Cement block wall in bedroom - ahhhh!

Irish Pack
by Irish Pack
Hiya Hometalkers! I live in an apartment and the wall where a headboard should be is made of cement blocks. I want to hang a curtain rod above my bed on the wall and fashion a curtain, canopy or whatever to make that area less boring.

I only have a small electric screwdriver kit (think dremel). Do they make command hooks that will stay on cement blocks? Any other ideas/solutions? icon

Big gaping space that needs...something
  17 answers
    • Irish Pack Irish Pack on Jan 20, 2017

      Thanks Hillela  I wasn't sure if they would stay in cinderblock. I even thought about calling the Command Customer Service line to ask them, but I also wanted to get input from all the creative Hometalkers as well.

  • Cindy Hagemann Cindy Hagemann on Jan 20, 2017

    Paint the wall (seal it first for concrete sealer) and then add a color. It will add warmth to the room. We had a similar wall and once we painted it - it looked amazing in the bedroom in our basement.

  • Thomas Thomas on Jan 20, 2017

    Hi, Because this is an apt I would suggest that you leave the present concrete block wall as it is shown in photo. Be pending on the size of your bed I suggest you look at a local Architectural building salvage, "the Restore" Habitats resale store for two used doors of any condition. Using the doors for your head board mounted on some lumber, your local Home Depot store rents power drill or power screw drivers. You could paint those doors a bright color to draw attention away from the concrete block as well as adding some color without damaging the existing wall. I would mount a couple of pendant wall mounted lights(again Home Depot has large selection) on each outside edge to aid in reading at night or light at your bed for night time use! Good luck with your project.

  • Irish Pack Irish Pack on Jan 20, 2017

    I would do that but I rent (federally subsidized housing) and am disabled. Even if I jumped through all the hoops to get authorization to paint it, I don't have anyone that could help me. But I am sure someone will benefit from your input, thanks!

  • Irish Pack Irish Pack on Jan 20, 2017

    Wow, that sounds awesome! It also sounds like too much for me to handle...I think I may try to put hooks in the ceiling and suspend a curtain rod that way. I really want to make a faux canopy with mini lights behind a sheer panel.


    Thanks for the input :)

  • Swinnen Lisette Swinnen Lisette on Jan 22, 2017

    Here in France a glue is called : Ni clou ni vis : no nails no screws and comes in a container like silicone. Can you glue planks in the corners of your room to have something to hold your rods? Like that, you could make a headboard, let it sit on the floor and glued to the concrete on the top. Easy to remove if you want to leave the appartement, no holes in the ceiling.. Maybe you can ask a neighbour to ask help you in exchange of a nice cake, dogsitting for an afternoon, a couple bottles of wine....I would be surprised if everybody says no.

  • Irish Pack Irish Pack on Jan 22, 2017

    I am not familiar with a product like that stateside, but it sounds awesome!

  • Ginsum Ginsum on Jan 23, 2017

    I think what might be a comparison would be liquid nails or even E6000

  • Irish Pack Irish Pack on Jan 23, 2017

    ahhh, ok thanks

  • Don Don on Jan 24, 2017

    An adhesive named Liquid Steel will bond almost anything to anything.

  • Kcama Kcama on Jan 24, 2017

    Get 4x8 foam insultation (http://www.homedepot.com/p/R-Tech-1-2-in-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-R-1-93-Insulating-Sheathing-320810/202533656 - they might even cut it vertically for you so it's easier to handle). You can then lean it on the wall behind your bed (it will also actually work as insulation). Then paint, drape, cover with contact paper. whatever you want.

  • Mum Vickery Mum Vickery on Jan 24, 2017

    I'm a bit nervous about the curtain rod. It, plus the extra weight of fabric, requires good fastening. 3 a.m. is not a good time to get bonked on the head.


    3m hooks are great but don't take a huge weight.


    If you put screw holes in the ceiling, surely you will have to be responsible for making the ceiling whole again?

    But I like this idea best - just make sure the screws are into something substantial. Also, doesn't need to be a rod - a swag from hook to hook with the ends of the swag hanging down each side might look pretty?


    Chains, rope etc. can lower the rod if you wish. Please ensure the rod isn't bowed by fabric weight - it won't look so good.


    Otherwise, I'd go with your 3m (they make command hooks) idea or other very strong temporary adhesives, but forget the rod idea. Your local hardware can tell you what will adhere to concrete.


    just my idea - if 3m will work, I'd go for the velcro dots or strips (as high as possible) and some light, soft fabric like organza or voile and attach that directly.

    Hand sew velcro to fabric if necessary (if able)


    Then LED lights behind it held with a good quality masking tape/painters tape in a colour that you won't see, or just let them hang.

    (Also, some auto tapes and double-sided tapes can be very strong.)


    Another option, but I don't know how you are placed to do this, is to look at your bed. Can it help you achieve what you want?


    Can lightweight posts be screwed/attached to it out of sight? Even plastic tubing? lightweight plumbing pipe? e.g. a bent-over piece of plastic conduit to create a gentle arch.


    Just another thought, leave the industrial look concrete and just soften it with long drops of pretty LED string lights. Because they cost litle to run and emit no heat, they can stay on all day if you want. To hold the lights, (painted?) lightweight conduit attached at required height with small amounts of adhesive as others have suggested. (remove if leaving the apt.)

    Also keeping the industrial look, have lights behind your bed (LEDs) focussed upwards onto the concrete to show the texture but give it a warmth - even a colour? or a similar use for bedside lamps on tables/chairs beside your bed?


    Large lightweight Corflute panels/stiff cardboard/styrofoam etc. can be decorated as you wish and attached with small amounts of adhesive or 3m that should be removable if you move.

    Would suit: decoupage (like this idea), fabric covering, your own art, faux marble, wood (etc) finishes, can make holes to push LED bud lights through from the rear, or let them shine through.


    Anyway, just some thoughts. Go wild!


    All the best with your project.





  • Irish Pack Irish Pack on Jan 24, 2017

    I agree, the rod might be too stressed although the panels I have are very lightweight and sheer. Hanging plastic "chain" from hooks in the ceiling might be a viable option. Also thought of the criss cross boards that they use for ivy and roses to climb (not sure what they are called) trellis board ?? propped on the wall behind the bed that both the lights and panels can be draped on. I could even paint those to add some colour to the wall as well. My room is done in shabby chic so the industrial look is a no go.

    • See 33 previous
    • Mum Vickery Mum Vickery on Jan 25, 2017

      Ah, the shabby chic changes things. The criss cross boards are "lattice" or "trellis". Could look nice in a shabby chic finish intertwined with flowers and lights. : )

  • Irish Pack Irish Pack on Jan 25, 2017

    lattice!! yes, thank you....i hate it when i lose words...lol

  • Dfm Dfm on Mar 02, 2017

    i got a real nice tip from my local yard.....when they put up their displays- they use a silicone caulk as a "glue". it generally peels off a painted surface. as for a head board...i made one from a thin piece of plywood- padded it with batting meant for quilts, and covered it in fabric - pulling the cut edge to the back and stapling it in place.

  • Irish Pack Irish Pack on Mar 02, 2017

    I have saved lots of headboard tutorials. Now I have to make up my mind as to whether or not I want a headboard AND some kind of wall deco or to skip the headboard. Its decision time and I am going to have to reread some of these comments and then flip a coin....lol But I will be sure to post the outcome

  • Deb K Deb K on Nov 06, 2022

    Hello Irish, as long as the cinder block is painted the command hooks should stick, hope this video helps you out

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JmO7_7WKo0