A tapestry is the fastest Halloween decoration there is: one piece of fabric covers a whole wall in a couple of minutes. The part people get wrong is the hanging, which is why so many end up sagging in the middle or peeling paint off in November. Here's how to do it properly, using our Halloween Skull Tapestry as the example.
1. Measure the wall before you pick a spot
This tapestry is 51.2" x 59.1" (130 x 150 cm), so it's taller than it is wide. That shape suits a space behind a bed, a doorway, or a chimney breast better than a long low wall. Hold it up and mark the top corners before committing to anything sticky.
2. Choose the right fixing for your wall
The fabric is polyester and the whole thing weighs 0.6 kg, so you don't need anything heavy duty:
- Removable adhesive strips - the safest choice for painted walls and rentals. Use one at each corner and one in the middle of the top edge.
- Push pins - best for dorm rooms and anywhere small holes don't matter. Angle them slightly upward so the fabric can't slip off.
- Clips on a curtain rod or dowel - the tidiest look, and the easiest to take down and put back up next year.
- Velcro strips - good on doors and outdoors, because you can pull the tapestry off in seconds if the weather turns.
3. Get the creases out first
Every tapestry arrives folded. Most creases drop out on their own within a few hours of hanging. If you want it flat immediately, run a cool iron over the back of the fabric or give it a pass with a garment steamer. Never press a hot iron directly onto the printed side.
4. Support the top edge, not just the corners
The classic mistake: two pins in the corners and nothing in between, which leaves the middle drooping into a smile. Add at least one fixing halfway along the top edge, and the whole panel stays taut.
5. Think beyond the wall
The same panel works as a front-door backdrop for trick-or-treaters, a table cover for a party spread, a temporary curtain, or a throw over a bed. On a covered porch it's fine for the season, but bring it inside during heavy rain to protect the print.
Specifications at a glance
- Size: 51.2" x 59.1" (130 x 150 cm)
- Material: soft lightweight polyester
- Design: black and white trippy skull artwork
- Weight: 0.6 kg
- Care: hand wash or gentle machine cycle, cold water, mild detergent
- Price: $9.69, free shipping to most US regions
FAQ
Will adhesive strips pull paint off? Not if you remove them the intended way, by pulling the tab straight down slowly rather than yanking the strip off the wall.
How do I hang a tapestry on a brick or concrete wall? Use a tension rod across an alcove, or adhesive hooks rated for masonry. Push pins won't hold.
Can I wash it after the party? Yes. Hand wash or a gentle machine cycle in cold water with mild detergent, then hang it to dry.
Does it need ironing every year? Usually not. Fold it loosely rather than creasing it hard and it will hang flat straight out of storage.
Is it see-through? It's a lightweight fabric, so backlighting it will show some glow, which most people use deliberately for a spooky effect.
Get yours up this week
If you want the wall sorted before the party, the Halloween Skull Tapestry is $9.69 with free US shipping.
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