Time
An hour or less
Complexity
Beginner
Cost
Less than $20
Introduction
Here are a few ways to hang your favorite cool posters without making your parents nuts or losing your security deposit.
Watch 6 Ways to Hang a Poster Without Damaging the Wall
- Bubble level
- Measuring tape
- Painter's tape
Materials Required
- 3M Command Velcro
- 3M Spring clips
- Mounting putty
- Nano tape
- Paper clips
- String
- Suction cups
Project step-by-step (7)
Step 1
Before You Start
- Visualize and plan where you want to hang the poster. Have a friend or family member hold it up so you can see what it looks like. Try a few different walls — your poster may look better on a wall opposite or adjacent to the window for better light.
- Clean the area where you’re hanging your poster. A microfiber cloth works well for this.
- Stick a piece of blue painter’s tape to the wall to mark where the top of your poster will land.
- Use a bubble level to ensure the tape looks good.
Step 2
Loctite Fun-tak Mounting Putty
- Before applying Loctite Fun-tak Mounting Putty, make sure the surface is clean and dry and the paint fully cured.
- Stick a piece of blue painter’s tape to the wall to mark where the top of your poster will be. Level the tape with a bubble level.
- Pull or cut four, roughly one-inch pieces of putty. Knead them between your fingers into small balls so they’re soft like the consistency of chewing gum.
- Place your poster face down on a clean flat surface.
- Stick the putty balls in each corner of the back of your poster.
- First, stick the left corner to the wall just below the blue tape line. Then, while still holding a poster, stick the right corner.
- Pull down slightly on the corners of the poster and stick it to the wall one corner at a time, avoiding any ripples or creases in the poster.
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Step 3
3M Spring Clips
- Before applying 3M Spring Clips make sure the surface is smooth, clean and dry, and the paint is fully cured.
- Stick a piece of blue painter’s tape to the wall to mark where the top of your poster will be. Level the tape with a bubble level.
- Attach two 3M Spring Clips to the top of your poster about one inch from each side.
- Peel the protective strip off the back of the clip.
- Stick the clips to the wall just below the blue tape line.
- If the bottom of the poster lifts, add two more clips to the bottom edge.
Step 4
Suction Cups, String & Paper Clips
- This is for hanging multiple pictures or posters at once.
- Before applying LEVERLOC Suction Cups make sure the surface is smooth, clean and dry, and the paint is fully cured.
- Stick a piece of blue painter’s tape to the wall to mark where the top of your poster will be. Level the tape with a bubble level.
- Lay all the posters next to each other on a flat surface and measure the width from the first one to the last.
- Cut a piece of string six inches longer than the width of your posters.
- Attach the piece of string to each suction cup.
- Attach two suction cups to the wall just below the blue tape line, keeping the string taut.
- Attach paper clips or clothespins to the string.
- Hang your poster or photos from the clips.
- Pro Tip: You can remove the suction cups using a hard plastic card.
Step 5
Paper Clips and Magnets
- Before taping the paper clips to the wall, make sure the surface is smooth, clean, and dry and the paint is fully cured.
- Stick a piece of blue painter’s tape to the wall to mark where the top of your poster will be. Level the tape with a bubble level.
- Measure your poster size.
- Tape two paper clips just below the blue tape line, two inches narrower than the poster measures, using blue painter’s tape.
- Hold your poster over the paper clips and place the magnets on the front of your poster, magnetically attaching to the paper clips.
Step 6
3M Command Velcro
- Before applying 3M Command Velcro make sure the surface is smooth, clean and dry, and the paint fully cured.
- Stick a piece of blue painter’s tape to the wall to mark where the top of your poster will be. Level the tape with a bubble level.
- Place your poster face down on a clean flat surface.
- Press four pairs of 3M Command Velcro strips together
- Peel the protective strip off and stick them in each corner of the back of your poster.
- First, stick the left corner to the wall just below the blue tape line. While still holding a poster, stick the right corner.
- Pull down slightly on the corners of the poster and stick it to the wall one corner at a time, avoiding any ripples or creases in the poster.
Step 7
Nano Tape
- This tape is great for heavier framed pictures.
- Stick a piece of blue painter’s tape to the wall to mark where the top of your poster will be. Level the tape with a bubble level.
- Place your picture frame faces down on a clean flat surface.
- Cut two six- to eight-inch pieces of Nano Tape and stick on the top and bottom of the back of your frame.
- Peel the protective strip off the two pieces of tape.
- Stick the top of the frame to the wall just below the blue tape line, then stink the bottom to the wall, pressing firmly on the frame.
- Pro tip: To remove the tape, slowly peel one corner then pulling it on an angle. Do not tear off the tape violently.
Originally Published: October 06, 2020
Author
Joe Cruz
Joe Cruz is a contributing editor for Family Handyman Magazine, creating DIY how-to & home improvement projects for both digital and print. Joe started woodworking at an early age, finding himself in carpentry jobs such as building and remodeling houses, woodworking jobs such as custom cabinetry and kitchen installation, and artisan positions i...
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