9 Ways to Add Hanging Space to a Craft Show Display

If you have larger items that you need to hang at a craft show, but you only have an 8 foot space, you may find these options will help.

You’ll also find ideas for bigger spaces (e.g. you have a 10’x10’ booth).

These options are ideal for displaying products such as:

• hanging planters
• smaller wall hangings
• artwork
• t-shirts
• bags
• signage
• any other items that can be hung from s-hooks or hangers

 

1 – Decorative table rod

There are a few versions of these on the market, and they’re typically designed to add decor above a tablescape (e.g. add flowers, lights, balloons, etc. above a dining table).

However, they also work great to add hanging space above a craft show table. 

This one was purchased from Ikea (shown below). It’s really sturdy, easy to set up, and easy to transport (it breaks down into 5 pieces; the 2 vertical posts, the horizontal bar, and the end caps).

I also like that the rod is round, so it’s conducive to hanging hooks or hangers from it (and they’ll easily slide). 

The only thing I don’t like about this one is that the height isn’t adjustable. 

You can adjust the width to fit a more narrow or wider table than mine (which is 5 feet). 

 

2 – Kids’ clothes rack

There are many different styles of kids’ clothes racks that fit on top of a craft show table. 

I purchased this one on Amazon and there are several other options such as mini hang bars/rolling racks, double hanging racks, mini storage units with hanging and shelf space, etc.

They’re small enough to fit on a table and short enough that it doesn’t place hanging items out of reach. 

This one also folds flat so it’s easy to transport and store.

Be sure to check the height, width, and depth of the unit before purchasing. 

 

3 – Room dividers

If you need to hang items such as art or wreaths, room dividers or privacy screens may be more suitable. 

Here’s a DIY by Ohoh Deco you can follow to build a room divider. You would simply add more horizontal pieces of wood you could hang items from and skip the solid wood in the centre (which will make it lighter and easier to transport).

If you want to buy a room divider or privacy screen, check places such as Home Depot, Ikea, Amazon, etc for different styles, sizes, and materials.

 

4 – DIY tabletop hanging unit

Depending on how handy you are with power tools, you may be able to make a hanging unit to fit your space.

I’m not that handy with power tools, so I used wooden crates, 2x2s, and a wooden dowel to build my hanging display fixture. 

I only needed a handsaw (to cut my 2×2’s and dowel to length) and a drill (to drill holes for the dowel and screws).

It’s sturdy, easy to assemble (you’ll need to bring a screwdriver if you want to remove the upright posts for transport), and adjustable (you can adjust the height of the 2x2s and length of the dowel for more or less hanging space). 

If you plan to hang items that have some weight to them, be sure to choose a dowel that is larger in diameter so it doesn’t droop.

 

5 – Rollbar

A rollbar can be added to a craft show booth, behind or next to a table, or even set over the table. 

You can then hang your products from s-hooks or hangers.

Be sure it doesn’t cause a tripping hazard or spill out of your allotted space.

 

6 – Pegboard

If you need to hang smaller items, such as jewelry, ornaments, hair accessories, etc. you can use a pegboard and cut it to size. 

You can hang a pegboard from the table rod (as shown below) or build a base that allows it to stand upright. 

You may also try this DIY using foam core and wooden dowels to make a lightweight freestanding pegboard.

If you’re handy with power tools, you may want to build your own. 

You can build a frame and base to set a pre-made pegboard into, like this one by Angela Marie Made (you can find the instructions here). You would likely want to alter the base so it’s less heavy and easier to transport, but the DIY gives you an idea.

Here’s another DIY to make a freestanding peg-wall from scratch. This type of unit allows you to use bigger dowels and hang heavier items.

7 – T-stand

T-stands are common fixtures in retail stores used to hang clothing. You can make a tabletop t-stand, similar to the one below, which I made with a crate, a 2×2, and a dowel.

If you have a larger space (such as a 10’x10’ booth), or you have room next to your craft show table, you can create or buy a floor t-stand. 

These do tend to be a little more expensive, so if you can make one out of wood or PVC, you’ll save some money.

 

8 – Gridwall

You can purchase wire cube units which work well for on top of or next to a table. They’re lightweight and break down into small pieces so they’re easy to transport.

This one is similar to the wire cube organizer I purchased and is shown in the photos below.

There are also larger grid units that would be ideal for a larger booth, but they will be a little harder to transport due to their size.

Many different accessories attach to grid walls and will allow you to hang a variety of different items (you’ll find several options here).

The only thing I don’t love about this type of fixture is that it doesn’t create a clean and streamlined look due to all the gridlines.

 

9 – Screw hooks

If you have smaller items to hang, such as jewelry, ornaments, hair accessories, etc. you can add screw hooks to a solid fixture. 

If you needed more surface area, you could attach a piece of wood to a few crates and then screw the hooks into the piece of wood. The wood crates offer a sturdy base.

 

 

If you’d like to see many of these ideas with products, check out 10 Ways to Display Tote Bags at a Craft Show, which puts most of these hanging fixtures to use.