7 Expert Tips on How To Hang A Garland Around Your Front Door (With Pictures)

There is nothing quite like having a front entryway completely framed by beautiful and festive garland. A thick wreath of greenery, light, and baubles is the perfect way to welcome anyone into your home during the holidays. If you have ever wanted to have a stunning garland entryway, we have expert tips to get you started. Hanging a large garland around a high-traffic area might seem daunting and intimidating, but it is actually very simple.

Here are seven expert tips on how to hang a garland around your front door in time for the holidays.

Preparation

Before you get started, you will need to gather a few things. This job will take a couple of hours and requires some basic supplies to get you started.

The 7 Expert Tips on How To Hang A Garland Around Your Front Door

1. Use Removable Adhesive Hooks

The easiest way to hang garland is to use removable adhesive hooks. Adhesive hooks are affordable, come in many different configurations, and can be added and removed without leaving any marks or damaging your door or siding. After the season, you can easily take the adhesive hooks down, but they are strong enough to hold garland for weeks at a time.

You will need multiple adhesive hooks for the best results if you want to frame your front door completely. You should use two to three hooks across the top of the door and two to three hooks on either side of the doorway. If you do not use enough hooks, your garland might not hold its shape, or you could put too much weight on individual hooks if you are planning on hanging ornaments from the garland.

Some doors are larger than others—the larger the door, the more hooks and more garland you will need. The largest entryways measure 3 ft. x 8 ft. in size. Average doors measure 2 ft. 8 in. x 6 ft. 8 in. That means the largest doors are considerably larger than typical entryways.

2. Use Hooks That Match Your Door or Siding

If you plan on using more permanent hooks, make sure that you buy fasteners that are designed to work with your specific door or siding. There are hooks meant to be embedded in wood siding, vinyl siding, and cement siding. If you do not use the proper hooks for your siding, you could end up damaging your house.

The same thing goes for your door. There are many types of front doors, including wood and composite. You want to hammer any hooks into the body of your door with the proper fasteners for the job. These types of hooks are more permanent, but they also carry more risk during installation than adhesive hooks.

3. Use Floral Wire

One of the best ways to give your garland strength and shape is to use floral wire. Floral wire can help shape your garland. Floral wire can also be used to secure the garland to the hooks after you have everything looking the way you want it. Floral wire can be purchased at most craft stores and is an invaluable resource for hanging, shaping, and securing garlands to a front entryway.

4. Use Fishing Line

Another common material that you can use instead of floral wire is fishing line or nylon line. Some people have fishing line on hand. Fishing line is strong, translucent, and easy to tie. Those are some of the best qualities to have for the line that you are going to use to secure your garland. You do not have to use floral wire if you have a comparable replacement.

5. Start in the Middle and Work Outwards

For the evenest look, it is best to start in the middle of the garland and work outwards. The best place to start is in the center at the top of the door. Move outwards in equal measure from the center. This ensures that your garland will remain even on both sides. If you have three hooks along the top, you should do the center hook, then the right hook, and the left hook before moving downwards on either leg.

If you do not start from the middle, you risk having an uneven garland where the legs are not the same length. If you want your garland to hang or flow in a certain way, starting from the center guarantees you will get the look you desire.

6. Secure Your Garland to Each Hook

The best way to ensure that your garland is strong and will last the length of the holiday season is to firmly secure it using floral wire or fishing line. If you do not secure your garland to each hook, you could find your garland sagging as time goes on. You could be at risk of bumping your garland out of place as you enter and leave your home. If you experience any poor weather, you could even see your garland blow away.

After placing your garland into your hooks, you should take lengths of wire or line and tightly wrap the garland to the hooks. Go around the body of the garland and around the hook. Wrap tightly and then tie the line off. Trim the excess as needed. The result will be a strong garland that will not lose its shape or fall out of the hooks as time goes on. You can even use zip ties in this situation if you have those around the house instead of floral wire.

7. Decorate After the Garland Is Secure

If you plan to decorate your doorway’s garland, you should do it after it is installed and secured. It is much easier to decorate the strand after it is secure rather than trying to decorate it while it is on the ground and then trying to hang and secure it with the decorations in place. Decorating after you hang the garland allows you to get an accurate placement of each decoration for the best possible look.

There are numerous ways to decorate your garland. You can add Christmas lights or ornaments. You can spruce up your garland with spray-on glitter or snow. You can tie in ribbons, bows, or tinsel. The options are very diverse, and the ultimate choice will be up to you.

Conclusion

These tips and tricks will help you install the perfect garland around your front door. A shapely garland is a classic holiday touch that is sure to resonate with you and your family throughout the holiday season. Hanging the perfect garland is simple if you follow these tips. The results will be breathtaking. Don’t be deterred from hanging your dream holiday decorations.

See also:

• 10 Expert Tips on How to Hang a Garland on a Mantel
• 7 Expert Tips on How to Hang a Balloon Garland

Featured Image Credit: Jackie Ramirez, Pixabay