Though there are several methods of locating studs or supports behind the wall the most reliable is using a magnetic stud finder.
Hanging things on lath and plaster walls.
How to hang things on plaster walls 15 steps with pictures.
Tip how to hang something heavy with minimal wall damage.
Hanging things on plaster walls is easy if you have a drill and screws.
For lighter items simply screwing into the plaster with a 1 1 4 drywall screw is usually enough to get the job done.
Screws will also hold a lot better because they will fasten into the lath behind the drywall.
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.
As mentioned earlier avoid using nails on plaster wall because they will likely cause the drywall to crack.
Make sure you leave half an inch out of the wall so you have space to hang your artwork.
Hang pictures with plaster wall anchors.
Plaster wall repair basics anatomy of a lath and.
Hang heavy objects carefully.
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.