How To Hang Things From The Ceiling (6 Best Methods)

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Looking for tips on how to hang things from the ceiling? In this post, I’ve included the best methods to hang heavy and light objects securely from your ceiling.

Whether you need to hang plants, a hammock chair, or string lights, I’ve got the best solutions to firmly attach items from the ceiling. Have a peace of mind knowing your precious decor isn’t going anywhere!

If you live in an apartment rental, I’ve also listed clever hacks to temporarily hang things from the ceiling without damage, holes, or nails. Let’s get started!

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How To Hang Things From The Ceiling

Below, I’ve gathered several helpful tips on how to hang things from the ceiling. Whether you need to hang heavy objects or something light, I’ve got you covered!

Under each method, I’ve also recommended a helpful product I felt had the most value for the cost.

1. Use Heavy Duty Adhesive Wall Hooks To Hang Heavy Objects Without Damage

Live in an apartment rental? Don’t worry! With the help of adhesive hooks, you can now temporarily hang things from the ceiling without damage, holes, or nails!

Note that some adhesives are incredibly strong (meaning they might rip off some paint during the removal process!). I recommend using heat from a hair dryer to help loosen the adhesive prior to removal. After heating, carefully peel off the corners until your adhesive hook is completely removed.

To hang sightly heavier items like plants, I highly recommend using heavy duty adhesive wall hooks like these ones from Amazon. These adhesive wall hooks can rotate 180 degrees, making them ideal for both wall and ceiling use. This product recommends hanging up no more than 6 pounds for long periods of time. This listing comes with 12 adhesive ceiling hooks for just around $12!

Heavy Duty Adhesive Wall Hooks

When installing adhesive hooks, make sure to adhere them properly for best results. Smooth surfaces and ceilings also work best for adhesive products. Prior to mounting, always wipe down the surface to get rid of dust and dirt for better adhesion. Press down the adhesive firmly with your fingertips. Wait for a few hours before hang anything from the hooks.

2. The Most Reliable Ceiling Hook: Screw-In Wall Hooks

If you need to hang heavy objects (50 pounds and under), I highly recommend using screw-in wall hooks. Screw-in hooks are opens hooks that have a “screw” on one end. This design allows the hook to securely attach into a ceiling or wall, and provides extra support for heavier items.

Screw-in hooks are excellent durable hooks to hang items anywhere in your home. I highly recommend checking out this 20 pack Screw-In Ceiling Hooks from Amazon (only around $8!). These are excellent hooks to use indoors and out, and can hold up to 50 pounds! These screw-in hooks also come in both black and white colors to help blend seamlessly with light or dark ceilings. The hooks have a thick vinyl coating for added grip and strength.

Screw-In Ceiling Hooks

A screw-in hook is one of most reliable and easy ways to hang things from the ceiling. They are heavy duty and will hang items securely from your wall or ceiling. To help with installation, I recommend drilling a small hole before screwing the hook into the ceiling.

3. For Hanging Light Items Without Nails, Use Command Ceiling Hooks

If you only need to hang something light from your ceiling (like string lights or paper lanterns), I highly recommend using Command ceiling hooks. If you live in a rental, you might already familiar with the Command brand (they have a wide variety of adhesive products to hang stuff from your walls and ceilings). As someone who currently uses Command products, I love how easy and clean the removal process is!

Related: The Best Ways To Hang Stuff On Walls (No Damage)

These Command ceiling hooks can help temporarily hang things from the ceiling without damage, holes, or nails. This listing comes with a total of 12 white ceiling hooks and 16 foam strips. These are the perfect hooks to hang light weight decorations up to .5 pounds. Compared to some adhesive products, Command hooks work well on painted walls. This means you don’t have to worry about taking paint chunks off the wall during the removal process!

Command Ceiling Hooks

When installing any adhesive product, make sure to wipe down surfaces before applying. Dust and dirt can make the adhesive foam less sticky, so clean thoroughly prior to installation. For best results, avoid using adhesive products in humid areas like a bathroom. To remove the Command hooks, stretch the tab downwards slowly.

4. Need To Hang A Hammock Chair? Use Heavy Duty Pad Eye Plated Ceiling Hooks

Looking for more ideas on how to hang things from the ceiling? If you need to hang heavy objects (like porch swings, punching bags, etc.), I recommend using Heavy Duty Pad Eye Plated Ceiling Hooks like these ones from Amazon!

Heavy Duty Pad Eye Plated Ceiling Hooks

These heavy duty ceiling hooks can hang items that are under 180 kg (or about 397 pounds)! These are high quality, stainless steel hooks that can be used both indoors and out. This product is super solid, well made, and durable. If you are looking for a reliable heavy duty ceiling hook to hang hefty items, I highly recommend checking out product! This listing comes in a pack of two hooks for under $15!

These are excellent ceiling hooks for heavy objects. If you want to hang items 50 pounds and under, I recommend going for other options like screw-in wall hooks or ceiling mounted hangers. At the moment, there aren’t any damage free alternatives for this type of ceiling hook. If you need to hang up a heavy object like a hammock, it’s safer to use a ceiling mounted eye plated hook than other products.

5. Got A Drop Ceiling? Avoid Drilling And Use Drop Ceiling Hooks!

Dropped ceilings (aka T-bar ceilings) are ceilings hung below a main ceiling. They are generally made of white ceiling tiles that can be removed to inspect concealed pipes and wires. Dropped ceilings are often found in office buildings, stores, and classrooms, but you can also find them in some houses and apartments.

If you live in a rental and your home has a dropped ceiling, you’re in luck! You can easily hang objects from your ceiling using drop ceiling hooks! Drop ceiling hooks work by locking securely and safely onto the ceiling frame. They are easy to install and remove, and don’t create any holes or damages.

I highly recommend this 8 pack of Drop Ceiling Hooks from Amazon (under $10!). These hooks are heavy duty, high quality, and reliable. They can also hold up to 15 pounds! This is an excellent product to temporarily hang things from the ceiling without damage, holes, or nails. Use this product to hang up plants, string lights, wind chimes, and other home decorations!

Drop Ceiling Hooks

6. To Hang Plants (Or Anything Up To 50 Pounds), Use Ceiling Mounted Hangers

Here’s another idea on how to hang things from the ceiling: use ceiling mounted hangers. Much like screw-in wall hooks, ceiling mounted hangers can hang both heavy and light objects up to 50 pounds! These hangers are heavy duty and securely mounted onto the ceiling using nails.

Compared to screw-in wall hooks which are generally inconspicuous, ceiling mounted hangers are more decorative and come in a variety of colors and designs. I highly recommend checking out these gorgeous golden Ceiling Mounted Hangers from Amazon. This product comes with 3 hangers, as well as, all the necessary hardware for installation (for under just $10!).

Ceiling Mounted Hangers

Out of all the products from this post, these ceiling mounted hangers are the most beautiful. The gorgeous golden color makes these hangers look expensive and high-end. These hangers are also easy to install, sturdy, and a great value for the price. If you are looking for high quality, beautiful hooks to use at home, I highly recommend this product!

Summarized: How To Hang Things From The Ceiling

In this post, I’ve listed several helpful tips on how to hang things from the ceiling. Here’s all the methods and products in one convenient list:

Top Methods To Hang Things From The Ceiling Securely

The best tips to attach items to your ceiling without falling:

  1. One of the most reliable methods to hang things from the ceiling are screw-in ceiling hooks. Screw-in hooks are sturdy, easy to use, and can hold up to 50 pounds!
  2. If you need to hang heavy objects from your ceiling, use heavy duty pad eye plated ceiling hooks. These are high quality, sturdy hooks that can hold up to 397 pounds! If you need to hang a hammock or porch swing, this product is your safest bet!
  3. Ceiling mounted hangers are another reliable way to hang items under 50 pounds. These hangers are heavy duty and securely mount onto the ceiling using nails. Compared to the other methods listed on this post, this hanger looks significantly more expensive and elegant.

How To Hang Things From The Ceiling Without Damage

Awesome solutions to decorate your ceiling without damaging your apartment rental:

  1. To hang plants (and other items under 6 pounds) without drilling holes into your walls, try using heavy duty adhesive hooks. Use a hair dryer to loosen the adhesive during the removal process to avoid tearing paint off the ceiling.
  2. Command ceiling hooks are excellent damage free ceiling hooks for apartment rentals. These hooks are perfect for light weight decorations (under .5 pounds) like string lights and paper lanterns.
  3. Got a drop ceiling? If you do, you can use drop ceiling hooks to hang objects up to 15 pounds! Drop ceiling hooks don’t require any nails for installation. Simply clip them onto the ceiling frame and you’re done!

Conclusion

In this post, I’ve included the best tips on how to hang things from the ceiling. Whether you need to hang something light or heavy, I’ve recommended several helpful products to hang stuff from your ceiling! As a reminder, always double check products to determine if they can hold your item’s weight!

If you need to hang heavy objects (like swing chairs and hammocks), I highly recommend using heavy duty pad eye plated ceiling hooks. These are high quality, durable ceiling hooks that won’t let you down!

If you need to hang items like plants (and anything under 50 pounds), I recommend going for the good old screw-in ceiling hooks. Screw-in hooks are reliable, secure, and don’t require any additional screws. Another excellent choice are ceiling mounted hangers (a more stylish option) which can also hold up to 50 pounds.

If you live in a rental, it can be difficult to find damage free solutions to decorate from your ceiling. In this case, go for adhesive ceiling hooks (like heavy duty adhesive wall hooks or Command ceiling hooks). If you have a drop ceiling, go for drop ceiling hooks instead. Drop ceiling hooks securely clip onto the ceiling frame without nails or adhesives!

Overall, adhesive products are excellent for renters because they allow you temporarily hang things from the ceiling without damage, holes, or nails. For best results, make sure to follow instructions carefully to properly adhere products onto the ceiling.

I hope this post gave you some helpful ideas to securely hang items from your ceiling! Good luck!