere.

Have you ever done this little trick?

P.S. Pretty sure I said “knob” 88 times.

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Comments

  1. I just bought knobs at HL this week! I love their selection too! I am amazed I managed to get out of their with just the knobs and some Easter grass. Love that store at Spring time!

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  2. Such a cute idea! I love the idea of this in a nursery! :)

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  3. Love all the knobs at HL, they do have the best selection. This is a super idea. I love it.

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  4. Such a great idea! Looks awesome.

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  5. Great tips Sarah! I love those screw in wall anchors too - I don't even want to mess with the old school ones anymore! Such a great idea!

    Yeah, Old Man Winter can take next week's cold forecast and stick it in his Polar Vortex. It's spring now - go. away.

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  6. My 2 year old would LOVE this! He is fascinated with airplanes!


    http://absolutedoll.blogspot.com <3

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  7. I'd never thought to do that! What a fun way to hang pictures. Thanks for the idea Sarah!

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  8. haha! love the wall in your son's room.. and using knobs for other stuff than knobs is a good idea :)

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  9. This is such a cool idea! I definitely have a few places I want to do this in my house now!

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  10. I love hanging art with knobs and have done it in several places around the house... and DRAT! I wish I had seen your tip about the hanger bolts a month or two ago. I bought a knob for my apron in the kitchen and couldn't figure out how to use it and finally gave up and bought a hook. I may have to go back and patch it and redo it now. We also use those anchors that you showed for all of our anchoring needs. We just throw out the cheap ones that come with things because these are so much better. Great minds must think alike!
    (PS- I don't comment very often, but a year or two ago I really pared down the blogs that I follow, and yours is one of two that made the cut to stay! I always enjoy your projects and I think that your approach is much like mine. Thanks for writing!)

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  11. fabulous idea! love the look of this, sarah!

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  12. Love Love Love this idea. Am definitely going to try it for my sons room. Thanks for sharing.

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  13. Hi! Just a general question, not sure where to post, please help, Im mid-project! When you use Annie Sloan chalk paint, do you use the wax with it? Im replicating your ikea farmhouse table and want to know if I should wax or not- ( I have Johnson paste wax from Home Depot- $6 instead of $40!)

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    1. Missy, yes wax for sure! Will you let me know how that wax holds up?

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    2. Sure will! Thanks so much for the fast help. Going to wax tomorrow, but a little nervous because a couple small areas on the table are flaking right off- (kinda like when a Freeman green avocado face mask dries and you scrunch your face to produce little cracks, ha ha) Also, if I scratch the leg of the table with my fingernail, it comes off. Hope the wax fixes it?! Do you have a lot of demand for touch up paint on your farmhouse table? Thanks so much for that post, btw. We were inspired to do it start to finish just like you did! Beautiful piece.

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    3. Well, it worked! SC Johnson Paste Wax for $5.98 at Home Depot- the one in the yellow & red tub. I got it only because I was googling if there was a substitute for the pricey Annie Sloan wax. Someone commented that she had success with SCJ, and she thought it was comparable to AS. I have never used chalk paint or waxed anything, so I don't have much to compare it to. But, I rubbed some on with a cloth and about an hour later rubbed some more with a new dry cloth. I have no idea if I did it right, but it did seem to seal in my flaky spots, and I cant scratch the chalk paint off with my fingernail as easily. Win! Thanks again.

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  14. I see what you did there, you tricky little trickster. Love the fake out ribbon hung frames. I need to steal this idea right away.

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  15. You are so creative and clever. This makes such a bold statement and really shows off the artwork. You amaze me.
    Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  16. I absolutely love this idea! I enjoyed the little "clip" trend for hanging pictures, but like this one even more. I have to confess that I'd shed a few frustration tears fighting with drywall anchors. For some reason, they won't cooperate with me! :)

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  17. What a timely post! I like your idea for switching out the screw so you can use any knobs you like, thanks for the tip.

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  18. Thrifty Decor Chick, good morning. I just this morning stumbled onto your sight. I was in Houzz and seen the stair photo. I have not searched your site for it yet, hope it is here and how you did it. We have the exact look in our house. Stairs with a simple handrail on one side, blah. I am hoping to come up with idea for attached handrail to the wall opposite side of the handrail. Need it for support when descending the stairs plus to save from marking up wall.
    Diane Z.

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  19. Diane Z. here. I failed to mention you did a superb job on the molding project. We have been in our home 9 years. It has the small molding, I have wanted to improve upon that. Did not like the idea of tearing off all the trim tho. You mentioned putting trim over the top of the existing trim. Is that shown in detail on your site? Would love to know how you did it. I believe I really could do this myself. We have the tools but my husband is not as detailed as me. Thanks. Will keep your site on top of my list.

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  20. I love how the knobs just add a little extra interest to make the whole wall look great! I have some art work hanging in my boys' room that could use a little extra something-something...maybe this is the answer! :)

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  21. I love this. We have a coat tree in our hall (aka, a black tree painted on the wall) with knobs on the branches. Have you seen the gigantic Pottery Barn ones? Too bad they're like $40 bucks a pop. Or more. The way you did the ones with the little nail was sorta genius, by the way.

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  22. Boy have I learned alot just reading all the comments to your knob tutorial. Thanks for that excellent tutorial, it will be helpful when I attempt to do what you have. When I try it and hubs says won't work I can show him what a woman can do. He always puts my ideas down as un-doable but I keep trying anyway. When I have an idea to make something a certain way he ends up changing pretty much the whole concept, he does the cutting out. Grrrrr. I show him photos of what I want and he always thinks he knows best. Old dogs sometimes "won't" learn new tricks, lol. The knobs with the ribbon looks so nice, and little different than usual way of hanging art. Happy Spring days

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  23. h! I have used pretty knobs for towel hangers in my bathrooms also!!! (Love my starfish one)

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