Which Is Actually Better For Renters: Command Strips Or Nails?

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Ah, the never-ending anxiety of living in a place that's not your own and having a chunky security deposit hanging over your head every time you want to adorn your walls. Renters know it well. The prospect of causing damage to the property and losing good money can be daunting, especially when seemingly miraculous solutions, like Command Strips, often only make things worse. 

Everyone has a story about using these adhesives instead of nails, thinking they were being responsible, only to be left with an even bigger hole to fill from pulling them off a little too hastily. Others have lost one too many nice frames because the strips couldn't actually carry the weight advertised on the packaging. 

Still, through accidents and frustrations, many renters remain on Team Command Strips. They argue that if you follow all the right tips on removing them with minimal damage to your walls, you and your rental can come out of the experience unscathed. Nail holes, on the other hand, no matter how tiny they are, will always require patching up.

Nails are a tried and true picture-hanging method. They're affordable and strong. Because they are inserted into the wall or even the studs behind it, nails offer more support for heavier frames. They can be strengthened further with the addition of hanging hooks or anchors, for example, and they work well with every type of wall texture.

There are two major drawbacks to using nails, however. One is installation. Hammering can be intimidating for first-timers. These processes require a certain level of skill and experience that sticking something to a wall doesn't. Knowing if and when to use an anchor, locating studs, and differentiating between drywall and plaster are only some of the factors to consider when using nails for a safe and durable mount. 

The second is that, while you can avoid damage to your walls with Command Strips, with nails, there's simply no way around it. This implies a much bigger commitment. When you make a hole in your wall, you should be sure that's exactly where you want to hang your frame. Although there are simple ways to fill nail holes – like using 3M's High Strength Small Hole Repair All-in-One Applicator Tool, a nifty tube equipped with primer-enhanced spackle compound, a putty knife, and a sanding pad — opting for Command Strips will spare you all of these steps and investments. 

Some landlords outright forbid tenants from making holes, in which case they have no choice but to look for damage-free ways to hang artwork without using nails, such as Command Strips that stick to the wall. They're easy to install, and though they rely solely on the strength of their adhesion, making them weaker than nails, this limitation can be offset by playing it extra safe. 

Always staying well below the weight limit specified in the packaging and splitting the load between multiple strips will prevent frames from falling and breaking. Because they can be peeled off without causing damage to the wall, it shouldn't matter how many Command Strips you use, which cannot be said about nails. Still, they're more expensive and don't work on textured walls, brick, or any other kind of rough surface. 

Since Command Strips can be relatively reliable when used conservatively, the real tie-breaker is the aftermath. As mentioned, when removed incorrectly, Command Strips will cause more damage than a simple nail hole. Chunks of paint could get pulled off along with it if you're not careful. However, there are surefire ways to avoid this, ultimately making them the best option for renters.

Most importantly, when removing, you should stretch the designated, exposed part of the strip downward and as close to the wall as possible. Never pull it away from the wall. Secondly, use a hairdryer or another source of heat to loosen the seal. This will be particularly helpful for strips that have been stuck to the wall for a long time and have become dry and brittle.