One question we get over and over at Oh Happy Day is, “how did you hang that?” Hanging party decorations can be tricky so we decided to share all our secrets in a big post. The two things I think about when I’m deciding how to hang party supplies is what I’m hanging and where I’m hanging it. The tools I use for a backyard are going to be much different than I would use for a dining room or a school gym. Today we’ll go through the main ways we hang installations and the pros and cons of each technique…

Here is a chart of the tools we use most often.

If you’re hanging something for a bigger event with lots of people then you want to make sure its very secure and use hardware. If it’s going up in my living room I probably want something less invasive that won’t damage the walls. Here are some of the tools we use to hang things.

1. Zip Ties: These are the best if you want to secure something tightly and have places to hang it from. We use these a lot in the Oh Happy Day studio because there are a lot of pipes hanging from the ceiling so it’s easy to use them. They are very simple to secure and are good for hanging lights or something that weighs heavier than paper. When you take them down you can cut them with scissors.

2. Gaffers Tape. This stuff is magical. It can hold lightweight objects on the wall but doesn’t damage most surfaces (always test first!) Just a little bit will go very far. We use this doubled over to do most of our balloon walls.

3. Screw Hooks. This is perfect for if I’m hanging something heavy duty like lots of lights and lanterns for a wedding. If you own a space (like a backyard) and plan on hanging things frequently it’s good to just install it once and leave them in so decorating is easy.

4. Twine. Sometimes string is just what you need. We use string when we are hanging letter balloons or just want to tie some garland up.

5. 3M Hooks. These are perfect for when you want to hang something but there is nowhere to secure it. They are great because they can hold a significant amount of weight and come off easily.

6. Monofilament. This is like fishing line on steroids. Super strong and clear, perfect for hanging across a large space and very heavy duty so it isn’t as likely to break as twine.

For attaching lights and lanterns to pipes we used zip ties. Easy on and easy to take off.

For letter balloons we used string, threaded them through the holes on the balloons and hung removable 3M hooks on the walls to hold them up. They are so small and discreet you can’t see them.

For this honeycomb wall we used gaffers tape rolled up in small pieces to attach it to the wall.

These are our favorite tools and techniques to hang party decor. Once you have them on hand you can decorate easily and last-minute. What are you favorite ways to hang party decorations?

SHOP THIS POST: Pink Wrap Jumpsuit, Streamer Garland, Metallic Fringe Garland, Heart Balloons, Giant Honeycomb, Cake Stand, Gold Mylar Letter Balloons, Diamond Honeycomb, Disco Balls, Scallop Cups

Photos and styling by Naomi Julia Satake, Amy Moss, and Justine Pon