DIY Cheer Bow Display Ideas for Your Team Room

04 November, 2026 0 comments Leave a comment

Last Updated: November 4, 2026

Table of Contents

• Why a Cheer Bow Display Beats a Storage Bin
• What You Need Before You Start Building
• Cheer Bow Storage Ideas Using Household Items
• How to Make a Cheer Bow Holder Step by Step
• Organizing Large Collections on Vertical Displays
• Cheer Bow Care Tips to Keep Displayed Bows Looking New
• Pick Your First Display Project This Week
• Frequently Asked Questions

Why a Cheer Bow Display Beats a Storage Bin

Most cheerleaders end up with a pile of bows in a drawer. The bows get crushed, tangled and bent before the next competition. A cheer bow display fixes that. It keeps every bow visible, flat and easy to grab on the way out the door. Athletes and team moms often ask this question, so we put together this guide to help you build a display that works.

Storage bins hide your bows. A display shows them off. When your bows hang where you can see them, you pick the right color for the routine faster, and you notice when a rhinestone has come loose before it becomes a problem on the mat.

• Bows stay flat and keep their shape
• You can see your whole collection at a glance
• A display doubles as team room decor

Think of the display as part of your gear routine. It takes a few minutes to set up and saves you a lot of stress on game day.

What You Need Before You Start Building

You do not need expensive supplies to build a good display. Start with a clear plan for how many bows you own and where the display will go. Measure the wall or space first. Then gather a few basic materials.

• A sturdy base, such as a curtain rod, wall bracket or metal trellis
• Hooks or clips that will not slip under the weight of your bows
• Measuring tape and a level for straight lines
• Optional sparkle, like a few rhinestone bows to use as finished pieces

If you want extra shine for your display, you can browse our Just Loops Cheer Bows Glitter Rhinestone Bands to see what rhinestone styles look like up close. Use them as inspiration for color pairings.

Cheer Bow Storage Ideas Using Household Items

Many families build a display with things already in the house. A tension curtain rod mounted between two walls works well for a bedroom or closet. A shower curtain hook set can hold a row of bows with almost no tools. Wall brackets give you a more permanent option.

Here is a simple method for a tension rod display:

1. Measure the width of the space and set the rod slightly wider than the opening.
2. Tighten the rod so it sits firmly without bending.
3. Hang bows from the rod using clips or hair ties.
4. Space each bow about 3 inches apart so the loops do not crush each other.

For a visual idea, look at a Just Loops Tick Tock Rays Tailless Cheer Bows Cheer Bow Glitter Rhinestones bow. Its bright design shows how a single bow looks when it is the focal point of a display.

How to Make a Cheer Bow Holder Step by Step

A custom cheer bow holder lets you size the rows to your actual collection. The build below uses a 1x4 pine board, hardwood dowels, and a simple French cleat so the holder sits flush to the wall and can be lifted off for cleaning.

Plan the layout on paper first. Measure your widest bow across the loops, then add 2 inches of clearance on each side. A typical competition bow spans 6 to 8 inches, so plan on roughly 10 to 12 inches of horizontal space per bow. For a 36-inch board, that works out to three bows per row. Mark where each dowel will go so the bows stay evenly spaced and the loops never touch.

Cut list for a 36-inch holder:

• One 1x4 board cut to 36 inches for the backer
• One 1x2 board cut to 36 inches for the bottom lip
• Six 3/8-inch hardwood dowels cut to 4 inches each
• Two 1x2 cleat pieces cut to 12 inches (one for the wall, one for the backer)

Build steps:

1. Sand the backer and lip with 120-grit, then 220-grit, paying extra attention to the top edge where ribbon will rub.
2. Drill 3/8-inch holes 1 inch deep into the backer at your marked spacing, keeping the row 2 inches up from the bottom edge.
3. Test-fit each dowel with a dab of wood glue; tap them in until flush and wipe the squeeze-out immediately.
4. Attach the bottom lip with 1-1/4-inch wood screws from the back so no screw heads face the bows.
5. Paint or stain the board to match your team room, then seal with a water-based polyurethane so dust wipes off easily.
6. Mount the wall cleat to studs with 2-1/2-inch screws, level it, then hang the backer cleat and check for wobble.

Watch out: A 3/8-inch dowel in soft pine will sag under a heavy rhinestone bow over time. Step up to a 1/2-inch dowel or add a small L-bracket under the row if your bows run heavy.

Test the holder with a few bows before you fill it. Adjust spacing if any bows touch or tangle, and check that the dowel tips are sanded round so they do not snag the ribbon tails.

Cheer Mom Rhinestone Bow Key Chain →

The build comes down to a few key parts and measurements, summarised below.

Organizing Large Collections on Vertical Displays

Multi-year cheerleaders often own dozens or even hundreds of bows, and a flat wall rack stops working once you pass about 40. A vertical display solves the space problem, but only if you build a sorting system first. The method below is the one most team moms settle into after a season or two of trial and error.

Pick a primary sort and stick to it. The three workable options are by color family, by season or event, and by team or year. Color family is fastest to scan; season is best if you pack for camp and competition separately; team or year is best for alumni collections. Do not mix all three on one display, or you will spend more time hunting than hanging.

Use a two-tier layout. Put the bows you wear most at eye level (roughly 48 to 60 inches off the floor) and reserve the top and bottom rows for off-season or sentimental bows. A metal garden trellis or a tree-style stand can hold 60 to 100 bows in a 6-foot footprint without crowding the loops.

Space and label by zone. Divide the display into zones of 10 to 12 bows and hang a small card at the start of each zone. Label the card with the sort rule, not the individual bow, so the system survives when you add new bows. A 3x5 index card in a clear sleeve works and wipes clean.

Rotate on a schedule. Move the front zone to the back once a month so sunlight and dust hit every bow evenly. This also forces you to notice loose rhinestones before a competition rather than the morning of.

Watch out: Hanging 100 bows on a single tension rod will pull the rod down and bow the wall. Split large collections across two or three shorter rods, each anchored into studs, rather than one long span.

If you are looking for a consistent look across a large collection, browse the Superior Game Time range to see how bows can be organized by style. Keep a small label or card for each section, and you will find what you need in seconds even when the display gets full.

Cheer Bow Care Tips to Keep Displayed Bows Looking New

A display exposes bows to light, dust and humidity. Those things can fade ribbon and loosen embellishments over time. A few simple habits protect your investment.

• Keep bows out of direct sunlight to slow fading
• Dust the display once a week with a soft brush
• Check rhinestones and glitter every month for loose pieces
• Rotate bows so the same ones are not always exposed

If you want to know which bows hold up best over time, read our Best Affordable Custom Softball Bows: Durability & Design Guide and Durable Cheer Bows for Athletes: Review & Guide. They explain which materials last through frequent use.

Pick Your First Display Project This Week

You do not need a perfect display to start. Choose one wall or one rod and fill it with the bows you already own. Once you see how it looks, you can add more rows or switch to a bigger setup.

Start small this week, then build on it as your collection grows. A cheer bow display keeps your bows organized, protected and ready for the next routine. If you want custom colors or team designs to fill your display, explore our Custom Designs studio to plan your next set.

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