How to Easily Hang Christmas Garlands and Wreaths
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With the holiday season in full swing, it's time to put the finishing touches on your Christmas tree and make sure every wreath, garland and outdoor Christmas light has been carefully hung. We all want our Christmas decorations to feel festive and magical, but turning your home into a winter wonderland shouldn't cost hours of time or hundreds of dollars. To help make your holiday season just a little bit easier, we've rounded up easy hanging hacks that are sure to save you time, energy and money.
Discover simple decorating ideas for every space, including eye-catching ways to style your mantel, Christmas staircase decorations that'll complement your interior and holiday door decor that'll wow your guests.
The best part: there's no drilling required so you won't have to worry about permanently altering or damaging your space. When the holiday season is over, all of these hacks are super easy to undo. These hacks are stress-free — even if you're a novice DIYer — and you likely have most of the supplies lying around your house. Now, pick up some Command hooks, fishing line, zip ties or your hot glue gun and get to work!
Secure Garland With Zip Ties
To give your garland a natural draped look, use clear zip ties. "Make sure that your zip ties are spaced evenly, and that the garland has enough swag in between each one," says interior designer Amy Peltier. "Then, all you have to do is cover the zip ties with the garland branches or add ribbon." Once the garland is secure, add as much decor as you want: berries, ornaments, ribbons, pinecones.
Use Command Hooks
Take note from Grace Frederick Design and drape sprigs of spruce and colorful ribbon over a doorway. Depending on the weight of your garland, use small or medium command hooks (we recommend medium) to hang the display.
Tie Garland With Thick Twine
Here, Sarah Fischer of Sarah and Sons Interiors uses thick gardening twine to secure a garland along a banister. The twine "ensures a strong hold that blends in easily and avoids marring the surface of the banister," according to Fisher, who also suggests ordering garland in 6 to 8 foot lengths and working in sections.
Hang Garland Around Lighting Fixtures
For a festive touch in this all-white kitchen, greenery is hung over the top of the light fixtures. "Ensure no wires in the garland could scratch the finishes, and use jute string to secure," suggests Ami McKay of PURE Design. "If you want to use hooks, find the 3M ones that stick and don’t damage the walls."
Rely on Floral Wire
Secure fresh garland down the length of your banister using floral wire, which is typically green to blend in seamlessly. For a touch of personality, tie giant ribbons around it.
Layer in Sturdy Ribbons
Thick ribbons may not be strong enough to fully secure your garland, but they can provide extra support — especially when paired with zip ties or floral wire. For this elegant stairway, Interior designer Martha O’Hara goes for rust-colored velvet ribbons.
Use Floral Wire to Decorate Mirrors
Embellish a vintage-inspired gold mirror with a magnolia garland, as interior designer Stephanie Stroud does here. Use floral wire to slowly secure the garland around the mirror's decorative trim. You can also add double-sided tape or use command hooks on the back of the mirror for extra security that isn't visible.
Use What's Already There
Suction cups are a great way to hang wreathes from windows, but here the window lock makes a convenient alternative. Interior designer Martha O’Hara uses a red ribbon to display a macramé hoop adorned with a pair of brass bells and cypress greens.
Don't Be Afraid of Small Nails
Y0u may need to use a few nails when hanging garland from the ceiling or beams — especially in the kitchen, where loose greenery can be a fire hazard. "Here, I used one nail every 12 inches or so," says Christine Higgs of For the Home. "Once the season is over and I take the garland down, I will go around with wood filler to fill in holes and touch up paint."
Hang a Wreath With Fishing Line
This oversized wire wreath looks as though it's floating in the air, but in reality, it's being held by a piece of fishing line. Hang your decor with nearly-invisible fishing line and everyone will wonder how you've pulled it off.
See more at Style by Emily Henderson »
Use Ribbon to Tie Wreaths Together
It's simple enough to hang a wreath on the front door using an adhesive hook, but sometimes one wreath just isn't enough. Use a sturdy ribbon to tie multiple wreaths together, using a hook for each one if needed.
Make the Most of Your Tension Rod
If you love the look of greenery above your windows, just consider it your drapery for the season. A tension curtain rod holds the decorations in place, and craft-store wire attaches it to the rod.
See more at Home Stories A to Z »
Use Ribbon to Secure Chair Wreaths
Hang mini wreaths on the back of your chairs to instantly elevate the dining room. Find your favorite ribbon — make sure it's sturdy — and loop it around the wreath and tie the ribbon around the top of the chair. For extra support, you can use a zip tie then cover it with the ribbon.
Attach a Garland Hanger
For an easy, foolproof option, attach a garland hanger to any door frame — indoors or outdoors. Then, you can easily drape your greens over the top. Since they're adjustable, they can be moved around from door to door (or door to window) in the years to come.
Use Decorative Garland Ties
Add a pop of color to your garland with these decorative ties. These fabric-covered ties are pleasing to look at and do a great job at securing the garland to the banister since they act as a twist tie. Also, you don’t have to worry about any scratches on the banister — an overall win!
Make a Wreath Chandelier
Hang a wreath on your pendant light by using thick, sturdy ribbon to create your own custom chandelier. Be careful to choose a lightweight wreath so your pre-existing hardware can easily support it.
Add Holiday Greens
Give your pre-existing decor a holiday upgrade. You can use heavy-duty tape (like a double-sided one) or removable Command strips to attach greenery, like wreaths and garlands, to your mirrors.
Use Cable Organizers to Attach Garland
You typically depend on Gear Ties to corral cords and cables, but they can also secure garland to mantels, banisters and shelves. The adjustable ties come in a variety of colors, so you can choose the one that best matches your railing or garland.
Opt for Weather-Resistant Hooks
While any ol' Command hook will initially do the trick, it won't be able to withstand a month (or three) of winter weather. Attach garland or window swags with stick-on hooks — Christmas lights, especially! — made specifically for outdoor windows and house exteriors to ensure that your decor stays put all season long.
Create Porch Light Decor Using a Hanger
If you are looking for a way to deck out your porch light for the holidays, this is an easy and affordable option to add some greenery near your home entrance. With a wire coat hanger, foam block and a few extra supplies, you’ll be well on your way to a stunning porch light decoration.
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