"Let's be realistic, we all did the same. I fell in love with a beautiful wall tapestry and bought it on a crush ... and when I received it, I did not even think where and how to hang it.

Do not panic, no problem: I created this free guide for that.

So I wish you a good reading because, in a couple of minutes, it will turn you into a tapestry hanging guru!"

 Julien - founder of Mandala the Wall Tapestry's Cave

HOW TO HANG A TAPESTRY 

THE COMPLETE GUIDE

1 - PREPARATION

Excited by the reception of our new tapestry, we would be tempted to immediately take action and hang it. However, there are some preparation details that could make a big difference in the end, and I want to share them with you:

 1 - Iron your tapestry:

 Most of the time, you will receive your folded tapestry in your package and hang it immediately. Error! To leave the folds that will be seen very well once hooked, iron gently your tapestry first!

Tips: You may need to increase the temperature of the iron and use some steam to remove the creases but always test in a corner of the tapestry first.

 2 – Think about wall studs:

 Using a wall stud finder will help you find the best place to hang your tapestry. But if your walls don't have any, get some wall anchors if you think about drilling directly into drywall or masonry walls.

3 - Sawtooth picture hangers:

 In several techniques that I will share with you, it will be a question of adding a support to the back of your tapestry. Keep aside some sawtooth hangers, they will be your next best friends and the easiest way to create a support.

2 - PUSH PINS, NAILS OR THUMBTACKS

 

Applicable for:

Thin fabric and soft walls.

2.1 - FAST and FURIOUS: BASIC NAILING

 Things You Will Need:

• Wall Tapestry

• Hammer and Nails / Screws and a Drill

• OR 4 push pins or thumbtacks

 Step - 1:

Choose a suitable and ample space for your tapestry.

Make small pencil lines on the wall about the width of your tapestry.

Step – 2:

Nail into the wall over a marked spot and over the tapestry, starting from the top left and then right (stretching it), from top to bottom.

Tips: your wall must be soft enough to be pierced manually, and try to put the nails between the wefts to avoid little holes in your tapestry.

 

2.2 - NAIL TAPESTRY CLIPS

 

Similar technique except that you will use the nails to pin tapestry clips.

Things You Will Need:

• Wall Tapestry

• 4 nails or even push pins or thumbtacks

• 4 tapestry clips

• white or fine sharpie pencil

Step - 1:

Choose a suitable and ample space. Use a white or fine sharpie pencil to make points on the wall where you plan to hang your tapestry (Remember to add 2 inches on each side to include the distance between your thumbtack and the length of your clips when you stretch it).

Step - 2:

Attach the clips to the 4 corners of your tapestry, then hang them on your push pins. Time to enjoy your new wall decor!

Tips: Remember that you can also use a bulldog clip with integrated pin

3 – USING VELCRO

Applicable for:

Almost any kind of tapestry. On walls that allow a good adhesion of the velcro (otherwise you will have to fix a support to fix your Velcro (like plywood)).

Things You Will Need:

• Wall Tapestry

• Velcro strip of 39.3 inches (1 meter) or 8 double-sided velcro patches

optional: heavy cotton button-hole thread + sewing needle and a strip of wood

Tips: You can as well use Velcro square pairs or Velcro coin pairs, with glue on both sides, ready to use and easier to apply.

Step – 1:

Measure your tapestry. Write this measurement on your wall, reducing it 2 inches to each side and to the inside of your tapestry. Also, add a mark in the middle of each side (this will prevent your tapestry from ending up crooked).

See diagram:

Step - 2:

Stick the 8 rougher side of the Velcro to the location of your marks on your wall (if your wall is not adherent, you can first attach a strip of wood to the wall: Staple the stiffer side of the Velcro to the piece of wood. Use wood staples to staple the piece of Velcro along the wooden board at one inch (2.5 cm) spacing)

Tips: Velcro comes in widths between ½ inch (1.25 cm) and 4 inches (10 cm). The longer and heavier your tapestry is, the wider Velcro you should use to support it.

Step - 3:

Stick the opposite velcro piece to your tapestry's backside at the same distance (please, measure it!).

If the glue adherence is not good, sew the soft side of the Velcro to the tapestry (use heavy cotton button-hole thread to sew this side of the Velcro.

Make sure you sew over at least two warp threads with each stitch so that it is strong enough for hanging).

Or you can also machine stitch the Velcro to a canvas strip first and then hand stitch the strip to the tapestry in the same way.

This provides extra stiffness and support for the tapestry to hang straight.

Tips: Make sure the thread is the same color as one of the dominant colors in your tapestry so that it blends in.

Step - 4:

Press the Velcro on the tapestry against the Velcro attached to the wall to secure (Make sure there are no bumps and that the tapestry is hung straight).

Tips: Attach your velcro to a strip of wood! Nail a strip of wood just slightly shorter than the tapestry into wall studs. Adhere the rougher velcro side to your strip of wood on the wall and follow the steps presented with that change.

4 - ADHESIVE STRIPS (Clothespins or hooks)

Applicable for:

Almost any kind of tapestry. On walls that allow a good adhesion of the Adhesive strips (otherwise you will have to fix a support to fix your Adhesive strips (like plywood or foam core)).

Things You Will Need:

• Wall Tapestry

• Adhesive Strips

• Scissors

• Clothespins OR hooks

Step - 1 :

Take your Adhesive strips. You'll need to prepare 8 adhesive strips for your clothespins or hooks. (8 seems to be enough for most of the tapestries): cut the adhesive strips with your scissors at the sizes of your clothespins or hooks.

 

Step - 2 :

Paste the adhesive strips to the back of your clothespins or hooks.

Step - 3 :

Measure your tapestry and use this measure on the wall with a white or fine sharpie pencil to make 8 dots where you plan to hang your tapestry (each corner of your tapestry and its borderline's center).

Step - 4 :

Paste the clothespins or hooks on the dots you did before (don't forget to orient your clothespins in your tapestry's direction!).

Step - 5 :

Hang your tapestry clamping it using your fixed clothespins or hooks.

Congratulation, you're done!

5 - POSTER HANGER

Applicable for:

Works better on thin tapestries. Any kind of wall you can drill.

Things You Will Need:

• Wall tapestry poster hanger (to adapt or create)
• Optional: wood slats

Step - 1:

Take your poster hanger and your tapestry. If it's the length of your tapestry, just mount the poster hanger, it's done!

Step - 2:

If it's not the length of your tapestry, you will have to adapt the size using thin wood slats (or other material).

Make the length of the top and bottom of your tapestry rests on the 2 supports (staple at the back) before clamping your poster hanger.

Level and hang your frame on the wall (find the studs (if your wall has) in the wall and partially screw two screws in at a distance suitable for your frame and then screw 2 little screwable hooks ( or the famous sawtooth picture hangers) on the back of your plywood board/foam core and connect).

Tip: If you do not have a poster hanger, just create a "clamp" with 4 wood slats, hot glue, pan head screws, and string to hang. (I suggest you adapt this great article to your need).

 6 - ROPE STYLE:

 Applicable for:

Thin tapestries (which can be easily cut), any type of wall you can drill.

Things You Will Need:

• Wall Tapestry

• Rope

• Scissors

• 2 Large Screws

• Drill

Step - 1:

Measure out the length of your tapestry, mark the wall and drill screws where you want your rope to start.

Step - 2:

Measure and cut 1 inch long slits across the top, like a shower curtain (To choose how far apart you want your slits to be, take the full length of the tapestry and divide it by a number that gives you a whole numbered result).

Tips: use a white colored pencil or thin sharpie to make dots on the tapestry where you plan on cutting. Don’t forget to make cuts as close to each end as possible, and make sure you cut far enough away from the top (that there’s no chance of the rings pulling through).

Tips: Cut the slits big enough for your rope to slide through.

Step - 3:

Cut the rope to your tapestry's length with an extra to tie a decent double knot on each side.

Step - 4:

Place the rope through the slits in your tapestry, letting a little extra on each side.

Step - 5:

Tie the extra length of rope with a double knot around the 2 screws on each side of the wall.

 7 - USE A BASEBOARD

Applicable for:

Tapestries with rod pocket. All drillable walls.

Tips: If your tapestry doesn’t have a pocket, you can hand-sew one using a heavy fabric, for that just check - 9.2 ROD: ADDING A CASING (create rod pocket).

Things You Will Need:

• a piece of baseboard ( shorter than the width of the tapestry and can also be made from metal or plastic)

• 2 screws

• optional: 2 wall anchors (if your wall need it)

Step - 1:

Cut the baseboard to make sure it fits in the rod pocket on the back of the tapestry.

Step - 2:

Drill holes at each end of the baseboard that are equal distances from the ends of the baseboard and centered (they should fit the size screws that you will be using).

Step - 3:

Find the best place for your tapestry, maybe your wall studs (for that use a stud finder to locate the studs in the wall).

Step - 4:

Using the drilled baseboard leveled against the wall, mark the screw locations on the walls (insert a pencil or screw to make a small mark on the wall). Drill holes in the walls at these locations.

Step - 5:

If you are using wall anchors, put them in the drilled holes (wall anchors will provide extra stability and ensure your screws do not slide out from drywall or masonry walls).

Step - 6:

Slide the baseboard into the rod pocket, and center it so that both ends are accessible.

Step - 7:

Starting with one side at a time, screw the 2 screws through the baseboard and into the wall (into the hole or wall anchor).

Step - 8:

Check the result to be sure everything looks even and level. Your piece of art is ready!

 

8 - MOUNTING ON STRETCHERS

(Wooden frame/plywood/foam core)

 

Applicable for:

Resistant tapestries (that can be stretched).

Things You Will Need:

• Wall Tapestry

• Fabric sturdy material

• heavy cotton thread with large staggered stitches

• Wooden frame (Create a wooden frame using four thin pieces of wood at your tapestry's dimensions and gluing or screwing them together. Use corner brackets to increase the stability of the frame).

• Or A piece of plywood (cut the piece to the size needed)

• Or Foam core (cut the piece to the size needed, not suitable for heavy tapestries).

Tips: Whatever you choose, the frame should be at least one inch (2.5 cm) wider on each side than your tapestry.

Step - 1:

Take your frame. Stretch canvas or another sturdy material over it (Ensure that the piece of material is at least 1.5 inches (3.75 cm) long on each side and use wood staples to staple the material onto the frame).

Step - 2:

Stitch the tapestry to the fabric (sew along the edges as well as in other areas and make sure the stitches cross at least two warp stitches each time).

Tips: Pick a color thread that matches the dominant color on the tapestry so that you cannot see the stitches from the front. Tips: You can also combine the frame and Velcro methods by stitching Velcro to the frame and tapestry instead.

Could have been better with a white/blue thread!

Step - 3:

Level and hang your frame on the wall (find the studs (if your wall has) in the wall and partially screw two screws in at a distance suitable for your frame and then rest the edges of your frame on these screws to hang). Your tapestry is ready!

 

8.1 - Mounting on Plywood Board / Foam core

Applicable for:

Works better on thin tapestries.

Things You Will Need:

• Wall Tapestry

• Plywood Board / Foam core (a little bit smaller than your tapestry's size)

• stapler and staples

• 2 little screwable hooks (or 2 screws and a sawtooth picture hanger)

• Optional: heavy linen fabric + heavy cotton thread with large staggered stitches

Step - 1:

Cut a piece of your chosen support a little bit smaller than your tapestry's size (The edges of your tapestry (1 inch) will be flipped to the back of the plywood board/foam core).

    

Step - 2:

Now you'll have two possibilities:

1- Fast one: Staple the edges of your tapestry on the back of your plywood board/foam core.

2- Indirect and secure: Staple the edges of your heavy linen fabric on the back of your plywood board/foam core and then stitch the tapestry to the fabric (sew along the edges as well as in other areas and make sure the stitches cross at least two warp stitches each time).

Step - 3:

Level and hang your frame on the wall (find the studs in the wall (if your wall has) and partially screw two screws in at a distance suitable for your frame and then screw 2 little screwable hooks on the back of your plywood board/foam core and connect).

Now, enjoy your masterpiece!

 

9 ROD: TAPESTRY with ROD POCKET

Applicable for:

Work better on thin tapestries.

Things You Will Need:

• Wall Tapestry

• Curtain Rod Set (as long as your tapestry)

• Scissors

• Drill Tips: Although there are rods made specifically for tapestries, you can also use normal curtain rods or a baseboard to slide in and hang.

Step - 1:

Obtain a rod, finials and wall brackets.

The necessary rod diameter depends upon the weight of the tapestry and the length depends on the width of the tapestry: A 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch diameter rod will hold an average or large size tapestry anywhere from 2 to 10 lbs.

The rod should be long enough so that the rod finials extend beyond the edges of the tapestry with the brackets meeting the edges of the tapestry (This will allow the tapestry to slightly shadow the brackets giving more focus to the finials than the brackets).

Step - 2:

Determine where you would like to hang the tapestry.

Tips: Hang the tapestry so that the center is at eye level for an average sized person

Step - 3:

Fix your brackets on the wall (find your wall studs with a stud finder so you can attach your brackets to them.

Tapestries do not always need to be hung on wall studs (Supports can be added to the wall from which to hang the rod)).

Drill holes so that the brackets sit just outside the width of the tapestry. 

 

Tips: If you do not have a level you can also measure from the ceiling down to where you would like to hang the tapestry. Make sure that the distance from the ceiling to the hole is the same on both sides.

Tips 2: Make sure you use the correct screws for your type of wall. These can be masonry screws, drywall screws or simple wood screws.

Step - 4:

Place the rod through the rod pocket at the top on the back of the tapestry. Attach the finials to each end of the rod.

Step - 5:

Hang your tapestry on the brackets and enjoy your beautiful new eye-catching masterpiece!

Tips : If your piece is rectangular or particularly large, you could also drape it over the rod to create a false headboard or an eye-catching display over the sofa.

9.1 ROD: CUTTING SLITS (or using binder clips)

 Applicable for:

Tapestry you can cut without worry! (Or use the clips)

Tips: If you do not want to, do the same measurement process, but instead of cutting the slots, tighten binding clips. You can use their looped end to slide on the curtain rod.

Things You Will Need:

• Wall Tapestry

• Curtain Rod Set (as long as your tapestry is)

• Shower Curtain Rings (or Binder Clips)

• Scissors

• Drill

• white colored pencil or thin sharpie

Step - 1 :

Get your tapestry. Measure and cut 1 inch long slits across the top, like a shower curtain (To choose how far apart you want your slits to be, take the full length of the tapestry and divide it by a number that gives you a whole numbered result).

Tips: use a white colored pencil or thin sharpie to make dots on the tapestry where you plan on cutting. Don’t forget to make cuts as close to each end as possible, and make sure you cut far enough away from the top (that there’s no chance of the rings pulling through).

Step - 2 :

Link shower curtain rings through each of the slits.

Determine where you would like to hang the tapestry (see step 4 of ROD: TAPESTRY with ROD POCKET).

Step - 3 :

Slide the rings onto the curtain rod.

Step - 4 :

Hang the rod on the brackets, spread out the tapestry, and enjoy!

 

 9.2 ROD: ADDING A CASING (create rod pocket)

 

Applicable for:

All tapestry kinds.

Things You Will Need:

• Wall Tapestry

• Curtain Rod Set (make sure it’s as long as your tapestry is!)

• heavy cotton button-hole thread

• Scissors

• Drill

Step - 1:

If your tapestry has no rod pocket then you can simply add one onto the top back edge of your tapestry to hang using the following method:

Obtain a strip of cloth that is slightly shorter than the width of the tapestry (you can use heavy cotton, linen or even cotton twill rug binding).

The strip must be wide enough to be wrapped all the way around your rod lengthwise with a little cloth left over.

Step - 2:

Hand sews the strip of cloth across the top back edge of the tapestry (Use the heavy cotton button-hole thread to hand sew the strip across the tapestry, and be very careful that your strip is straight, even if your tapestry does not have a straight edge).

Tips: Use thread that is the same color as a dominant color of your tapestry or your walls so that it won’t be noticeable.

Step - 3:

Fix your brackets on the wall (see step 4 of ROD: TAPESTRY with ROD POCKET) , insert a rod into the new rod pocket or casing and fix it.

Tips: If you use a short rod you can hang it on two screws attached to the wall at the ends of the rod. This way you cannot see any hanging apparatus from the front side.

Step - 4:

Make sure your tapestry hangs straight and even (Check the tapestry with a level to make sure it is hanging straight. If it is not even try taking out the stitches and reattaching the rod pocket or casing).

Time to enjoy your new piece of art!

10 - HANG A ROUND TAPESTRY

We invite you to follow the link and go to the article:

How to hang a round tapestry

Or Subscribe to Download the entire guide in pdf for free.

11 - HANG A TAPESTRY ON THE CEILING:

We invite you to follow the link and go to the article:

How to hang a tapestry from the ceiling

Or Subscribe to Download the entire guide in pdf for free.

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