How to Hang a Large Wall Map or Poster

Attached wall molding will keep your poster hanging straight.

A large wall map or a wall poster will generally take up a lot of room on a wall. Just hanging it by itself will invite the ends to curl and wrinkle, which won't look very good, especially if it is a cherish piece of art. You can certainly take it to your neighborhood framing shop and they will do the job. But if you have do it yourself skills, you can save a little money, hang it for much less, yet have it look just as good.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• A large wall map or poster, preferably laminated
• 2 strips of decorative wall molding or frame stock
• Hacksaw
• Stain or paint if your molding is unfinished
• Masking tape for temporary positioning
• Wood frame hangers or loops
• A heavy duty staple gun or tacks and a hammer.
• A knife or blade to trim the map
• A towel
• A decorative wall hook
• A length of decorative string, ribbon or wire.

1. Unroll your map or poster and weight the corners for a day or two to allow it to relax.

2. Cut one strip of decorative molding or frame stock for the top and one for the bottom of the map using a hacksaw. Make the strips slightly longer than the map is wide, to taste.

3. Stain or paint the strips if you'd like to add some color. Stain or paint the cut ends, or use a permanent marker to blacken them.

4. Lay the map face up. Position the strips at the top and bottom where you want them to be, then temporarily tape the strips to the map. Use masking tape which is easily removed later. Make sure the strips are straight and parallel to each other, and that they are centered horizontally. Any map that hangs above the top strip or below the bottom strip can be trimmed off later.

5. Fold a towel for a cushion and lay it on a solid flat surface. Lay one of the strips face down on it with the map on top. Fasten securely with staples or tacks. Repeat for the other strip. Remove the tape and trim the map top and bottom if necessary.

6. Fasten two wood frame hangers to the back of the top strip near the ends, and attach the hanging wire, ribbon or string securely to one of them, leaving one end free so you can adjust the length when you hang it.

7. Fasten the wall hanger or hook 6 to 10 inches above where you want the map to hang. Adjust the hanging string length so that the map is at the height you want, then mark it and tie or fasten the loose end securely. You're done!

Tips & Warnings

• Use decorative loops on the top edge instead of wood frame hangers on the back, or add decorative knobs to the ends of the strips and tie ribbon there to hang them. Go wild!

• Add cloth strips or panels down the sides to cover the side margins of your map.

• Large maps can be heavy, even unframed, so make sure all your wall and hanging fastenings can bear the load.