Fixing without drilling means holding a decorative piece by adhesion to the surface, with no mechanical anchor or drill bit. It works well with PLA bioplastic letters because they are light: the material’s density is around 1.24 g/cm³. In a child’s room there are two reasons to avoid drilling: renting and noise. By the end you will know which adhesive system to choose and which surfaces can take it. You will also know at what height to place the name and how to check it. We work with pieces from the personalised children’s letterscollection.
Materials and quantities
For a six-letter name on a smooth wall:
- 1 roll of double-sided foam tape, 19 mm wide and 1.5 m long.
- 1 pack of repositionable adhesive putty, 50 g.
- 6 pairs of square adhesive hook-and-loop pads, 20 mm.
- 6 repositionable mounting strips with a pull tab, small or medium size.
- 1 bottle of isopropyl alcohol, 100 ml, and 2 microfibre cloths.
- 1 tape measure of 3 m, 1 pencil and 1 spirit level of 30 cm.
- 1 roll of 25 mm masking tape.
- 1 kitchen scale, to weigh the complete word.
The scale may seem like a whim, but it is not. The real weight decides the system. And the system decides whether the word is still on the wall a year from now.
How much each height weighs
| Letter height | Approximate weight per piece | 6-letter word | Recommended system |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 cm | less than 15 g | less than 90 g | Adhesive putty or hook-and-loop |
| 10 cm | 20-40 g | 120-240 g | Hook-and-loop or double-sided foam tape |
| 15 cm | 45-80 g | 270-480 g | Double-sided foam tape or mounting strips |
| 20 cm | 80-140 g | 480-840 g | Mounting strips, two per letter |
| 25 cm | 130-220 g | 780 g to 1.3 kg | Mounting strips or resting on a shelf |
The weights are approximate and vary with the design and the internal infill of the piece. Confirm the figure on the product page before buying the adhesive. There are more composition guidelines in this guide to decorating children’s rooms with letters.
Step 1: Identify the surface and check its condition
Look at the wall closely and run your hand over it. Smooth emulsion paint, matt or satin, is the ideal surface: it takes all four systems. Tiles, glass and melamine are even better for double-sided tape. A textured wall reduces the contact surface to the peaks of the relief and makes the tape fail. Wallpaper comes away before the adhesive does. Distemper or lime paint crumbles when pulled. The bedroom door is another suitable surface, smooth and untextured. The personalised door cornersalso work there.
Tip: stick a piece of masking tape in a low corner and pull it off sharply. If it takes paint with it, no strong adhesive is safe there.
Second tip: a freshly painted wall needs three to four weeks to cure. Before then, the adhesive will pull off the new coat.
Step 2: Weigh the word and choose the system
Put all the letters on the scale and note the total. With that figure, the choice sorts itself out. Repositionable adhesive putty is for light pieces and lets you move the word while you decide. Adhesive hook-and-loop pads let you take the letter down, clean the wall and put it back. Double-sided foam tape spreads the load and absorbs small irregularities. Repositionable mounting strips come off by stretching the tab and leave the paint intact.
Tip: always spread the weight over two points per letter, top and bottom. A single central point makes the piece rotate.
Second tip: respect the maximum load stated by the adhesive manufacturer. Apply a 30% safety margin.
Step 3: Clean the contact area
Adhesive fails more because of dirt than weight. Dampen a microfibre cloth with isopropyl alcohol and wipe the area where each letter will go. Let it air-dry for two minutes. Avoid glass cleaners and products containing silicone or wax: they leave a film that prevents adhesion. Also clean the back of the PLA piece, which may carry handling residue from production.
Tip: mark the contact points with a soft pencil before cleaning. That way you know exactly where to apply the adhesive and do not mark the rest of the wall.
Second tip: work with the room between 18 and 25 °C. Below 15 °C, most acrylic adhesives grip poorly.
Step 4: Mark the mounting line at the correct height
Run a line of masking tape along the wall, levelled with the spirit level. That line marks the base of the letters and avoids a staircase effect. In a child’s room, height matters for safety. Place the name at least 160 cm from the floor, out of the child’s reach. The EN 17210 standard, on accessibility of the built environment, defines reach ranges according to height. Above a cot, measure from the top edge of the rail, not from the floor.
Tip: if the word goes above a changing table, move it to one side. Never directly above the baby’s head.
Second tip: the height guide from 5 to 25 cm explains how to scale the size.
Step 5: Apply the adhesive and place the letters
Start with the central letter of the word and work towards the ends. That way any spacing error is split between the two sides. Press each piece against the wall for 30 seconds, with an open palm and steady pressure. Acrylic adhesive needs pressure, not waiting time. Let it cure for 24 hours before touching the composition, and up to 72 hours if the room is cold.
Tip: space the letters at a distance equal to 20% of their height. With 10 cm pieces, leave 2 cm between characters. The Personalised bubble letters for children’s walls start from €9.99. Their wide stroke needs a little more space.
Second tip: remove the masking tape by pulling parallel to the wall, never outwards. The full layout method is in how to place decorative letters on the wall.
Step 6: Check the fixing after 24-48 hours and every season
Go back to the wall two days later and press each letter again. It is the step that does most to extend the life of the installation. After that, check the composition at the start of each heating season and at the end of summer. Changes in temperature and humidity are what loosen the adhesive, not the weight. Keep the pieces away from radiators and direct sunlight. PLA’s glass transition is close to 60 °C.
Tip: note the installation date on your phone. Mounting strips should be replaced every two or three years.
Second tip: if a letter comes off twice, change the system. Do not repeat the same adhesive.
Safety: weight, height and edges
This section decides whether the installation is suitable for a child’s room.
Weight. A 5 cm letter weighs less than 15 g. A 25 cm letter weighs around 200 g. Even so, no piece should be placed above the cot, the changing table or the bed headboard.
Placement height. Place the composition at least 160 cm from the floor, out of the child’s reach. The EN 71-1 standard regulates the safety of toys and small parts. A decorative letter is not a toy. It must not be within reach of a child under three.
Edges. Choose designs with rounded edges and no sharp corners. The Nordic-style rounded children’s letters, from €3.99, are designed for that.
Material. PLA is a plant-based bioplastic, made from corn starch or sugar cane. It has no glossy finish or added varnish. The comparison between wood and other materials for name letters explains the difference in weight.
The rest of the room. The same height and fixing criteria apply to lighting. They are summed up in this guide to the children’s bedroom lamp. The personalised children’s lamps collection brings together the models with a name.
Checks. Check the fixing every three months and always after a knock to the wall.
5 common mistakes when fixing letters without drilling
1. Sticking onto freshly applied paint. The adhesive takes the new coat with it when removed. Solution: wait three to four weeks for it to cure, or rest the word on a shelf in the meantime.
2. Using strong adhesive on wallpaper. The paper gives way before the glue and tears off in a strip. Solution: hook-and-loop on a thin batten resting on a support. Another option is a shelf with the Personalised letters for children’s rooms and nurseries, from €3.99 to €29.99.
3. Relying on a single central point for all the weight. The letter rotates on that axis and ends up crooked. Solution: two adhesive points per piece, one at the top and one at the bottom.
4. Ignoring a textured wall. The tape only touches the peaks of the relief and holds a fraction of the weight. Solution: adhesive putty at four points for 5 and 10 cm pieces, or a shelf for the rest.
5. Placing the name above the cot. Any piece above the cot is a risk, however light it is. Solution: move the word to the side wall, at least 160 cm from the floor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 15 cm PLA letter weigh?
A 15 cm piece weighs between 45 and 80 g, depending on the design and the internal infill. A six-letter word comes to between 270 and 480 g. Double-sided foam tape holds that range on smooth, cured emulsion paint.
Which adhesive holds best without drilling?
Double-sided foam tape offers the best balance between load and surface on smooth paint. Repositionable mounting strips hold more weight and come off without damaging the paint. Adhesive putty is for light pieces, and hook-and-loop for compositions you want to take down often.
Can letters be stuck onto a textured wall?
A textured wall lets the tape touch only the peaks of the relief. Real adhesion is minimal. For 5 and 10 cm pieces, adhesive putty spread over four points works. For greater heights, the safe option is to rest the word on a shelf or a rail.
At what height should I place the letters in a child’s room?
Place the composition at least 160 cm from the floor, out of the child’s reach. Above a cot, measure from the top edge of the rail and never from the floor. Avoid placing any piece directly above the cot, the changing table or the bed headboard.
Does the adhesive damage the paint when removed?
It depends on the system and the condition of the wall. Mounting strips with a tab are stretched parallel to the wall and come off cleanly. Foam tape can pull off porous or poorly cured paint. Warm the area with a hairdryer on a low setting and pull slowly.
In summary
Weigh the word, identify the surface and choose the adhesive, in that order. Clean with alcohol and spread the weight over two points. Place the name at least 160 cm from the floor. Check the fixing every season. You will find the heights and finishes in the personalised children’s letterscollection.
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