7 Ways To Hang Wreaths On Windows
No matter what type of window you have—top down or bottom up, single
hung or double hung —there's a method here that's suitable for hanging
your wreath on your window outdoors.
When you think of a house decorated for Christmas, what image comes to
mind? For me, it's one with twinkling white lights, the house covered in a
dusting of snow, with wreaths hanging in every window and a wreath on the
front door.
It begs the question - how to hang wreaths on exterior windows?
The "best" way to hang wreaths depends on what type of window you have,
and in this article I'll show you seven different options so you're sure
to find one that works for you.
Hanging Christmas wreaths is not an easy task and definitely one you want
to get right the first time and do once!
Our Colonial-style house
is begging to be decorated traditionally with exterior wreaths, but when we
tried to get the wreaths hung in the windows this past weekend, we were
unsure of the best way to do it.
How to hang Christmas wreaths on exterior windows or other
Christmas window decorations
is not something I knew how to do instinctively. You can hang a wreath on
your front door using a wreath hanger but that method won't work on windows.
You might have the same questions I had: What kind of hook or adhesive to
you use and will it last throughout the holiday season? Do Command strips
work on glass windows? How do you hang wreaths without damaging your window
or frame? Read on because I found the answers!
Disclosure: affiliate links have been used in this post for shopping
convenience. Updated for 2024.
Best Ways to Hang Wreaths on Windows
I hopped on my Instagram stories and asked how to hang wreaths on windows and there
were lots of helpful ideas which I wanted to share here in in
case you are having the same dilemma.
The best way to hang outdoor Christmas wreaths will depend on the type of
window you have, and the method you use to secure the wreath. Having said that
though, one method did stand out more commonly than the rest.
How To Hang Wreaths On Windows?
The best way to hang wreaths on windows is by using OUTDOOR Command hooks.
- Clean the window surface with rubbing alcohol and select appropriate hooks for the weight and size of your wreath.
- Stick the hooks firmly on the window after removing the adhesive backing.
- Wait for an hour before hanging the wreath. Ensure it is centered and secure.
There are lots of different 3M Command hooks and you want to make sure you
get the right ones that:
- are marked for OUTDOOR use. There are similar looking ones that are for use only indoors. Note that the outdoor hooks have clear adhesive backing, not white backing
- are CLEAR so that you can keep them up on your windows all year round if you want to
- are the right size for the weight of your wreath. Use the LARGE size for wreaths up to 4 lb and the MEDIUM size for wreaths up to 2 lb
💡 Table of Contents
- What You Need To Know Before Hanging A Wreath
- What size wreath do I need for my windows?
- How do vinyl windows differ from wood windows?
- How to hang wreaths on windows with screens?
- Where to hang wreaths on windows?
- Where do you put the bow on your outdoor wreath?
- 7 Ways to Hang Wreaths On Windows:
- Method 1: Ribbon
- Method 2: Floral Wire
- Method 3: Suction Cup with Hook
- Method 4: Magnetic Wreath Hangers
- Method 5: Fishing Line
- Method 6: Adjustable Tension Rod
- Method 7: 3M Command Outdoor Large Wreath Hook
- Final Tip: How to Re-Hang Wreaths on Upstairs Windows
What You Need To Know Before Hanging A Wreath
What size wreath do I need for my windows?
Opt for a wreath with a diameter that is 1/2 to 2/3 the width of your window and no more than half the height of your windows. 20" wreaths or 24" wreaths tend to work on most windows. Also consider the weight of the wreath. Anything that is too heavy or has too many decorations on it will require more support to stay on your window.How do vinyl windows differ from wood windows?
Unlike wood windows where you can poke or nail things right into the window frame, you'll want to use a damage-free method with vinyl windows. You don't want to ruin the integrity of your windows.How to hang wreaths on windows with screens?
Removing the window screens will make the task of hanging wreaths much easier. It will also make the wreaths more visible and attractive, without screens behind them. However, if you cannot remove your screens, consider screwing a screw hook into the exterior window frame at the middle top of your window.
Select a
screw hook that matches
the colour of your window trim to make it less visible. To prevent your wreath
from falling off of the hook, opt for a q-hanger screw hook with a safety clasp. Be sure that the hook is large and strong enough to hold the weight of your
wreath. Once the hook is installed, use a wide ribbon looped through the
wreath and hang the wreath from the hook.
Alternatively, you weave floral wire through the screen mesh and through the
wreath to hold the wreath flat against the window. This will prevent the
wreath from brushing against and potentially ripping the screen.
Where to hang wreaths on windows?
There is no set standard of where to hang a wreath on a window. It can be on the top half, along the middle, or on the bottom half of the window. It's whatever you prefer. However, you should hang all your wreaths at the same height on your windows and centred on the pane.
Also, don't hang them too high or too low so that they collide with the window
frame - aim for the centre of the wreath to fall 1/3 of the way down from the
top or 1/3 of the way up from the bottom. The best place to hang a wreath is
where the back of the wreath will sit flat against the window.
Where do you put the bow on your outdoor wreath?
You can put your bow at the top middle or bottom middle of your wreath, whatever you prefer. Make sure all the bows are placed on the same spot on all your wreaths, and that all the bows are the same. For a nostalgic look, opt for traditional red bows or patterned plaid bows. A 12" long bow will suit most window wreaths.
Ultimately, the best method to use to hang your wreaths depends on the type of
windows you have, so read through for
7 different methods of hanging wreaths on window glass - and find
out which one I recommend as the best way of how to hang Christmas
wreaths on outside windows.
7 Ways To Hang Wreaths On Windows:
Looking for a safe and secure way to hang your wreaths? Want to make sure
your wreaths don't blow away in the next wintry blast? I've tried several
different methods and in my experience adhesive hooks, also known as Command
hooks or 3M hooks, are the best way to hang wreaths on windows, but it's
important to note that they may not be the best solution for every
situation or every window.
Here's 7 of the most popular ways to hang wreaths on exterior windows.
There's bound to be one way that works for your home!
Method 1: Ribbon
(Best for Top Down or Double Hung Window)
You can easily hang a wreath with ribbon if you have a double hung window which opens from the top down:- Take a 4'-5' length of waterproof ribbon (at least 2.5" wide looks great). Use a pretty ribbon as it will be visible from the outside and inside of your home.
- Put one end of the piece of ribbon through the wreath, bring the ends together, and tie a knot near the end.
- Lower the top window sash and, still holding to the knot end, lower the wreath over the top of the window on the outside.
- Raise the window sash. The knot will prevent the wreath from falling to the ground. You might need to play with the placement of the knot in order to get the wreath to land at the desired height on the window.
|
| Example from Smart Girls DIY |
Method 2: Floral Wire
(Best for Bottom Up or Single Hung Window)
If your window opens from the bottom up, you can use stiff (yet almost invisible) floral wire to hold your wreath. You will need an extra pair of hands to help with this method:- Take a 4' length of floral wire
- Put one end of the floral wire through the middle of the wreath and bring the ends of the wire together
- From inside, have someone lift open the bottom window a few inches. From outside the window, slide the two floral wire ends up and over the bottom window. Have the person inside grab the floral wire ends.
- While still holding the wire ends in one hand, push down and close the bottom window with the other hand
- Lengthen or shorten the wires so that the wreath sits at the right location on the outside
- Secure the wire ends by wrapping them around the window lock, or insert a pushpin on the top of the bottom window and wrap the wires around the pin
Method 3: Suction Cup With Hook
Another wreath hanging option is to affix a large suction cup hook to the
window.
Vacuum suction cups
or
suction cup hooks specifically designed to hold wreaths (wreath hangers)
will work the best. Make sure the hook you use is rated to use for the weight
of your wreath.
This size is suitable
for most wreaths, but for very heavy or extra large wreaths, consider using
this stronger suction cup hook.
You can also use this method to hang wreaths on glass doors or on other smooth
surface indoors. For instance, use a suction cup hook to
hang a wreath on a mirror
like we did over our fireplace.
Method 4: Magnetic Wreath Hangers
This method is ideal for hanging a wreath on a single pane window or hanging
a wreath on a metal door. If you don't want to put a nail into your door, or
use a 3M hook, consider using Magnetic wreath hangers.
For use on a window, you will need a
two-pack of magnetic wreath hangers. The magnetic hooks are meant to sit on either side of your glass
window with the wreath hanging on the outside. But note - this method will
not work on thick double-pane glass.
Method 5: Fishing Line
If you have shutters on either side of the window, one possible solution is
to tie clear fishing line onto one shutter, take the open end of the wire and loop it through
the frame of the wreath, and secure that end to the shutter on the other
side. Ensure that the fishing line is nice and taut and will bear the weight
of the wreath. The clear fishing line won't be visible behind your wreath.
Similar to Method 1 and 2, you can also use fishing line to make your wreath
appear "floating" on your window. Feed fishing line through your wreath
which sits on the outside of your window, then secure the ends of the line
inside your home.
Here's an example
of how you can float a wreath on your door with fishing line secured to a
hook on the back of the door:
Method 6: Adjustable Tension Rod
Another idea is to use an adjustable tension rod that is the same colour as your window trim. Place the rod in front of the window, either across the middle where the upper window sash meets the bottom sash, or at the very top of the window frame. As the rod is the same colour as your window trim, it will be less noticeable. Adjust the rod so that it sits securely against the side jambs. Secure the wreath to the rod with wire, ribbon or zip ties.
Here's a great example
using a tension rod and ribbon to hang wreaths on the inside of a window. This
is a perfect solution for windows that don't open.
Method 7: 3M Command Outdoor Large Wreath Hook
(Recommended Method)
This is the method we ended up using and by far, it is the best way to hang
wreaths on windows. But we made an early mistake and you can learn from my
errors!
Initially, we had tried these
3M Command Large Wreath Hooks but they kept falling down. Then I received a helpful tip to
clean the window with
rubbing alcohol
before applying the hook
and that seemed to do the trick.
We followed the instructions, giving the hook time to adhere before we
attached the wreath. We've had a few days of below freezing temperatures and
strong wind gusts and the outdoor Command hooks are still holding.
2023 UPDATE: Our 3M Command Wreath Hooks have stayed up from 2017 to 2023 through all sorts of weather
conditions! We did not remove the hooks from the windows
after the holidays. Because they are clear, the hook is not that noticeable
so we've just kept them up for the next year (and to be honest, we don't
want to be up on tall ladders every year re-affixing these hooks!). Here's
a front view of our house in summer... the hooks are barely visible from the street.
We did have two hooks that flew off along with the wreaths due to high
winds. They didn't leave any damage on the window and we simply purchased
Outdoor Refill Strips
and re-hung the hooks.
Final Tip: How to Re-Hang Wreaths on Upstairs Windows
After removing our wreaths after Christmas, the next year we discovered the
easiest way to hang wreaths on the existing hooks on the second floor
windows without having to get up on a ladder... just lift up the bottom
sash, and from inside the house, reach your hand under the
window to the outside and hang the wreath on the hook.
Of course, this will only work if your hook is already on the window. If you
hang a wreath on the second floor window, just ensure that your wreath is
'ready to go' and all branches have been fluffed, bows attached etc.
before you climb up your ladder.
*****
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