How to Hang a Stuffed Animal Hammock or Net (No Drill Options)
Last updated: October 2026
The short answer: screw into studs or the kit's anchors, in a corner or flat on a wall. Ceilings take only a joist or ceiling rated toggle. Adhesive hooks work only if your weighed pile sits under one hook's published rating; Command ceiling hooks (0.5 lb) never do. Never hang it over a bed or crib. Hang it wide, not drum tight, and check the loaded bottom's height.
We make the macrame hammock, the wall net and the over the door Original, so read knowing our bias. We have not published a load test for our own yet, so this guide uses numbers you can check.
Pick the surface first
Our macrame hammock ($32.95, 42x42x56 in, up to 50 plush, 4mm cotton cord) fits a corner or hangs flat on a wall or door. Our wall or corner net ($24.90, 70+ plush) goes on a wall or into a corner. Hammock or door? See our hammock vs over the door comparison.
| Surface | Hardware | Drill? | Where it fails | Use when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corner Our pick | Screw hooks, one into framing | Yes, small holes | Hung too tight or too low | Free corner |
| Flat wall | Studs or the kit's anchors | Yes | Ends between studs need anchors | No free corner |
| Ceiling | Joist screw or ceiling rated toggle | Yes, overhead | Anchor pulls straight out | Walls are full |
| Door | Over the door organizer | No | Bifold and sliding doors | Renting, zero holes |
| Adhesive | XL utility hooks | No | Overload, textured paint | Light, weighed loads |
Studs, anchors, and what the kit covers
Studs sit 16 or 24 in on center, and inside corners usually have framing. A screw hook into a stud needs no anchor. Hollow drywall needs the kit's anchor, at the limit printed on its package. The macrame kit includes all necessary hooks and anchors plus a step by step video guide; the net includes all necessary hardware.
The ceiling is a different job
Overhead, the load pulls straight out instead of shearing down a wall. Family Handyman: no plastic expansion anchor overhead unless its package rates it for ceilings. Use a joist, also 16 or 24 in on center, or a ceiling rated toggle. Ceiling adhesive hooks are rated 0.5 lb, not for popcorn or textured ceilings, and the pack says "do not hang over beds." Without drilling? No.
Will adhesive hooks hold a full one?
Only if your weighed load sits under the printed rating. Command's published limits, per hook, straight down:
| Command hook | Limit per hook |
|---|---|
| Small Utility | 1 lb |
| Medium Utility | 3 lb |
| Large Utility | 5 lb |
| Jumbo Utility | 7.5 lb |
| X-Large Heavyweight | 15 lb, 4 strips per hook |
| Ceiling Hook | 0.5 lb |
Three hooks are not three times the rating: 3M says extra strips do not always raise the limit. Smooth painted walls only, no wallpaper or heavy texture, 7 days after painting, about 1 hour unloaded first.
Why a tight hang pulls hooks out
On a two point hang, each anchor carries the weight divided by twice the sine of the hang angle (Omni Calculator's formula). At 30 degrees, each end carries the whole load; at 15, nearly double; at 5, about 5.7 times. Corner hammocks have three points, but each edge behaves the same. Drum tight rips anchors; slack and low makes a sack.
The most common failure: it turns into a sack
Hung too low, too tight, or both, a hammock becomes a bag you dig through. Fixes:
- Spread the ends as wide as the fabric allows.
- Set the corner point lower than the ends. Lilly's Love puts the corner 22 in below the ceiling, the ends 14 in.
- Load big plush at the back first.
- Recheck after a week; filled hammocks stretch.
DIY soft storage always sags; rigid structure is what you pay for, which is why our macrame has 5 point no sag support. More in DIY vs buying.
How high to hang it
Measure to the bottom of the loaded scoop, not the hooks. Keep it out of climbing reach for kids and pets, which makes a hammock overflow storage. Never mount it above a bed or crib, and keep it at least 3 ft from any part of a crib, the CPSC cord distance. That includes our macrame and its LED star lights. HealthyChildren.org: no strings or cords anywhere near the crib.
Install steps
- Weigh the pile. With and without the basket.
- Pick the surface. Use the table above.
- Find studs. Try 16 and 24 in from the first.
- Mark the points. Ends wide and level, corner point lower.
- Install hardware. Studs first, kit anchors in drywall.
- Hang it. Snug, not drum tight.
- Load back to front. Big plush first.
- Retension after a week. Take up the stretch.
No drill options, ranked honestly
- XL adhesive hooks, smooth painted walls, a weighed load under one hook's rating.
- Tension rod across an alcove or closet opening, through the net's edge.
- Bunk or loft bed rail, outside face only, never over a mattress.
- Holes an old curtain bracket or picture left, reused.
If nothing can go in the wall, a hammock is the wrong tool. Over the door storage needs zero holes.
Honeyera The Original Stuffed Animal Storage (Patented)
4 deep breathable mesh pockets, support rods included, holds 50+ stuffies, installs in under a minute with no tools, 10 colors. About $0.62 per stuffie stored.
$30.95 at HoneyeraFAQ
Will Command hooks hold a full stuffed animal hammock?
Only if your weighed pile is under one hook's printed rating, 1 to 15 lb by size. A tight hang multiplies the pull.
Can you hang a stuffed animal hammock on a flat wall instead of a corner?
Yes. Our macrame and net both hang flat.
Can I hang a stuffed animal net from the ceiling without drilling?
Not safely. Ceiling adhesive hooks are rated 0.5 lb. Use a joist or a ceiling rated toggle.
Is it safe to hang a stuffed animal hammock over a crib or bed?
Never. Keep it at least 3 ft from any part of a crib.
Short on walls too? Try our small spaces guide, or compare seven storage types in Best Stuffed Animal Storage in 2026.
