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How to Hang Wall Art Without Nails: The Elegant Gallery Rail Solution

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A photograph of a scenic waterfall in La Creuse, France.
A photograph of a scenic waterfall in La Creuse, France.
Have you ever wondered how you can hang your wall art discreetly, yet elegantly? Hanging pictures using a gallery rail and nylon cords is the perfect solution. This guide will show you how to achieve a professional look easily and without any unnecessary hassle.
Three nature-themed aluminum prints hanging in a dining area using Nielsen rails.
With gallery rails, you can create an impressive display in spaces like your dining room. Explore the pieces seen on the wall in my portfolio.

Hanging Art with a Nylon Cord – The Easiest Path to a Professional Look #

A gallery wall is a wonderful way to showcase art and bring a striking new look to your home. Hanging art with a nylon cord and a picture rail is both a stylish and highly practical choice. With the supplies introduced below, you can create a beautiful gallery wall and effortlessly adjust the placement of your pictures without drilling new holes. You only need to drill holes once to mount the rails near the ceiling—meaning if you ever move, there will be far fewer holes to patch up.

Two landscape-themed aluminum prints in a living room.
Nylon cord hanging adapts to any space and lets the artwork speak for itself. Discover these pieces in my portfolio.

A gallery wall also offers you the unique freedom to modify the layout according to your own preferences and the artwork you have available. Whether you want to highlight a single, large statement piece or arrange several smaller pictures into a cohesive collection, the flexibility of the rail and cord system makes it simple. You can curate different exhibitions for different seasons or switch the locations of your pieces according to your mood—all without drilling a single new hole.

Art makes a house a home—it tells your story. Create your own gallery wall and make it the focal point of your space.

You will need the following materials for your gallery wall project (these are typically available at well-equipped hardware stores or online retailers like Amazon):

  • Picture Rail System (e.g., Nielsen Economy 1.5 m) (1–2 pieces depending on your needs)
  • Nielsen Wall Mounting Kit for Picture Rails (1 set per rail)
  • Nielsen Nylon Hanging Cord / Perlon Cord (2 per artwork)
  • Nielsen Adjustable Picture Hooks (4 per artwork)

Below is an example of a gallery wall implemented by a customer using a picture rail and nylon cords:

A waterfall picture hung by a customer using rails and nylon cords.
A waterfall picture hung by a customer using rails and nylon cords.

Step 1: Installing the Picture Rail #

  1. Plan the layout. Measure your wall and mark the location for the picture rail. Make sure it is completely straight using a spirit level or a laser level.
  2. Mount the rail. Attach the rail to the wall using the wall mounting kit. If your wall is wider than the rail length, use connectors to join multiple rails seamlessly.
  3. Check stability. Ensure the rail is firmly secured before moving on to the next step.

Step 2: Installing the Nylon Cords and Hooks #

  1. Insert the cords. Slide the nylon hanging cords into the rail track and position them where you want your artwork to hang.
  2. Add the hooks. Attach the picture hooks to the nylon cords. You can easily slide them up or down to adjust the height of your artwork.

Step 3: Hanging the Artwork #

Once the cords and hooks are in place, it is time to choose artwork worthy of the display. Aluminum prints are an excellent choice for nylon cord hanging due to their lightweight nature and modern appearance. To hang one aluminum print, you will need two cords and four hooks.

A close-up of two landscape-themed aluminum prints hanging on nylon cords.
The modern look of aluminum prints pairs perfectly with the discreet nylon cords. Fall in love with these pieces in my portfolio.

Numbered Art Prints for Your Home or as a Gift #

My online store was born out of my customers’ wishes: the desire to hang beautiful, carefully selected photographs as elegant aluminum prints. Every piece available in the shop is numbered and comes with a certificate of authenticity, guaranteeing its value and uniqueness.

Two misty landscape prints hanging on a bedroom wall using nylon cords.
Create a restful atmosphere in your bedroom. View the misty castle landscape on the left here and the mountain landscape on the right here.

A numbered certificate of authenticity makes each picture a unique addition to your art collection.

How Does the Web Store and Ordering Work? #

I want you to be able to freely choose the perfect piece for your wall from my entire portfolio. That is why I don’t keep a pre-printed inventory of artwork. Instead, every print is produced as an individual, made-to-order piece—crafted specifically for you.

The ordering process is designed to be as secure and high-quality as possible:

  • You choose, I add it to the shop: The web store’s selection grows based on customer requests. If you fall in love with a picture in my portfolio that isn’t currently listed in the shop, simply send me a message! I will add your chosen piece to my Holvi store, where you can safely place your order.
  • Gallery-quality from Germany: Once you have placed your order, your piece is manufactured in a highly respected German photo laboratory. This guarantees absolute top quality, perfect color reproduction, and a durable, modern aluminum finish.
  • Personal finishing touches and certificate of authenticity: Quality assurance is a matter of honor for me. Therefore, the finished piece is first delivered from the lab directly to me. I inspect the print for perfection, hand-sign and number the artwork, and include the official certificate of authenticity.
  • Safely to your door: Only after this personal finishing touch do I carefully package the artwork and ship it directly to your doorstep. You will receive a completely unique, ready-to-hang piece of art.
  • Secure payment platform: My online store runs on the well-known Holvi platform. Ordering and paying are completely safe, transparent, and effortless.

Have you already found a picture in my portfolio that you would like on your own wall?

A nature photograph of a blooming field hanging above a fireplace.
Get in touch, and I will add your desired picture to the shop and have it made just for you!

Do not hesitate to contact me, and together we can plan the perfect picture or collection for your space.

Either way, I highly recommend:

Browsing my portfolio

Visiting my online store

You can never have too much inspiration—the purpose of art is to offer new perspectives and enrich life!