One question I’m asked every year is “how do you hang garland, stockings, ornaments and wreaths on a fireplace or around doors and windows without putting holes all over the mantel?”
It’s a great question. With a newly updated fireplace—stone front, wood planked area above, fresh paint on the surround and mantel—I want to enjoy holiday decorations without damaging the surfaces.
Here are a few reliable methods I use and tips that work whether you’re hanging decor on a mantel, door, window, or wall.
1. Command Hooks.
Command hooks are my go-to for hanging wreaths, garland and stockings without nails. They use a removable adhesive strip so you can secure lightweight items without leaving holes. They come in a variety of sizes to suit small ornaments up to heavier wreaths. I place a few discreetly at the back and sides of the mantel; if a hook can be hidden on the side, sometimes I’ll use a small nail instead.
Larger adhesive hooks work well when there’s nowhere convenient to use a nail, such as on planked walls, or to anchor garland around doors and windows. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying and removing, and make sure the surface is clean, dry and free of dust before sticking the hook.
A quick note about heat: hooks placed too close to a fire can lose adhesion, so avoid mounting decorations where they’ll be exposed to high temperatures. As a safety precaution, I remove or move delicate ornaments when the fire is lit so nothing gets too hot or breaks.
2. Twine, thread, ribbon or clear fishing line.
To hang ornaments or stockings at different heights, use brown twine for a rustic look, festive ribbon for color, or clear fishing line for an almost invisible effect. Attach the string to a small command hook placed in a discreet spot, then suspend your ornament, stocking or decorative element at the desired level.
I once hung gold mirrored ornaments from a dining room lantern using clear fishing line so the string practically disappeared from a distance and the ornaments appeared to float. This same technique works beautifully from mantels, windows, or light fixtures.
3. Big sticks or branches.
Natural branches make an effortless and decorative way to display ornaments. This year I used a birch branch I found on a walk; it was balanced on the mantel, and ornaments hung directly from it. You can secure a branch to command hooks for extra stability, or rest it across a window and hang ornaments from it with thread or ribbon.
For added sparkle, weave beaded string lights or fairy lights around the branch. This creates a cozy, layered look and means you only need to secure the branch rather than hang each ornament individually.
Thanks to everyone who left kind comments on my Christmas house tour. It was fun to open my home and share different angles and rooms so you could get a feel for the layout—like a little walk-through. I also enjoy seeing other people’s homes and their creative approaches to holiday decorating.
I’m still finishing a few touches around the house. We put up a very large tree this year, and I’ll share that along with the completed front porch soon.
There are many inspiring Christmas house tours shared by other bloggers this week. Visiting those tours is a great way to gather ideas and celebrate the season. These homes showcase a wide range of creative and ambitious decorating—perfect for inspiration, not comparison.
How’s your week going so far? 🙂
