My DD has this hanging in her kids playroom, but since you have no extra wall space a 'rug' or 'mat' would be the ticket. I would just free motion quilt it to a heavier backing (not cotton, but something a little firmer) just to keep it flat because the kids are going to want to crawl over it and sit on it while pointing out the states. I think this is a great tool for kids. I know I could use it because I just don't know where the central states are myself. Give me the shape of the state by itself and I can usually figure it out, but point out a state in the center and ask me to show you where it is, forget it LOL......