How to Hang an Unframed Poster in Minutes

I think it’s safe to say that the joy of artwork is in the buying and the looking, and NOT in the framing and the hanging. Skip the expense and the hassle with these easy and affordable ways to hang your prints and posters — no frames needed. Whether you want to display a single poster or are going for a gallery wall, these ideas will get you to the good part in mere minutes.

How many times have you bought a large print you love, only to let it languish in some drawer or closet because you don’t want to shell out the cash for framing? These closet staples are frame and hook all in one, and snap right on and off. Use the plain old brown ones you already own, as-is, or paint the wood so they blend in a little more.

Washi tape is every dorm resident and renter’s best friend and a great way to temporarily decorate for cheap — and that includes hanging artwork. Creating a gallery wall using washi tape is easier and faster than hanging a bulletin board, and it’s just as easy to switch things up when you get bored.

You can discretely use small pieces of tape, so the artwork alone stands out, or you can make the tape part of the whole experience. Use it along the print’s border as a faux frame.

You might recognize these chains from your last trip to the dentist. But dental bib clips also make great print holders. Hang them from a single nail, clip on a print, and you are good to go. I love how the triangular-shaped chain breaks up all those squares and adds an extra design element to the grouping. You can buy these for less than $10 on Amazon.

Instead of tacking your print directly to the wall, use binder or bulldog clips, which you probably already have a stash of somewhere at home. The black plastic and silver variety work just fine, but you can also find ones in gold and copper for a little extra pretty in your life.

Bonus: Your artwork may sport a few indentations, but it won’t be riddled with holes from all the tacks you use over the years.

Mount your print on a sheet of foam core, which gives your print structure but is still lightweight enough to hang easily. Secure it in place on the wall with four L-shaped hooks (also called square bend hooks), one for each corner.

I learned about this minimalist and inexpensive hardware from a friend who runs an art gallery and uses them all the time for hanging shows.

The ideas above are fun and aesthetic ways to hang your collection of art pieces and other display-worthy objects, but they do all run the risk of causing indentations or other marks on your posters. If your piece is meaningful or valuable and that’s a concern, you could also consider a magnetic poster frame hanger, either purchased or DIYed. Of course, framing (either with do-half-yourself affordable custom framing or by upgrading your standard IKEA frame) is the best way to avoid damage. Happy art hanging!