While the diminutive size of our home has many benefits, we do wish we had more wall space. With apologies to the ornament manufacturers and holly growers of the world, we must limit our decking activities to hanging only things that our eyes behold as art. Once, in our favorite frame shop, after requesting no or minimal mats on all the items to be framed, it was pointed out that adding a larger mat doesn't increase the price by much at all. We told him of our wall-space shortage and that we already have to hang some areas frame to frame. However, most people just have drywall, unless they happen to hit a stud.
Nails can be problematic when used in any wall, but they can be disastrous when driven into drywall.
As the house vibrates, when doors are slammed, when trucks drive by and when planes fly over, the nail may slowly angle down as the weight of the item being hung tears the drywall. Eventually, the artwork may drop. Here, a picture hook solves the problem. When using a properly sized picture hook, the hook part holds the nail at an optimal angle in the wallboard and prevents damage to the wall or art. When hanging heavy or wide things, say over 20 pounds or 20 inches wide, I like to use two picture hooks.