Party Decorations

[goldenstar]

I''m co-hosting a baby shower and I bought some garlands, cutouts, and a banner to decorate. Some of these things are meant to hang down from the ceiling. What should I use to attach the decor? It''s not at my house so I want to be really careful and not damage the paint.

 

[Elmorton]

Oy... unfortunately, I have lots of don'ts but not a lot of dos.

Here is the list of items that have gotten me in trouble when I've lived in dorm rooms and apartments:

duct tape (i know, obvious, but i've done it)
gel wall tabs (they sometimes leave oil marks, and sometimes pull the paint)
ticky tacky (leaves oil marks, doesn't hold anything anyway)
the wax tabs (you know, that teachers use for laminated posters? they leave oil marks on matte walls too)
those 3mm tabs (sometimes they adhese a little too much and you still pull of paint)
poster tabs (those are worse, they will not come off)
masking tape (they can never keep anything up, yet manage to yank off paint)

Believe it or not, I've had the best luck with the old school scotch wrapping tape (go for the matte one, not the shiny one). Just take it off really carefully. Also, don't tape anything to a noticeable part in the wall, just in case.

One thing I've done when decorating my place for a surprise party/new year's is taken some photos off the walls and used the existing nails to loop banners or streamers. Or, draped streamers using the corners of the picture frame to anchor them. Might ask the home owner if she wouldn't mind doing that?

Have you already purchased the decorations? One cute thing that wouldn't involve any hangings is having a couple of helium balloon bouquets, and then have them "grounded" in a corner or two using a book or large rock wrapped in cellophane to keep them in place.

ETA: Oh --- I'm not a careful reader. CEILING? I think I'd be pretty comfortable using the scotch tape. If it's popcorn ceiling though....scotch will probably hold, but uh.. I can't really think of any good options. Nothing hangs from the popcorn stuff, unless the homeowner already has a hook somewhere from a hanging plant.

 

[goldenstar]

Thanks Elmorton. Someone needs to invent a better product.

The house doesn''t have popcorn ceilings. So tape would work. I''ll try matte scotch tape. I was thinking about using white painter''s tape. Although I wonder if it can hold stuff up. It doesn''t seem very sticky.

I''ll make sure to take everything down as soon as the party is over. I think the longer you leave tape on the harder it is to remove.

I''ve ripped off paint by hanging up streamers at my own house. That''s why I''m so paranoid. I forgot what tape I used. I think it was the shiny scotch tape.

 

[monarch64]

Painter''s tape might just do the trick if you use enough and the decs aren''t super heavy. That would be my best suggestion.