9 Easy Ways to Hang a Wreath on Door

For most of us, flower garlands, holly wreaths, and mistletoe only go up once a year. But if you sink a nail into your door to hold the wreath, you’ll be stuck with that ugly hole all year round. So are there options for wreath hanging that won’t permanently damage your door?

Well, if you’re like man contemporary residents, you use five or more wreaths a year for special occasions. Valentine’s, Independence Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Veterans Day all attract wreath-lovers. So let’s explore some convenient tips and tricks for hanging wreaths.

How to hang a wreath on the door

1. Pick a medium

Wreaths have the same basic design – it’s a leafy ring with colorful, sparkly embellishments. These ‘accessories’ could be baubles, fruits, or sashes. The wreath may have a metal frame holding it together, or it may have a hoop pre-attached at the store. You need to decide what you’ll use to hang it up. It could be a string, fishing line, a ribbon, or a seasonal sash.

You also have to decide where you’ll tie it. You could loop it through the middle of the wreath or hook it around the wireframe. If it has a designated hoop, ring, or tag, tie your string to that instead. The key is to keep your wreath balanced and stable, so pick a point that’s close to its center of gravity. Also, check that your medium can hold the weight of your wreath.

2. Use a screw

Wreaths can be very light – often less than 5 lbs. So it can be tricky to gauge their exact weight. Try weighing an empty box, bucket, or container, something bulky and heavy. Then place your wreath inside or on top of the item. Subtract the two figures to get the weight of the wreath.

This is important because your fastener has to be strong enough to hold the wreath without breaking. If you decide to use a screw, you can find one lying around the house. Or you can go to your local hardware and ask for screws that can support your stated wreath weight.

Open your door then use a screw gun to nail the screw into the top of the door. Screw it in halfway then loop your wreath around the screw before pushing the screw further down until it’s flush against the top. Laying the screw flat is important because if it protrudes, it may block the door from closing. This way, your wreath attachment safer, cleaner, less visible, and less messy.

3. Use a picture hook

The most common kind of picture hook has adhesive on its back surface. Buy a hook that can hold the weight of your wreath – be sure to double-check. Also, most people just drill a nail into their door to stick the wreath, but if you’re worried, stick the hook on the inside of your door.

Then loop the string, ribbon, or fishing line over the back of the door, hanging the wreath in front. That way, the hook won’t be visible from the outside of the house. When the wreath isn’t being used, you can still leave the hook up. You can use it for hanging coats or lightweight items.

4. Use a wreath hanger

You’ve probably never heard of this. It’s a very niche product, and if you didn’t see it in use, you’d probably wonder what it does. Wreath hangers are s-shaped pieces of metal or plastic. They’re a foot or two long and are designed to hook over the top of the door. Position your wreath hanger and slip your wreath through it for no-fuss installation.

The hanger is suspended on the door. It doesn’t adhere and you don’t screw it in, because its shape (and gravity) keeps it in place. After the hanging season is over, you can simply unhook your hanger, clean it, and put it away for the next holiday. If you’re worried about aesthetics (or the hanger scratching your wood), wrap the hanger in a ribbon that matches your wreath.

Wreath hangers have the same basic idea, but they can be diverse and decorative. You can get them in different colors and finishes. Some are twisted or coiled into braided spirals while others are molded into sculptures.  Your wreath can be as simple, subtle, or stylish as you want.

5. Use double-sided tape

All the options we’ve looked at so far involve suspending the wreath. But if you have frequent holiday guests, your door will constantly swing open and shut, which could dislodge the wreath. And if your area is windy or wet, the weather could yank your wreath off its anchor. To avoid this, reinforce the wreath’s rear end with double-sided tape. Get a safe brand that won’t scrape.

Ordinary tape my scrub the paint off your door when you pull off the wreath. Try the double-sided adhesive strips from 3M. Put some of this tape strategically at the back of your wreath, using 3 or 4 large strips. Then gently press the wreath against the door to make the tape stick. Be careful, you don’t want to smash your leaves or damage your holiday garland accessories.

6. Try magnets

This principle is the same as using picture hooks. But this time, you’re using magnetic hooks. Ask about their weight limits, because a fridge magnet probably can’t support a 5-pound bunch of leaves. Experts advise against hanging any wreath that weighs more than 15 pounds, but if you combine 4 pieces of 3M strips – in their largest size – you can hold up to 16 pounds.

3M strips aren’t magnetic though, so ask specifically for magnetic picture hooks. Put the hook on the inside of your door, aligned with the wreath on the outside. The magnet will attract the metal ring that holds your wreath together. You can also use magnetic hooks on metallic doors, with or without slipping a ribbon or sash over to the other side. It’s all about positioning.

7. Use suction cups … sparingly

For glass doors or windows, the suction cup seems like the obvious choice. Why? Because even if you use an over-the-door picture hook or wreath hanger, it will still show through the glass. See-through suction cups are ideal but choose carefully to get one that can hold the weight or a wreath. You may also have to use a lighter wreath to avoid damaging the glass on your door.

You’ll need extra-strength suction cups, probably more than one. Check the maximum weight as you buy the cups. Wayfair has a good selection of suction cups, and you can look on Amazon as well. But since they’re lightweight in general, it’s best to shop for wreath suction cups in person. That way, you can manually test them and see whether they can truly hold up your garland.

8. Use your knocker

If you live in an older home that has a knocker on the door, you can hang your wreath around it, just for the holiday season. Use the knocker as an anchor for your ribbon, string, or fishing line, then loop the string through your garland and let it hang down. This will render your knocker unusable for the duration of the holiday though … which might be the whole point.

Also, if you’re using the knocker as your base, you’ll have to use double-sided tape to hold the wreath in place. Otherwise, it will wiggle every time someone knocks and could easily get damaged. If all else fails, you could always loop the wreath around your doorknob, handle, or lever, but the level of the wreath may be too low. Plus, it’ll stop the door from opening easily.

9. Just nail it

We’ve put this as our last option because many people prefer to avoid it. It leaves an unsightly mark after the holidays. But you can always fill in the hole and repaint it. Or you can hammer the nail into the top of the door like you did with the screw gun option. You need a long enough nail to support your wreath. Nail it in carefully to avoid cracking the wood or piercing through.

For the nail option, the top-of-the-door positioning is safer because you can push the nail deeper into the wood. If you position the nail at the front of the door, you’re limited to the thickness of the door, and you risk creating an ugly crack that speeds down the door. Alternatively, you can use a shorter nail, like a thumbtack or shoe nail, but only for lightweight wreaths.

String it up!

So let’s recap all the ways to hang a wreath on a door without damaging it:

• Decide whether you’re using yarn, ribbon, or fishing line.
• Place an adhesive hook on the inside of your door.
• Use your wreath’s metal wire frame to attach your string.
• For metal doors, use a magnetic hook as an anchor.
• For glass doors, use heavy-duty suction cups.
• You can also try decorative wreath hangers that slip over the door.
• Tie the wreath yo your knocker or door handle.

Do you have any photos of holiday wreaths from previous years? Show us in the comments!