Hang a rug or textile on a solid brick or block wall

Hang a rug on a solid wall safely, with the right prep, drilling and finishing steps for a lasting result.

RB-01Plan the hanging method and mark upDecide how you'll hang the rug: a wooden batten with a clip strip, a pole through a fabric sleeve, or a row of screw eyes and hooks along the top edge. Measure the rug and the wall to work out the finished height, then mark the centre point in pencil. Use a spirit level to draw a horizontal guide line so your fixing points end up even.

1 each · Pencil

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1 each · Tape measure

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RB-02Check for cables and pipes before you drillSolid brick and block walls can carry cables and pipes almost anywhere, not just near sockets and switches. Run a detector over your marked line, but don't trust it completely — detectors miss deep or shielded cables, so still drill with care. Find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns before you start, so you can shut off water fast if you hit a pipe. If you have any doubt at all, isolate the circuit at the consumer unit first.

RB-03Drill the fixing holesHold your batten, pole bracket or first screw-eye position against the wall on your level line and mark through it. For solid brick, drill with a 6mm masonry bit to about 45mm depth. For lightweight blockwork, use the same bit but drill slowly and gently — block crumbles more easily and an over-eager drill will enlarge the hole. Vacuum the dust out of each hole before fitting anything.

1 each · Masonry drill bit 6mm

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1 each · Handheld vacuum

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RB-04Fit the wall plugs and screwsPush a brown wall plug into each hole until it sits flush with the wall. Drive in a 50mm screw — leave 5-8mm standing out if you're hanging screw eyes or a clip rail, or drive it fully home if you're fixing a flat bracket or batten. Give each one a firm tug before you trust it with any weight.

4 each · Wall plugs (brown, brick/block)

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4 each · Screws 50mm

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RB-05Attach the hanging fittings to the rugSew or clip a fabric sleeve, hanging tape, or a row of rug clips along the top edge, spaced to line up with your wall fixings. For a heavier rug, staple a strip of hessian to the back and glue or staple a wooden batten to that, then screw the whole thing to the wall fixings. Spread the weight across at least two fixing points if the rug weighs more than about 1kg per metre of width.

1 pack · Rug clips or hanging tape

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1 length · Wooden batten 20mm

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1 each · Staple gun

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RB-06Hang the rug and check it's levelLift the rug onto the batten, pole or hooks, working across from one end to the other. Stand back and check it hangs square using the spirit level. Only adjust the fixings if you have to — don't over-tighten screws once the rug is loaded, as this can crack the plaster around the plug.

RB-07Tidy upVacuum up masonry dust from the floor, skirting and windowsills. Wipe the wall around the fixings with a damp cloth to remove any dust marks. Keep any spare plugs and screws in a labelled bag in case you need to adjust the rug later.

1 each · Damp cloth

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