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How to Hang Garland: 23 Easy Hacks for Hanging Christmas Garland

Secure gorgeous greenery from the wall, ceiling, mantel, front door and more.

Classic holiday accessories, like lush garlands and wreaths fill your home with cheer — whether it's framing a doorway, hung on the wall, draped over the banister or decorating a mantel. There are endless places around the house to display greenery (think sprigs of spruce, pine, fir or magnolia). The problem is, hanging heavy garlands and wreaths is challenging and since it's only temporary home decor, you don't want to install screws or nails that will permanently damage your space. 4 Duct Connector

How to Hang Garland: 23 Easy Hacks for Hanging Christmas Garland

To help make your holiday season just a little bit easier, we're sharing easy holiday hacks for how to hang garland without nails, screws or drills — although we do provide one solution for covering those tiny nail holes, if needed. Start scrolling to find ideas for hanging Christmas garlands and wreaths on stairs, windows, mirrors, lighting fixtures and more. There's also inspiration for outside, including how to hang three homemade wreaths from the front door and how to drape a garland on the front porch.

Even if you're a novice DIYer, you probably have most of these supplies on hand: twine, Command hooks, fishing line and zip ties, to name a few. Before you get started, take note from Sarah Fischer of Sarah & Sons Interiors: "Measure! You’ll want enough material so the garland can drape gracefully. Since garland can be heavy, consider ordering in 6 to 8 foot lengths, so you can work in sections."

To give your garland a natural draped look, use clear zip ties. "Make sure your zip ties are spaced evenly, and that the garland has enough swag in between each one," says interior designer Amy Peltier. "Then, all you have to do is cover the zip ties with the garland branches or add ribbon." Once the garland is secure, add as much decor as you want: berries, ornaments, ribbons, pinecones.

Take note from Hema Persad, founder of Sagrada Studio, and frame a doorway with garland. "Garlands are deceptively heavy," says Persad, who recommends extra-large Command hooks and multiples of them. "Use bows and decor strategically to hide the hooks," she adds.

Here, Sarah Fischer of Sarah & Sons Interiors uses thick gardening twine to secure a garland along a banister. The twine "ensures a strong hold that blends in easily and avoids marring the surface of the banister," according to Fischer, who also suggests ordering garland in smaller sections.

For a festive touch in this all-white kitchen, greenery is hung over the top of the light fixtures. "Ensure no wires in the garland could scratch the finishes, and use jute string to secure," suggests Ami McKay of PURE Design. "If you want to use hooks, find the 3M ones that stick and don’t damage the walls."

Secure fresh garland down the length of your banister using floral wire, which is typically green to blend in seamlessly. For a touch of personality, tie giant ribbons around it.

Thick ribbons may not be strong enough to fully secure your garland, but they can provide extra support — especially when paired with zip ties or floral wire. For this elegant stairway, interior designer Martha O’Hara goes for rust-colored velvet ribbons.

Here, blogger Magdalena Galle Rambe (@mittfunkis) uses existing bookshelf lamps as hangers for a spruce garland overtop a bookshelf. She then secures the edges using small spring clamps, covering them with smaller branches.

Embellish a vintage-inspired gold mirror with a magnolia garland, as interior designer Stephanie Stroud does here. Use floral wire to slowly secure the garland around the mirror's decorative trim. You can also add double-sided tape or use Command hooks on the back of the mirror for extra security that isn't visible.

Suction cups are a great way to hang wreaths from windows, but here the window lock makes a convenient alternative. Interior designer Martha O’Hara uses a red ribbon to display a macramé hoop adorned with a pair of brass bells and cypress greens.

With many sprigs of spruce and colorful ribbon draped over this doorway, Grace Frederick Design ensures no hooks can be seen. Use a mix of hooks, including small, medium and large Command hooks to secure each layer, carefully tucking so they aren't visible.

You may need to use a few nails when hanging garland from the ceiling, beams or on top of cabinets — especially in the kitchen, where loose greenery can be a fire hazard. "Here, I used one nail every 12 inches or so," says Christine Higgs of For the Home. "Once the season is over and I take the garland down, I will go around with wood filler to fill in holes and touch up paint."

This oversized wire wreath looks as though it's floating in the air, but in reality, it's being held by a piece of fishing line. Hang your decor with nearly-invisible fishing line and everyone will wonder how you've pulled it off.

See more at Style by Emily Henderson »

It's simple enough to hang a wreath on the front door using an adhesive hook, but sometimes one just isn't enough. Use a sturdy ribbon to tie multiple wreaths together, using a hook for each one if needed.

For a fluffy, heavy garland like this one, use medium or large Command hooks to secure it over the mantel. The best part about a larger garland? It makes it easier to hide your hooks.

If you love the look of greenery above your windows, just consider it your drapery for the season. A tension curtain rod holds the decorations in place, and craft-store wire attaches it to the rod.

See more at Home Stories A to Z »

Hang mini wreaths on the back of your chairs to instantly elevate the dining room. Find your favorite ribbon — make sure it's sturdy — and loop it around the wreath and tie the ribbon around the top of the chair. For extra support, you can use a zip tie then cover it with the ribbon.

For an easy, foolproof option, attach a garland hanger to any door frame — indoors or outdoors. Then, you can easily drape your greens over the top. Since they're adjustable, they can be moved around from door to door (or door to window) in the years to come.

Add a pop of color to your garland with these decorative ties. These fabric-covered ties are pleasing to the eye and do a great job at securing the garland to the banister since they act as a twist tie. Also, you don’t have to worry about any scratches on the banister — an overall win!

Hang a wreath on your pendant light by using thick, sturdy ribbon to create your own custom chandelier. Be careful to choose a lightweight wreath so your pre-existing hardware can easily support it.

Give your pre-existing decor a holiday upgrade. You can use heavy-duty tape (like a double-sided one) or removable Command strips to attach greenery, like wreaths and garlands, to your mirrors.

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How to Hang Garland: 23 Easy Hacks for Hanging Christmas Garland

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