How to Hang Posters on Painted Concrete Walls

Co-authored by Kanika Khurana

Last Updated: March 17, 2023 References

Painted concrete walls can be a pain to hang posters from, but it’s not impossible! Make sure the surface is clean so dirt and grime don’t affect how well the posters stick to the wall. Choose an adhesive that suits your needs and hang the posters so they’re even.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning the Wall

1
Clear the space where you want to hang up your posters. Take down any other posters, art, or objects from the wall so you have a clear surface. If there’s any adhesive, such as old tape or sticky tack, pull it off of the wall as well.^{[1]
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- If there are items on the floor in front of the wall, move them out of the way so you can easily access it.
2
Mix 1 gallon (3.8 L) of warm water with 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of dish soap. Fill a medium-sized bucket with warm water and add in the dish soap. Use a sponge, your hand, or another utensil to stir the solution well so it fully combines and gets nice and soapy.
- Make sure the bucket is clean so you don’t add more dirt to the wall.
- Use warm water so the mixture combines better.
- Go with a mild dish soap so there’s no chance of you damaging the paint on the wall.
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3
Dip a sponge into the mixture and wipe down the surface of the wall. Take a clean sponge and soak it in the soapy solution. Squeeze the sponge well to remove excess water and clean the wall using gentle, circular motions. Wipe down the entire area of the concrete wall so it’s clean and clear of dust, dirt, and residue.^{[2]
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- Soak the sponge in the water whenever you need more soap, but be sure to wring it out well each time so you don’t oversaturate the wall.
Tip: If there’s stubborn or hard to remove grime or residue on the wall, use a sponge with a scrubbing surface or a soft-bristled brush to scrub it away.
4
Dry the wall with a clean cloth. Take a clean towel, cloth, or paper towels and wipe down the entire surface of the wall. Soak up as much of the water as you can and wipe the wall using soft, circular motions so you don’t damage or remove any of the paint and the surface is free of dust, dirt, and grime.^{[4]
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- Wait until the wall is completely dry before you try to hang posters from it. Touch the surface with your finger to test it and be sure.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Adhesives

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Put sticky tack on the corners of the poster for an affordable option. Sticky putty, or sticky tack, is a cheap adhesive that is strong enough to support the weight of a poster on a painted concrete wall. Take a small pinch of the sticky tack out of the container and apply it to each of the corners of the poster. Then, press each corner of the poster against the wall to hang it up.^{[5]
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- You can also apply the sticky tack to just the top 2 corners if you prefer.
- You can find sticky tack at department stores and online. Popular brands include Blu-Tack and Sticky Tack.
2
Glue laminated posters with a hot glue gun to avoid leaving residue behind. Use a low-temperature hot glue gun to apply glue to the corners of a laminated poster. Then, gently press the poster against the surface of the painted concrete wall. Hold the poster in place for about 30 seconds, then carefully release it.^{[6]
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- The hot glue can be easily washed from the painted concrete wall when you want to take down the poster.
- Use a laminated poster so it won’t tear whenever you take it off of the wall.
3
Attach adhesive clips to the wall so you can change posters. Measure the distance between 2 corners of the poster and mark the wall so the hooks are evenly spaced and in line with each other. Remove the backing on the hooks to expose the adhesive and press them against the wall for 30 seconds to attach them. Then, hang the poster on the wall by clipping it to the hooks.^{[7]
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- Use at least 2 clips for each of the top corners of the poster so it can be supported on the wall.
Tip: Use adhesive clips so you can periodically update the posters hanging from your walls, such as in a classroom or in an office.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Attaching Velcro Strips

1
Use velcro strips to change the posters without damaging the paint. Velcro strips can easily support the weight of your poster, and the rough, or hooked portion can be left on the wall for future use. They’re also easy to remove and won’t damage the paint on the wall.^{[8]
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- You can find velcro adhesive strips at department stores and online.
2
Place the soft velcro strips on the corners on the backside of the poster. Remove the strip of paper from the back of the soft or fuzzy velcro strips to expose the adhesive. Press the adhesive against the corners of the backside of the poster, apply pressure, and hold it there for about 30 seconds to attach it securely.^{[9]
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3
Attach 2 rough velcro strips to the wall the distance of the corners of the poster. Measure the distance between the soft velcro strips on the poster. Pull off the strip of paper covering the adhesive and connect 2 of the hooked sides of the velcro strips to the wall so they’re the same distance apart as the ones on the back of the poster.^{[10]
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4
Press the 2 strips together to hang up the poster. Hold the poster by the corners so the front is facing toward you. Carefully line up the corners with the rough or hooked sides of the velcro strips on the wall. Press the rough and the soft strips of velcro together to connect them and hang up the poster.^{[11]
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Tip: If the poster isn’t even, carefully pull it off of the wall and realign it before you connect the 2 sides together again.
5
Change the posters by attaching new strips to another poster and replacing it. Whenever you want to remove or replace the poster, carefully lift it up from the bottom to separate the 2 halves of the velcro. Attach 2 new strips of the soft side of the velcro strips to the corners of the new poster. Line up the corners with the rough velcro strips on the wall and press them together to connect them.^{[12]
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