How to hang rugs.

jlind,

call a rug store and explain what you want to do . its not uncommon to use rugs as replacements for pictures. i am sure if its a store that carries higher end rugs, they will know what you are looking to do and how to do it.

If you view my system thread you will notice there's a brick fireplace between my speakers. That image was made during the short period of time my rug was not hanging in front of that brick.

I hung a silk rug with a 2X2 piece of lumber cut 1/4 inch shorter than the width of the rug, then attached tack strip to the face of the 2X2 and mashed the rug onto the tack strip.

In case you're not familiar with tack strip, it's a thin sliver of wood with dozens of sharp tacks (tiny nails) imbedded in it. This is designed to secure wall to wall carpeting around at the perimeter and doorway of a room.

This stuff is nasty, very sharp and easy to prick your finger, but if installed correctly it has a death grip on the rug. Better still, with the 2X2 behind it allows the sides and bottom of the rug to hang freely, some inches in front of your hard surface, providing a tiny trap for sound.

In my room it increased the sound stage, reduced the false bright presentation off the brick and even tightened up the bass a bit.

To secure to my brick, I drilled two tiny holes and used brick anchors, screwing the 2X2 at each end. I then hung the 2X2 at the top of the fireplace using a level to insure it looked good to the eye.

If your room does not allow for the wall attachment method, I have also had success attaching eye hooks into the top side of the 2X2 and matching width eye hooks in the decorative beams (or sheet rock) in the ceiling. At any normal distance the wires are not intrusive, almost invisible.

Braided wire for hanging art work is very strong and pulling a length through the two eye hook at each end is all that's needed. The rug is able to (very slightly) swing on the wires, an inch or two in front of the hard surface.

The good news about the wire method, fastening one cable establishes distance, making leveling easy. Pull the remaining wire through the eye hook at the other end of the 2X2 until the bubble is square. Secure in place by twisting around and around or clamping with the supplied metal clip, depending the which type hanging kit you purchased.

If it's the rug in your system pics get some rebar for concrete cut to the hanging length and a spraycan of paint or clear to prevent the rebar from oxidizing. I used fishing line to sew the rug to the bar. If it's too heavy for mounting on the drywall find the studs and use screws and then hang the rebar on the screws. This way there are no marks on the rug that can be seen so if you want to use it as a rug again all you do is cut the line. It's easy to get it straight too. Done deal and cheap.

Boss302

Albert-thanks, i was also thinking of using tackstrip to accomplish what you described. Using tackstrip on just one side has proven stable? and there appeared to be no damage to the rug after doing so?

Boss302-It is the rug thats in my pics. I think its going to be too big to fit in my new room on the floor with a chair and gear so thats why it will most likely end up being hung. thanks for your idea.

Do either of you have a preference on which wall it should be hung? both front and rear walls are standard drywall over studs. Im guessing bass tuning will be needed so maybe the front wall would be the way to go? And should i hang the rug long way horizontally or long way vertically? Thanks for the info and opinions.