For lighter items simply screwing into the plaster with a 1 1 4 drywall screw is usually enough to get the job done.
How to hang heavy things on plaster walls.
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.
Although plaster walls are thicker and denser than drywall they re also hollow so require heavy duty fasteners to secure weightier objects.
Generally speaking it s best to hang heavy pictures on a wall stud.
Therefore it s the strongest part of the wall and the ideal place to hang pictures from.
How to hang heavy things on plaster walls using a wall stud.
Screws and screws with masonry anchors for heavy items are your best choice for hanging things on plaster walls without picture rail.
Plaster is more easily damaged than drywall so it s recommended to tap into the supporting studs where possible.
Though there are several methods of locating studs or supports behind the wall the most reliable is using a magnetic stud finder.
Make sure you leave half an inch out of the wall so you have space to hang your artwork.
Simply hanging something heavy on a plaster wall can result in damage to the wall and the object if you don t tap into the supporting structure behind the plaster.