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Over the last few years, Christmas wreaths have seen a big resurgence in popularity. Though they retain a definite Dickensian air, this only adds to their charm and they are a much-loved tradition.
Perhaps because they offer such a range of designs that they can easily be tailored to suit any home. Perhaps it’s just because they’re a simple way to bring Christmas spirit to the front of your home, without having to scale the rooftops wound in fairy lights.
Whatever the reason, we all seem to love a wreath. But a lot of people hold back on buying one because they’re worried about how they’ll go about hanging it. As lovely as they look, no one wants an ugly nail left in their door when they take it down. Or an equally ugly hole.
How do you attach a wreath to a door?
But there are actually plenty of ways to hang your wreath that don’t involve hammering a nail into your door. So we thought we’d explore seven types of wreath hangers that you can use which don’t involve hammers, nails, or damage to your door in any way, shape or form.
(And if you don’t want your front door to have all the fun, then all these methods can be used to hang Christmas wreaths on internal doors too!)
1. Use ribbon
Using ribbon is probably the most attractive way to hang a Christmas wreath, as the ribbon adds its very own colour and design flourish to your decoration.
To use ribbon simply loop a length of ribbon through the centre of your wreath then feed it over the top of your open door, between the door itself and the door frame. Pull the ribbon taut then fix it in place on the other side of the door.
As well as being an aesthetically pleasing way of hanging wreaths, this using this method will stop people from stealing your wreath as it’s fixed inside the house. It’s easy to attach and tie, it will work on any type of door from wood to composite to even a glass door.
The only issue with this classic ribbon method is how you fix the ribbon to the inside of the door. Using a nail or staples will damage the inside of the door, the same way they would the outside. Sellotape is unlikely to hold the weight of a wreath for long, and while ducktape might have the required strength it’s not the most attractive addition.
2. Hang on the door knocker
Traditionally, wreaths would usually be hung on a door knocker. This is an easy enough method as it makes use of something already on the door, you don’t have to worry about damaging the surface of the door at all. It means there are no cost concerns either.
If your wreath comes with a loop to hang it, then you can just use that to connect it. Alternatively, tieing a loose loop of coordinating ribbon around the wreath should be achievable even for the DIY phobic. It should fit snugly over the knocker so make sure the ribbon loop isn’t too long.
Using the door knocker is not the most secure way to hang it though. As all the hanging is on the outside, it wouldn’t be too hard for someone to see your wreath, lift it and disappear with it.
3. Use the letterbox (secure at the back)
If you want to know how do you hang a wreath in a letterbox, you’ve got two options.
You can use the ribbon method that we’ve outlined above, and anchor your ribbon to the letterbox on the inside of your door. You could also use string to loop over your door.
Alternatively, if you don’t have a door knocker, you could hook your wreath form over or through your letterbox in the same way. Of course, then your wreath won’t hang in the top half of the door and will probably create an odd look.
The pretty big drawback to both these methods is that they are going to impact the function of your letterbox. If you’ve hung a wreath directly on it, it’s going to be out of action until after Christmas.
4. Get a magnetic wreath hook
If you like to decorate your front door every Christmas, a magnetic wreath hanger will probably be a worthwhile investment.
Using magnetic hooks allow you to reposition your wreath to your heart’s content if you decide that you want to adjust it to your desired height.
They work by placing magnets on either side of your door, with a hook on the outside to hang your wreath from. They work best on a glass door or panels of glass that are thin enough to give a strong magnetic force.
If you’re using them on a front or back door made of glass or metal, a magnetic wreath hanger may be your only option.
They are really convenient to use however, they are one of the most expensive hanger options on this list.
5. Use Command Strips
A modern, convenient way to hang your wreath is using self-adhesive hooks or Command Hooks.
These are potentially the easiest type of door wreath hanger to use. With a general self-adhesive hook, the glue is usually already attached to the hook itself, so all you have to do is peel the backing paper off and simply attach the hook to your door.
Branded ‘Command Strips’ need an extra step. They come with their adhesive pads separate in the pack, so you need to apply one side to the hook and one to your door. It’s still a very simple process. It takes a couple of seconds and no real skill.
Some people will be concerned about will command strips hold a wreath? A lush living wreath or heavily decorated artificial one can be rather weighty. And rather delicate. You won’t want to risk damaging your wreath by using a self-adhesive hook that’s not going to hold.
But branded Command Strips have built up a reputation for reliability. They also offer clear guidance on how much weight a particular picture hook will hold. As long you know how much your wreath weighs and buy the corresponding hook, you won’t need to worry about your wreath falling off.
6. Try an over the door wreath hanger
Probably the easiest way to hang a Christmas wreath is using a wreath door holder that sits over the top of a standard door. They’re quick to put up, quick to take down and they won’t leave any tacky residue.
They work with gravity on their side (hanging over the door) so they’ll happily hold a heavy wreath. They come in a range of colours to help you style your hanger to match the wreath. You can even clear ones that will seamlessly suit any door.
If you have a thick door, make sure to get a hook that is wide enough or adjustable. They aren’t always easy to come across, so do your research.
The main warning with this type of hook is to check that your door still closes properly when it’s installed.
7. Use a suction hook
If you want to make sure there is no chance of your front door getting damaged, then a suction cup is a good bet.
These cups are sold in plenty of places, and they are obviously very easy to use. They won’t leave any residue and they can be repositioned without any loss of sticking power. As with Command Hooks, you can get clear ones so they’ll blend into any style or colour of door.
Suction cups work well on uPVC doors. A good hook will be able to form quite a strong seal but make sure you check the recommended load for the hook if you have a weighty wreath.
The biggest potential problem with a suction cup is that a cheap or small one might not have the strength to hold a wreath indefinitely. Particularly if the wreath is large or covered in lots of heavy decorations.
Hanging a Christmas Wreath: Things to Consider
Now you’ve considered the different ways you can hang a wreath on your front door without using nails or making holes in the surface of the door.
There are plenty of methods to choose from and they all have their plus points and drawbacks. Cost and difficulty will obviously play a factor in your final decision, but there are some concrete facts that you will need to factor in.
Type of Door (uPVC, composite, wood)
The first thing to think about when you’re looking to hang your winter wreath is what material your door is made from. Some methods of hanging will not be suitable for all door types. The thickness of your door will also play a part.
Finally, if your door has glass panels in it you will have a wider choice of options. A magnetic hanging mechanism will usually only work on a glass panel or a metal door.
How to hang a wreath on a UPVC door
For a uPVC door, use a suction hook to hang your wreath. You can attach this to the glass or the door itself.
Using ribbon is also a good option for hanging wreaths on uPVC doors as you can feed it through the letterbox and attach it at the back.
Attaching a Christmas wreath to a uPVC door is not a straightforward process. To help improve their thermal efficiency, a lot of modern uPVC doors have a ‘draft excluder’ built-in. This might make the top of the door an awkward shape, size or fragile (if it’s a silicone seal). And, usually, it rules out an over-door hanger.
How to hang a wreath on a composite door
A composite door is pretty flexible and will work with most of the options listed below. Depending on the exact design of the door you may even be able to use a magnetic wreath hanger, although there are no guarantees.
How to hang a wreath on a timber door
Almost all of the options below will work on a timber door, except a magnetic hook. Wood is too dense for the magnetic force to pass through, to work, unless you have glass panels on your door.
Weight of wreath
The weight of your wreath will have a big impact on which method will work for you.
Many suction cups or self-adhesive hooks will struggle to hold a particularly weighty wreath for long. But this doesn’t mean you have to abandon a heavy wreath or rely on a nail that destroys your door.
Wreath hangers that go over your door work with gravity to provide extra stability and strength. Sturdy metal wreath hangers should be able to hold even a heavy wreath for the whole season.
Size of wreath
If you’re buying a ready-made wreath hanger or hook, you will need to make sure the hook is big enough to hold your wreath. If you choose a particularly thick or robust wreath design, it might fit too snugly in the hook and could be knocked off easily.
An easy way to avoid this is to simply tie a loop of ribbon around your wreath and hang that on the hook. But it is something to consider.
Height of wreath
Another aspect to consider is the thorny issue of wreath placement on your front door. The traditional look is to have your wreath at eye level which means having the centre of the wreath about 140cm off the ground.
This is a guide, not a rule. But if you’re using an over door hanger with a fixed height, and your wreath is either very big or very small, it’s something to bear in mind.
How to Keep the Wreath from Scratching Your Door
If you’re looking to avoid damaging your door with a nail, chances are you’d rather your wreath doesn’t scratch or mark the surface either.
There are a couple of ways you can do this. You can stick felt or foam to pad the back of your wreath and keep the rough surface away from the door. There are even specifically designed pads that do this job, which you can tie into the frame.
Alternatively, you can stop your wreath from moving in the first place. A spot of velcro on the wreath and the door, or some double-sided sticky tape can be used to do this. But if you’re avoiding adhesive hooks to protect the surface of your door, both of these options could leave a hard to budge residue behind too.
Unfortunately, some wreath hangers could also damage your door on their own. If you’re using an over the door hanger, or a magnetic one, it’s a good idea to place some padding between that and the surface of the door too.
Which Will You Choose?
So there are all your options for hanging a wreath without damaging your door. Many of them are reusable, or even semi-permanent, so why only decorate your front door during the holiday season? You can find beautiful decorative wreaths that can add a flourish to your door all year round.
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