Flags, pennant lines and banners: size, fabric, and hanging without damage
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
5 min reading time
Which flag size suits which location, what the difference is between polyester, paper, and plastic, how many meters of garland you need, and how to hang everything without making holes in the wall.
A string of flags hanging loose halfway through the evening, leaving thumbtack holes in the wall: that's the standard result when you hang something up at the last minute. Yet, there's little to it. Flags, garlands, and banners are cheap, they fill a space faster than anything else, and with a few prior choices, they'll stay up and leave no traces. Below are the sizes, fabric types, and attachment methods, along with what you need in practice.
First the size, then the rest
The most common mistake is buying a flag that is too small for the location. A handy guideline: the flag should still be readable as a block of color from where people are standing. Roughly, it works like this:
Polyester is the workhorse. It wrinkles little, can withstand an outdoor evening, and lasts for years if stored dry. Flags with stitched hems and metal eyelets are designed to be pulled taut; you can stretch them tightly without the fabric tearing.
Paper and cardboard garlands are light and hang beautifully, but they are single-use and will be ruined by the first shower. Great indoors, not on a terrace.
Plastic flag lines are in between: they can withstand moisture, weigh nothing, and you can rinse them off afterward. For a garden or shed, they are the most practical.
For table decoration, small variants are often more convenient than one large flag. The Pride flag party picks, set of 10 (€7.95) can be stuck into snacks, cupcakes, or a fruit bowl, and the mini German flags (€4.95) form a short garland that you can hang over a tray or along a mirror.
How many meters do you need?
Measure the space not in square meters but in spans. A garland hangs best with a slight sag: allow for approximately 10 to 15 percent extra length compared to the straight distance between two points. For an average living room wall of four meters, you'll need about four and a half meters.
A 6-meter flag line (€7.95) thus spans one long wall with margin, or two short ones. If you want to decorate an entire room, two to three times that length is more realistic than one line from wall to wall. For smaller accents, a short banner works better: the mini rainbow banner with golden fringes (€7.95) is meant for above a door, a mirror, or a gift table.
This is where it goes wrong. Thumbtacks and nails leave marks, and you don't want that in a rented house or hall. Four alternatives that do work:
Self-adhesive hooks. A set of self-adhesive hooks of 6x6 cm, 10 pieces costs €5.95. Stick them on a clean, dust-free, and dry surface and let them sit for an hour before hanging weight on them. They won't hold on freshly painted surfaces or rough wallpaper.
Transparent tape. For light garlands and paper decorations, Scotch Crystal tape, 2 pieces (€6.00) is enough. Stick it on the molding or window frame, not on painted stucco.
Decorative tape as an accent. With rainbow tape of 15 mm x 5 m (€9.95), you can tape a line along a table edge or make a simple paper banner yourself.
Stretching instead of sticking. On fences, balcony railings, and stair railings, you can tie or zip-tie a flag with eyelets. That holds better than anything else, and no glue is involved.
If you want to mark a route or a zone at an event or in a store, barrier tape of 25 meters (€2.95) is surprisingly handy — 25 meters is enough for a substantial barrier, and you simply throw it away afterward.
After use, store polyester flags dry and folded, not crumpled in a bag. Moisture in a folded flag will cause stains within a few weeks that you won't be able to remove. A flat box in a cupboard is enough; label it with its contents, so you don't have to search next year.
For the complete range, see Flags & Garlands, Party Supplies, and PRIDE. Looking for a specific size or larger quantities for an association, event, or store? Send your inquiry to info@verpakkingdeals.nl and we will check what is in stock.
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