22 Apr DIY Superhero Mask Wall Decor | National Superhero Day

Hey, hi, hello, geeks! We haven’t done a DIY post in a while, and certainly not for the Spring season. This do-it-geek-self isn’t really themed for spring, per say, but it can work year-round as creative wall art for your geek home decor. We’re talking about how to turn kids’ costume masks into classy wall decor for your geek home with this DIY superhero mask wall decor.

National Superhero Day 2025

We will be celebrating Superhero Day on Monday, April 28th, so this geeky DIY is perfect for a weekend activity.

What is National Superhero Day?

National Superhero Day is a day for celebrating superheroes who have made a positive impact on our lives. Employees of Marvel Comics created this holiday in 1995 to honor the heroes from our favorite comic books, or those IRL (in real life), who protect and inspire us. Not all heroes wear capes and have superpowers, after all.

To celebrate, hubs and I decided to add another mask to our superhero mask collection for our dining room wall. We took it all down for our fall decor, so this is the perfect time to add a new mask and put it all back up. I ordered a fresh new kids’ costume mask just to show you how I transformed it into a work of wall art.

So I loosely follow interior design trend blogs so I know what’s going on for the year in home decor. This is mainly because as an artist, I need to know what’s trending so I can design fabric and products that will sell in my shop, OMGeek Art. Most trends will last more than a year. Some even live on for a few years. You will find that trend reports differ slightly for the audience of that post or blog. For example, country design style trends will differ slightly from industrial design style trends. Or modern. Or traditional. Never geeky – you just won’t find much out there for those of us who have a more nerdy fandom design style. So I always take these trends with a grain of salt and incorporate the things we love into our decor.

Also, as I have and will always emphasize, you can decorate your home how you want because it’s your home. Read more about how to incorporate your geeky personality into your home decor for tips and inspiration.

Interior Trends for (Spring) 2025

How does this DIY superhero mask wall decor fit in with trends? Well here is my synopsis of interior trends this Spring and the rest of 2025:

Cozy minimalism is in, but so is maximalism. Casual comfy furniture is definitely in – right alongside art deco. Textured walls and ceilings, rich woods, and colorful stones are also trending this Spring. You can incorporate different elements like indoor plants, calming colors, mood lighting, and discreet tech. And coming straight from fall’s biophilic design trend is integrated outdoor spaces with an emphasis on sustainable eco-friendly living. Color drenching and pattern mixing will hold hands with maximalism. And designing for the senses will mean scented candles, atmospheric music, and mood lighting. As for colors – well, just stick with jewel tones, bold blacks, warm metallics, and earthy neutrals. That should just about cover every style out there, yes?

As confusing as that all sounds, I like to take things that resonate with our decor style preferences and leave the rest. Like maximalism. That’s a no for me. Keep in mind that design trends are just suggestions; and most are long-lasting, so you really don’t need to change your whole house every year for every new trendy thing the magazines claim are a must-have.

For our dining room, I chose to focus on and combine metallics and biophilic design. Our dining room wall finally came together, and it’s interchangeable for the seasons!

First, what is biophilic design?

Biophilic interior design is basically bringing nature into the home, like plants, natural elements, and natural light. Surprisingly enough, decorative masks are part of this trend. See? This DIY superhero mask wall decor is perfect for a trendy home! I’m just saying.

Masks as Wall Decor

Decorative masks as wall decor can be incorporated into industrial, modern, and art deco styled interiors. Even busts and statues can fit into either of the design styles. It all depends on how they’re displayed. With our industrial-geek-chic home decor style (say that three times fast!) comes the infusion of natural elements like wood, metals, stone, etc. – we chose metallic finishes for our display pieces, wood and metal for our surface furniture, and cozy furniture for comfort and texture. And since we lean towards the geeky in our home, as well, the masks couldn’t be just any masks. They had to match our aesthetic – our penchant for superheroes, to be exact. And here we are at full circle with the DIY superhero mask wall decor!

Invasion of the Masks

On a related note (I promise this will make sense in a minute or two lol), I recently discovered that even if I don’t really care for a TV series, as a fan I will always take something positive away from it. Because we don’t do toxic fandoms in this home!

Here’s looking at you, Star Wars (weeps for the fandom).

We watched Secret Invasion when it aired in June 2023. This is not a review, and all I will say is that even though it wasn’t my favorite MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) TV series, there are definitely some really good parts. Nick Fury (played by Samuel L. Jackson) has a home in this series that is just lovely in its simplicity. It’s a mix of cozy modern and mid-century that came as a bit of a contradiction to his gruff, no-nonsense personality. I really enjoyed seeing that side of Fury and was inspired to use one of the ideas in particular for our home.

It’s coming full circle.

In what looked to be his entryway or hallway was a table with assorted vases and a bowl; and on the wall above the table was a collection of masks. The really cool thing about these masks was that they blended in with the wall – both were white and almost unnoticeable. They didn’t jump out at you as you entered the home. Instead, if you didn’t pay attention, you could likely miss them the first time they appeared on screen. The design really was brilliant in its simplicity.

Secret Invasion

Without spoiling too much, Secret Invasion was a television mini series that aired on Disney+ in 2023, and was based on a storyline in the Marvel Comics, also called Secret Invasion, starring Fury (played by Samuel L. Jackson on TV). In the show, we find out about rebel Skrulls that have come to earth. The Skrulls are alien shapeshifters that appeared in comic books, and were introduced to the MCU in both the Captain Marvel and Spiderman: Far From Home movies of 2019. They also appear in WandaVision and What If…?, and by the time we meet back up with them in Secret Invasion, there are more of them living on earth.

I’ll be honest, if you haven’t seen it and are curious, just watch it. It isn’t as bad as they say it is online. And, as I always say, as a Marvel fan, I can find something I like in every show and movie, as well as something I don’t. Just please don’t let review-bombers, toxic insecure fans, or self-proclaimed review-pundits who have no loyalty to the Universe tell you what to think of any show, movie, or comic. You are the only person who can make that determination for yourself.

Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk!

While painting these masks, I started thinking about the implications of this design choice in the show. Why white masks on a white wall? They could have been blue masks on a blue wall, but I believe that the choice was intentional.

Like every crazed Marvel movie fan looking for a deeper meaning in every aspect of every movie and television show ever aired. lol

In my opinion, the point of this design choice can be the fact that the Skrulls blend in with the humans on earth. They’re here among us but you don’t know that you could be sitting next to an alien at your favorite restaurant because they look like us. The masks could represent the fact that the Skrulls hid their true faces and weren’t who they seemed on the outside. The way the masks blend into the wall is the same way the Skrulls blended into our world. Maybe this wasn’t an intentional choice by Marvel, but it is how I interpreted it, and I think it’s very clever.

Or am I just a clever girl? 

While it is difficult to find many pictures online, I did discover a website called MCU Location Scout (.com) where images of the house can be seen. I also (just for the sake of this blog, of course) rewatched much of the show and can give you the episodes and times where you can see these masks in more detail. Because yes, I am one of those fans:

• Secret Invasion, Episode 2, 51:49-52:03 (briefly)
• Secret Invasion, Episode 4, 12:48-19:23 (more detail)
• Secret Invasion, Episode 5, 19:18-19:35 (briefly – also be warned there is a loud shooting scene that starts at 19:35)

Needless to say, when I saw these masks, I was immediately distracted from the rest of the episode and became obsessed with the idea of masks just like that in our home. This is how the dining room wall came together in a melding of superhero, industrial, and biophilic. Of course, since we can’t just walk into home interior stores and pick up non-tacky superhero decor for our home, we get to DIY all the things!

The existing masks were simply kids toy superhero costume masks from Amazon. If I’m being honest, they are pretty cheaply made, so the paint job gives them a more expensive look (in my humble opinion lol). We started with Spiderman, Black Panther, and Wolverine masks, and painted them with a gunmetal metallic finish. This was a project from last summer, right before the fall season. This year, however, as soon as Captain America: Brave New World came out, I quickly ordered Sam Wilson’s flight mask to add to the wall. I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to share this DIY with you!

One day I’ll give you all a blog-tour of our geeky home. I think you’ll love how it’s coming together!

What About the Female Superheroes?

 

I want to touch on the obvious lack of female superhero masks on our wall. Have you ever noticed that the vast majority of female superheroes do not have full-face masks? A tiara, headpiece, or a simple eye mask is generally all they use to indicate that they’re a superhero. I didn’t notice that until I searched high and low for full-face female superhero masks. Maybe batgirl? I believe this is because our society prefers to see more of the female facial features, and more of the muscular male physique. Whatever. I have since thought of a way to display a couple of our favorite female superhero head-gear, so I will update this post when it’s all done. And only if it works, heehee.

DIY Superhero Mask Wall Decor | How to Turn Halloween Superhero Masks into Classy Wall Decor for Your Geek Home 

Making non-metal decor look like metal is one of my favorite painting techniques. And it’s actually pretty simple. I have an in-depth explanation in this post about painting Funko Pops for our seasonal decor.

 

Supplies

1. Mild cleaner
2. Paper Towels
3. Craft paint brushes
4. Stencil brush (for distressing and texture)
5. Spray paint
6. FolkArt Brushed Metal and Metallic Paints in various shades of silver, bronze, and gold*
7. Mod Podge spray sealant**
8. Thick string or thin rope
9. Glue gun or super glue (optional)
10. Gloves
11. Mask

I always, always use Plaid FolkArt and FX paints for our DIY and cosplay projects. There are over 200 shades, so finding a color to match our geek home decor and cosplay props has never been an issue. I discovered their amazing paints and craft brushes about 10 years ago and haven’t touched another brand since. I am happy to say that after all this time, I am now a Plaid Ambassador and I can offer you 15% off Plaid products you order from their website. Trust me, you will love these products and the difference they make in your geeky creations!

My code is FERNTHEGEEK15. Because, of course it is LOL

*A note about the colors. We use colors that match our home decor style. You can use whatever colors fit your decor the best. I am happy to list all the colors I use on the printable and the sidebar on the right of this post. But please keep in mind that this is your project for your home, and if bright pink suits your style then go with Plaid’s FX Nuclear Neon in Killer Pink, Rose Assassin. 

Clean Your Masks

I mean, my advice is to just clean everything you buy! But seriously, before you paint you want to make sure there is no film or dirt on the surface of the mask, so use a mild cleaner and paper towel to clean off your mask before priming and painting.

Don’t forget to remove any straps and tags from your mask before you clean and paint.

Spray Your Masks

 

I use Short Cuts metallic silver spray paint, and you only need one coat. The application is so even you won’t believe how easy it is to paint on top of it! It also dries pretty quickly, so you won’t be waiting all day – the secret is the flatness of the paint. The glossier of a base coat you use, the longer it takes to dry.

Once dry, your masks are ready to paint. Skip the next section unless you choose not to use spray paint.

**Prime your surface

If you prefer to paint the whole mask, or you don’t have spray paint, you can use Mod Podge to brush primer onto the mask before you apply color. Mod Podge works as a primer for your paint. You want to use this so the paint has a smooth surface. It will help with even coats, even drying, and less streaks. I usually only apply one coat and let it dry completely before adding paint.

Some people will sand items before they prime them. I’m not that serious about it unless it’s super glossy or too smooth to hold paint. I think the coat of Mod Podge should work fine. If you’re unsure apply two coats, but make sure to use thin layers.

Paint your masks

If you prime your mask using Mod Podge, your first coat will act as a base coat to cover any colors that may still show through, depending on the color you use. I apply this with a regular craft brush (flat) and try to use few strokes and just enough paint to cover. Too much paint can glob and cause streaks. Let it dry.

If you’ve used spray paint, you should only need one coat of paint. You can apply two coats for maximum coverage, but be sure to apply a thin first coat of whatever color you choose.

If you’re also going for a textured finish on your mask like I did with mine, your first coat after the spray paint will be applied with a dry stencil brush. Tap the paint onto the surface of the mask, a little at a time. A little paint goes a long way. Add touches of lighter and darker shades to give your masks depth. You’ll see it take shape once you complete it.

Let them dry

The really great thing about Plaid products is that the primers and paint don’t take long to dry to the touch. The instructions on the bottle say to let the paint dry one hour between coats. I’ll be honest, I usually only wait about 30 minutes before I apply the second coat, but I’m adding texture most of the time so a bit of smearing is exactly what I want. But you still want to give them time to dry completely before handling and sealing them, so allow yourself an hour if you can. After all, you don’t want to smear that lovely paint job!

**Paint your Second Coat 

Now you can see whether or not your mask needs a second coat. I say that it couldn’t hurt, but your eyes will tell you whether or not it’s good enough after one, or whether you should apply a second coat. Be mindful of too many coats of paint, however – you don’t want to get gloppy, streaky paint. Then you’ll let them dry, again.

Seal your Masks

Plaid’s Mod Podge spray sealant is *chef’s kiss* and I can’t recommend it enough. It held my R2D2 cosplay prop together through two 10-hour days of walking around the Marriott during DragonCon! So one coat should be plenty for some wall art. Remember to wear a mask and, if you can, spray your masks outside where the air can take it away. Be mindful of pets and let them stay inside the house and watch you from the window while you spray!

Hang your masks

This shouldn’t be too tricky. Most masks will have spaces on each side where the elastic sits. Remember, you cut it off at the beginning of this project. You can use those spaces to hang your masks on a nail. If the space is in a weird position, use them to tie a small string or rope loop for hanging your masks on the nails. If there is no space for elastic, you may have to use a small amount of glue to attach the loop to the top of the mask to hang.

Please, please, please be very careful not to burn yourself if you are using a glue gun. And wear gloves if you’re using super glue. Basically, just use common sense and follow the safety instructions on the package if you’re unsure which sense is common.

There! Your masks are done, and now you can add plants, framed prints for a gallery wall, or just leave them as the main attraction. I bet you’ll love your mask wall as much as we love ours! It would be so fun to see pics of your creations – send me an email with your finished masks, or join the Discord to share with the community. I can’t wait to see the colors and textures you choose!

I’ll update this post for fall, but here’s a teaser: we switch out our superhero masks with the infamous masks that Lock, Shock, and Barrel wear in The Nightmare Before Christmas. Don’t worry, I’ll share those pics as soon as spooky season peeks around the corner!

Happy Superhero Day, you geeks!

(Did you like the DIY superhero mask wall decor idea? Don’t forget to pin this image to share this post with your geek friends!)