If you're on the search for a great way to decorate your walls, but don't want a typical gallery wall, tapestries are a great alternative for your home decor.
They are a simple, easy way to add color, texture, and pattern to a place, whether you display them over the sofa or behind the bed as a bold headboard.
You can display a wall hanging, tapestry or other beautiful find brought home from your travels in any number of ways.
Are you looking for ideas on how to hang your new addition? Don't worry; your search ends here.
Read on for some creative and simple step by step ideas on how to hang your tapestries anywhere. We hope this post gives you some inspiration!
Nail & Pushpin
One easy way to decorate with a tapestry is to use a nail or pushpins.
Unlike screws, this option leaves only tiny holes in walls, and if your new tapestry hanging is not very heavy.
This method works well with more substantial weaves that are not affected by little holes, or sturdy tapestries made of canvas.
If you're not sure, maybe you need to experiment. The worst thing you can do is ruin your delicate piece of fabric by making holes that get bigger and bigger over time.
Attach the tapestry to the wall by the corners for a casual drop or continue to add more nails to the top of the tapestry and down the sides to create a more sure and straight finish.
Fairy Lights & Photos
A great method for unique wall decor and a way to display treasured photos, use the tapestry as a background, and add one or two strings of fairy lights for sparkle.
Here's how:
- Hang the textile in your preferred method (you want it to be near an electrical outlet).
- Grab some fairy lights and crisscross the wires across the tapestry, starting from the top, and down the sides of the tapestry until you like what you see.
You would need to get S hooks or cup hooks from the hardware store (or use a nail and drape the lights over it). - Then grab some photos and some miniature clothespins (these may be found at your local craft or dollar store) and clip your pictures onto the fairy lights.
This may take a few tries to get the most pleasing configuration, but determination will reward your patience. Now stand back and admire your creation!
Bohemian Glamour
If your wall tapestry hanging is big enough, you can attach it to your ceiling to make an atmosphere like the inside of a Bedouin tent.
This is great for kids, or if you want to add a bohemian touch to your interior design.
There are a couple of ways to do this. You can attach one top corner of the art to the ceiling, allowing the rest of it to hang down.
If you go this route, it's best to do it against a wall or behind a sizable piece of furniture, like a sofa or an entertainment center, that will hold the gathered fabric in place.
Or you can take a tapestry and drive nails through its sides and center, allowing the top edge to blouse down around the nails or pins.
This configuration above a bed is every little girl's dream (and maybe a big girl's, too).
If your tapestry is long enough, you can pin the rest of the fabric from the ceiling down the wall and then continue to pin as a headboard.
You could do this with multiple tapestries to cover the entire space and make the room tent-like.
Attach the Tapestry Over a Plywood Board or Frame
If you prefer the formal look of a framed wall tapestry, you can turn fabric into a painting by stretching it over a wood frame.
Here's how:
- Spread and wrap the tapestry over the edges of the structure or board, and attach it at the back with a staple gun or super glue.
- You may need to cut the wall art to fit properly.
Take your time with each step for a better fit. This method is perfect for the lighter, more delicate fabrics that are vulnerable to holes when using a pin, or for abstract designs that can be cut without interrupting the print.
Secure with Velcro or Command Strips
These items may not be the first thing that comes to mind for ways to hang textile art, but they are good options for decorating without ruining your wall.
Here is how to hang a tapestry with Velcro, step by step:
- Adhere to the soft side (the loop tape) on the hanging, wall tapestry, or textile.
- Stick the scratchy side (the hook tape) on the wall.
Only use this if the wall tapestry is washable because there will likely be some residue left on it once you remove the Velcro.
Velcro tape is also suitable for more complicated angles or curves in the walls of the room.
Command strips are sticky on both sides, so you attach the strip to your wall, then remove the backing on the front and press your tapestry to the strip to adhere to it.
A better option might be to use the strips to adhere to a few sturdy clothespins to the wall. Then hang the wall tapestry from the clothespins.
The clothespins add a step, but is a good option for someone who does not want to leave any marks on their wall, nor nail holes in their tapestry wall hangings.
Hang from a Curtain Rod
A rod or any piece of wood/metal that you find can be hung horizontally on the wall with the aid of brackets.
You can make a rod pocket at the top of the hanging by folding over and sewing, or create one by securing with fusible no-sew hem tape.
See that the pocket is wide enough because you need to insert the rod into it. You could also drape the art over the rod, like a towel, as long as the tapestry is long enough on both sides and is stable.
If your piece is rectangular or unusually large, it could be arranged behind a bed to give a headboard look.
If this post hasn't convinced you of the best way to hang a tapestry, and if you're the crafty type, you might want to check out our post on DIY tapestry hangers for walls.
Still on a search for something magnificent, like tapestries for your home? Click here to see our collection.
Hang it with Magnets
Another way to hang a tapestry is to use magnets. Follow these steps.
Step 1:
Mark the position with a pencil.
Step 2:
Mount the magnet pieces at each pencil mark.
Step 3:
Set the tapestry against the magnet, and put the opposing parts over them. The magnetic elements act like glue to hold tapestries up without damage.
You can easily switch out tapestries of similar size with this method.
How to Hang a Tapestry from the Ceiling
Use nails or push pins to secure the decor to the ceiling. If your wall tapestry fabric is light, this is all you need to do.
Step 1: Mark where you want to hang it.
Then put a fastener in the four corner points so that the middle of the tapestry sags down, giving a tent-like feel.
That's the only step.
You can also stretch each side taut and put fasteners on each side or portion of the tapestry so that the edge and back are flat against the ceiling.
It all depends on your preferred styles.
If you want to avoid putting holes in the ceiling, try a velcro strip. Make sure your product is rated for the weight you need to support.
The method is easy -- it just requires a light touch and not many steps. Read this post, follow the steps, and adhere to the velcro tape strips to the ceiling and the tapestry.
If the tapestry is a bit heavier, you can utilize double lines of hook and loop velcro tape on each side - be sure you're putting the lines of velcro loop strip on the ceiling and the line of hook strips on the tapestry.
There are lots of products available for fastener strips. Just read the instructions for the one you need. Voila, your piece is up, and there are no holes to look at with velcro hook and loop.
If you're handy, build a DIY frame to display your tapestry on the ceiling (utilize a glue gun) and mount it to the ceiling step by step with screws in the corners.
If you're feeling brave, frames add to the textiles' beauty. Glue together your own to create a unique artwork picture of any tapestries' size.