The Best Four Ways to Hang Foamboard Prints

1. Standoffs

These standoff screws, more commonly known as signage fasteners, are used to create a three-dimensional display without the use of a frame. There are two styles of standoffs: a through-grip and an edge grip. A thorough grip style will require holes to be drilled into your picture, whereas an edge grip can potentially leave dents on the edges of the art. A through kind is very secure, as it is composed of a barrel, cap, and wall screw. Wall screws provide a great form of worry-free hanging but require some permanent damage to the wall by drilling a hole. Both standoffs styles will help create a unique three-dimensional look, as the foam board will be hung away from the wall. This style is best suited for heavier or more significant pieces and is typically seen in offices or lobbies featuring artwork. The effect that standoffs create is elegant, but they require damage to the wall itself and potentially your foam board print.

This adhesive putty solution will work on most porous and non-porous surfaces alike. It is designed for removable mounting applications that are perfect for artwork, papers, and photos printed on foam board. Testing verified that it is a reusable material tacky to the touch but not greasy.  One downside to this option is that it can stain the wall for long-term use. This depends on the material of the wall, however, and the Putty has been shown to stick to some different surfaces. Surfaces that were tested included brick walls that were both painted and bare, plastic walls, traditional drywall, glass, cement, and metal hanging surfaces. Another downside to this material is that it does seem to be affected by seasonal changes in temperature. Freezing temperatures required a little more effort to get it to stick.   To use it, you take a small amount and knead it in your hand to warm it up, and then solidly press it onto your wall. Theoretically, this means that the Putty and hanging spaces are adjustable, but it could lose its sticking power with too many moves. Aside from potential staining, this is a damage-free hanging solution.

This is a kind of clear tape coated with a photo-safe, permanent adhesive on both sides. This doesn't mean that it is permanently affixed, but it is relatively solid and challenging to remove if a foam board print needs to be moved. Its strong stickiness means that your foam board probably won't go anywhere, but it could also take the paint off the surface when removed. These strips are unique in that they are simple to use. Both sides of the strip are sticky, so when you remove the backing of them, you can either place them on the wall and stick your foam board up or stick them to your foam board and then to the wall.

4. Double-Sided Velcro Tape

Remember being a kid and the convenience of Velcro on shoes? Velcro has brought that same kind of convenience for hanging foam board in the form of a cut to length tape sold in lengths of six feet to thirty feet. This makes it entirely customizable and perfect for foam board prints that are big or small. It offers a secure hold by attaching with a strong adhesive to the wall and the image, and it is ideal for the photographs that you want to display and be able to take off the wall if someone wants to take a closer look. While sticky enough to hold, the adhesive has not damaged walls or the prints when removed. The easiest way to mount your foam board is by cutting squares of about an inch in size and attaching one to each of the corners of the print. Artwork and photos are a great way to spruce up bare walls, and foam board's customizable options are perfect for a lightweight option for photos and prints. Finding the best way to secure the foam board to the wall without long-term damage to the print or the wall can be difficult. There are many options, but many require damage to the photo or the wall and are not suited to as many applications as the customizable Velcro tape rolls.

Other Board Signs

Acrylic Signs