Front door wreaths are becoming increasingly popular, not just at Christmas but all year round! They look beautiful at any time of year, and you can attach them to any kind of door! Two things I hear more than anything else as a wreath maker are ‘I’d love a wreath but I worry it will get stolen’ and ‘I have no idea how to attach a wreath to my glass/plastic door’ Hopefully I can help!
In response to the first comment; I cannot of course guarantee that no one will think your wreath would look better on their door, but I can say that in my nearly 4 years of wreath making I’ve never once heard of one being pinched! Basically, please don’t let this put you off owning one, but if it is a concern there are ways to hang your wreath that will make it more difficult to remove from the outside. Of course if you’re still concerned you can hang one inside instead, there’s no rule that says they have to be on a front door, you can hang them on a wall or interior door instead, or even have one personalised with your house number or name!
The following methods are all easy to use; the products I mention are all readily available from various shops and online, but feel free to ask me if you have any questions or would like suggestions as to where you can buy them. Whilst nothing is guaranteed, I have noted the methods I believe to be less secure as ‘not pinch proof.’
The over door wreath hanger.
This is a common way to hang a Christmas wreath, and probably the easiest and quickest method for all door types. The hanger itself is usually plastic or metal, it comes with a curved end and a square end.
The square end sits snugly over the top of your door with the curved end hanging at the front. You simply pop your wreath onto the curved end and voila! You’re done!
The main advantages of this method are:
They’re easy to come by
They’re fairly cheap
They come in a variety of styles and colours, I prefer the clear ones, but you can get fancy looking ones if you prefer!
And the disadvantages:
Not pinch proof.
You can see them; some people might find them unsightly but that is a personal preference.
If you have a particularly thick door it might not sit properly causing the door not to close or the hanger to bend, resulting in it sticking out at the front.
The ribbon method.
This method involves using a ribbon or piece of string. You will need to measure the distance from your door handle, up and over your door down to where you want your wreath to sit, making sure you have enough excess to attach the wreath and tie a bow if required.
You simply tie the ribbon around your wreath, or through the hanging loop on the back if it has one, and create a bow if required. Take the other end of your ribbon over the top of your door and tie it to the door handle on the inside. Make sure to tie it tightly so it doesnt fall off every time you open the door!
Advantages:
Its difficult to pinch unless you come prepared with a pair of scissors!
If you use a ribbon it can be changed to match seasons, or just when you feel like it! If you’re good at bow making it can add an extra dimension to your wreath.
If you have a glass or plastic door that you can’t hammer a hook or nail into this is a good alternative.
Disadvantages:
It can be a bit of a nuisance; having a ribbon attached to the back of your door can look ‘messy’
It doesn’t stay in place very easily. Wind will blow it around, and potentially opening and closing the door will cause movement, and wear and tear of the ribbon over prolonged periods of time.
If you have a glass door the ribbon will be visible from outside.
I’ve used string in my example, but ribbon would look much prettier!
Suction cups
There are many varieties of suction cup on the market these days; some of which are designed specifically for attaching wreaths! These can be cheaply and easily obtained on the internet, or sometimes at garden centres. Do go for a nice big one if you can; they are not permanent fixtures and can of course fall off, so you want one that is designed for the purpose.
Advantages:
If you only want to hang a wreath for a short period of time, eg at a wedding venue, or a Halloween party etc, suction cups are a great option. They are easily removed and don’t leave permanent marks.
If you want to hang a wreath on a window they are perfect!
Disadvantages:
Not pinch proof.
They are easy to remove, and can fall off at any given time, particularly on windy days.
Command strips
Command strips are excellent for hanging wreaths (among other things!) on walls in bedrooms, internal doors and anywhere you don’t want to leave a mark. They come in two parts; the hook and a sticky strip that attaches to most surfaces. They also come in a variety of sizes and strengths. When you want to remove them you just pull the little tab and the whole thing comes off leaving no marks. (I’m not affiliated with Command Strips or their brand, this is all based on my personal use of them)
Advantages:
They leave no marks, making them perfect for people who rent their homes and can’t use permanent fixtures.
They come in a huge range of sizes and styles, different ones can carry different weights.
Disadvantages:
They aren’t as cheap as some other methods, but they do come in multipacks.
Once removed the sticky part cannot be reused.
They aren’t recommended for use on glass.
The obvious method-a nail or hook.
If like me you have a solid wooden door that you don’t mind banging a picture hook or nail into, this is the obvious long-term choice.
Advantages:
Totally sturdy- its not likely to fall out if you’ve hammered it in well.
There’s no visible hanging method. All of my wreaths have a hanging loop so you won’t see anything sticking out of the top.
Disadvantages:
For wooden doors only. Of course if you rent or have a very expensive door this may not be an acceptable method to use.
Not pinch proof, anyone can lift the wreath off.
The door knocker method.
If you have a door knocker you can simply hook your wreath over it. The ‘knocker’ part will hold it in place and stop the wind from blowing it off, and it requires no effort whatsoever. This will only work if you have a hanging loop on your wreath, as all of my designs do.
Advantages:
As above, no particular effort is required!
The heavy moveable part of the knocker will hold your wreath in place and stop the wind froom blowing it away.
It’s not permanent and will not damage your door or leave marks.
Disadvantages:
Not pinch proof.
If using the knocker your wreath could potentially be knocked off.
You can purchase this wreath here: https://thebritishcrafthouse.co.uk/product/eucalyptus-christmas-wreath/
None of these methods are entirely perfect; but hopefully one of them will be right for you! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my guide to hanging your wreath!
Hayley, owner of Silver Halos
Main image wreath can be purchased here: https://thebritishcrafthouse.co.uk/product/white-christmas-wreath/
