The best way to hang a wreath on your front door — after all, no-one wants a new front door on their Christmas list next year

If you've invested in a new porch or front door, the changes are you've suddenly realised you don't know the best way to hang a wreath on your front door. In fact it's entirely possible your inner Grinch has entered the room at the thought of sticky tape or nails coming anywhere near your precious new entrance.

So what is the best way to hang a wreath on a front door? Does it depend on the material, or is there a fail-safe method that anyone can use? And, is there ever a time when you need to accept your front door wreath may no longer be an option?

We asked leading door experts for their top tips and tricks so you can make sure you know the best way to hang a wreath on your front door without risking any damage or costly repairs.

How not to hang a wreath on a front door

As front doors aren't made from the same material, there isn't one set answer to the question, "what is the best way to hang a wreath on the front door". It really does come down to what your door is made from, and how it is constructed.

And, in some cases, there might not ever be a solution that works, or one that you're comfortable with. Instead, you might need to look at other front door and porch decor ideas.

But, while there isn't one best way, there is one rule to adhere to when it comes to a avoiding new front door costs, and that's the best way not to hang a wreath on your front door.

"Drilling or hammering directly into your door can cause long-term damage or compromise insulation and seals," warns Jade Oliver, home stylist from Express Bi-Folding Doors. "Always choose non-invasive methods like adhesive hooks, suction cups, or ribbons."

"Some contemporary doors also can't have anything at all obstructing the drop down weather seals," adds Elizabeth Assef, co-founder and designer at leading door supplier, Urban Front, who finds herself facing this issue every year. "If this applies to you, make sure you remember that nothing can be tied around them, or they won't work properly."

Best ways to hang a wreath by door type

So, hammer and nails to one side, and weather seals checked, what are the best ways to hang a wreath on your front door to avoid damage and bring some festive cheer to your home?

We breakdown your options by door material and design.

1. Composite doors

"Composite doors are one of the most popular styles in modern homes," says Jade Oliver, "but using traditional metal over the door hangers for wreaths can damage the weather seal and affect the door's performance," she warns.

Instead, try these following techniques:

• Hang with a ribbon: For a stylish and safe option, use a ribbon to hang your wreath. If your door has front door furniture such as a knocker, then simply loop the ribbon through your wreath and tie it securely to the knocker. If your door doesn't have a knocker, loop the ribbon over the top of the door and secure it inside with a sticky or magnetic hook. This keeps the door's surface completely free of marks.
• Use suction cups: Suction hooks are another excellent choice for composite or glass doors. They are discreet, easy to remove, and won't leave behind residue or damage. Make sure you buy high-quality suction cups that can hold around 3kg to ensure your wreath stays put, even in bad weather.

Or, if you haven't bought a new door yet, but love decorating your entrance, there's a clever new invention from Everest that might pique your interest, says Anthony Threlfall, head of marketing at Everest.

The company have developed an elegant solution for their signature composite door range called the Magic Wreath Holder.

“Two powerful magnets are built into the door's structure, hidden beneath the durable skin. This allows you to affix your wreath using a discreet external magnet, ensuring a secure hold without any risk of scratches or marks,” says Anthony.

“It is a subtle detail that makes a significant difference, keeping your entrance pristine and ensuring your home’s kerb appeal remains flawless,” adds Anthony.

Shop for wreath hanging solutions

2. Wooden or glass doors

"Wooden and glass doors both need a little extra care to avoid any chips, scratches or peeling paint," explains Jade Oliver, suggesting the following techniques:

• Over-the-door hanger: Over the door hangers are one of the simplest solutions. They fit most door types, just do not use them on composite doors as it can damage the seal and performance of the door. Over the door hangers take seconds to install and can even add a decorative touch with festive red or metallic finishes.
• Command hooks: Adhesive hooks, such as the Command Outdoor Large Nickel Hook from Amazon can work well. Just make sure the surface is clean and dry to allow the adhesive bond before hanging, and avoid sticking them to painted areas. Make sure you use suction or command style hooks directly on the glass, not on frames.

3. Aluminium or steel doors

For certain metal doors, magnetic hooks, such as the heavy duty Findmag 3 pack Metal Magnetic Hooks from Amazon, can be a great option, but I would add that you need to be extra careful when adding or removing the magnet.

I have used heavyweight magnetic towel hooks on a chrome finish towel radiator and the shiny, mirror like surface means that they have unavoidably left scratch marks on the surface when moved around.

4. uPVC front doors

Displaying a wreath should be simple and stress-free without putting the integrity of your door at risk.

“Traditional options like drilling, sticky adhesives, or bulky over-door hangers can cause damage or take away from the clean, polished look of your entryway. You still want to invite people over after the festive season is long and gone, so you need to be smart when hanging a wreath on your door,” says Anthony Threlfall.

“Always avoid nails, screws, or anything that pierces the surface. Instead, add a felt or foam backing to your wreath to prevent scratches from movement in windy weather, and make sure it isn’t too heavy for the hook you’re using. If you’re using ribbon, loop it over the door rather than attaching it directly to the surface to prevent scuffs," he adds.

Elizabeth Assaf

Elizabeth Assaf and her husband Nabil formed Urban Front back in 2005. Even today the doors are all handmade in the UK and signed off with their careful attention to detail and design.

Tips for hanging a wreath on your front door

Before you start the process of hanging a wreath on your front door, it's also important you undertake some initial preparation advises Jade Oliver.

1. Check the weight of your wreath: Before hanging, weigh your wreath (or estimate its weight) to ensure your chosen hanger, hook, or suction cup can hold the weight of your wreath.
2. Clean the surface first: Wipe down the door to remove any dirt or dust before attaching suction or adhesive hooks. A clean, dry surface ensures a stronger hold and prevents any residue.

Alternative ideas to hanging a wreath on your front door

If, like Elizabeth Assaf you'd rather not risk hanging a wreath on your front door in any shape or form, then don't worry, you can still dress your entrance for Christmas.

"It's always a hot topic in the office," Elizabeth tells us, "and I'm currently just about to decorate my own door and I can't touch it with anything. So, if this is the case for you too, here's my list of fail-safe ideas for Christmas porch and front door decor."

1. Think doorscapes: Decorate around the door instead of the door itself. I've found this is always the best way to decorate. For instance if you have a plant by the door, decorate that with baubles or ribbons or lights.
2. Use larger scale items: Place large items next to the door to create the festive feel, such as a nutcracker statue or a large bauble.
3. Lightweight items are your friend: Hang things that are very light (such as foam based decoration) from the top of the door edge, or use Christmas wreath hooks or ribbon decorations that go around the door. Bows are big for this year which makes this idea very on trend.
4. Hang from inside: I have also tied ribbons to the inside handle that then hang over to the other side to hang a wreath – although as noted, this won't work for weatherseals
5. Decorate your handle instead of the door: f you have a large door knob it's easy to hang a wreath off this. Or, a long pull handle can have greenery or sparkly strings wrapped around it, or hung in parallel by tying items to the top and bottom.
6. Use your canopy/overhang or small porch: If you have a roof of any kind, hang things from the underside of the canopy such as baubles in different sizes.
7. Use the glazing on your sidelight: If you have a glazed sidelight, decorate this instead
8. Use available wall space: I've also used the wall above the door area, to insert a hook and then hang things downwards - not in the open door area so that they frame the door instead

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Shop these alternative Christmas decor ideas

Our final tips for making sure your front door remains protected from damage? If you live in an exposed location, or don't have porch ideas providing some protection to your front door, I'd also suggest you make sure that the wreath you use, really is waterproof. The last thing you need is colours seeping out of it when it rains and the dye damaging you door or the steps to your front door.