Screws and screws with masonry anchors for heavy items are your best choice for hanging things on plaster walls without picture rail.
Hanging pictures on plaster lath walls.
You may not notice the damage but as plaster comes loose from the lath it will eventually begin to sag and soon fall off the wall if the sagging continues unchecked.
How to hang heavy things on plaster walls using a wall stud.
Adhesive picture hooks are the best way to prevent damage when hanging a picture but pre drilling the hole will usually prevent cracks and chips from forming as well.
If the pictures are small and equipped with a wire on the back use a small picture hook and nail.
All you need to do is pre drill a hole slightly narrower than your screws then use the drill to drive a screw into the hole.
Hanging things on plaster walls is easy if you have a drill and screws.
As mentioned earlier the wall stud is where the wooden lath attaches to the wooden frame behind the plaster.
Generally speaking it s best to hang heavy pictures on a wall stud.
It s difficult to tap in a nail that is long enough to reach a stud without cracking the plaster off the lath.
Plaster walls have a tendency to crack and crumble if you attempt to hammer a nail directly into the wall.
Therefore it s the strongest part of the wall and the ideal place to hang pictures from.