How to Hang a Poster

I cannot tell you how long it took me to name this blog post, how to hang a poster. Should I have done: how to hang a poster without a frame, DIY poster frame or DIY hanging a poster? Why are there so many decisions here?! Anyways…I’ll be quite.

We ended up coming up with this poster hanging hack because I was being cheap and didn’t want to buy frames for the super cheap IKEA posters I just bought.

My husband actually came up with the idea because I told him I didn’t want to hang the posters directly onto the wall. For two reasons: I didn’t want to damage the wall, we’re renters, and I don’t want to damage the posters when I take them down.

So why didn’t I just hang the posters onto the wall? I wanted to preserve the posters for the next house. I love 3M strips as much as the next person, but sometimes you have to bend your poster to get the strip off. So we need a barrier in between the wall and the artwork. That’s when he said, just put the poster on cardboard and call it a day.

You don’t have to be a renter to love this home decor DIY. It works if you change your mind a lot, don’t want a frame on your artwork or want to save money!

Head to my IG video for a quick tutorial on how to hang a poster. And if you need more house hacks head to my Renters Hacks and Tips blog post and to my Amazon storefront under the Renter Hacks & Products list.

And if you want to see the flower artwork, from the breakdown below, hanging outside on the stucco for a party, head to my Summer Ladies Brunch. And lastly, I know, if you want to hang fabric on the wall cheaply and without holes, head to my DIY Fabric Wall Art.

The Breakdown

Let’s get to it! You’ll need two cardboard pieces. So save your next package, or do what we did and grab a diaper box that’s laying around the house. Cut your cardboard to just under one to two centimeters less than the poster size.

Next, if you used a couple of cardboard pieces, you’ll need to tape them together. I taped them together with blue tape, but I’d recommend using masking tape for a tighter hold.

Time to tape up the cardboard for the poster. I recommend using blue painters for this part because it’s gentle. Because when you go to peel the poster off, it won’t rip the poster. Make a loop with each piece of tape so it’s sticky all the way around. But because it’s not the strongest tape in the world, be liberal with your application of the tape. 

Place the poster onto the taped cardboard, making sure to align it so that all of the cardboard is underneath the poster. You don’t want to see any cardboard sticking out.

Flip the poster & cardboard over to place your 3M velcro strips onto the back of the cardboard to be hung. One strip on each corner. I prefer to use the velcro strips because that way the poster doesn’t bend.

Hang it up! And now you’ve got yourself a poster that could stay up for a few years or a few months – it’s up to you! Plus the poster board was hung cheaply and easily. Perfect for if you change your mind a lot, are renting, or just like the look!

As always, make sure to let me know if you do this too below in the comments or on my IG page!

How to Hang a Poster

Supplies

• A poster
• Cardboard
• Masking tape
• Painters tape
• 3M Velcro strips

Directions

1. Cut your cardboard, to just under one to two centimeters less than the poster size.
2. If you used a couple of cardboard pieces, tape the cardboard together. I recommend using masking tape for a tighter hold.
3. Place the painters tape all around the cardboard to hang the poster onto it. Make a loop with each piece of painters tape so it’s sticky all the way around. It’s not super strong, so be liberal in your application of the tape.
4. Place the poster onto the tape and cardboard, making sure to align it so that all of the cardboard is underneath the poster, and you can’t see the cardboard.
5. Flip the poster & cardboard over to place your 3M velcro strips onto the back of the cardboard to be hung. One strip on each corner.
6. Hang up the artwork.