Want to take your decorating to the next level this holiday season? Learn how to hang a wreath from a window in a way that looks great and won't fail.
Time 5 to 10 minutes
ComplexityBeginner
Cost$20
Introduction
My wife recently began making her own holiday wreaths from spruce, balsam and cedar boughs harvested from around our home. These beautiful creations deserved better installation than my standard hanging method of frayed garden twine and packing tape. I needed to find a better way that was sturdy and attractive.
That turned out to be trickier than I thought. Eventually, I settled on the approach I'll explain below. I've also come up with an alternative method for different types of windows. Here, you'll learn how to hang a wreath from a window in a way that looks great and won't let you (or your wreath) down.
Tools Required
- Scissors
Materials Required
- 2 thumb tacks
- Bell decoration (optional)
- Large suction cup hook
- Roll of decorative holiday ribbon
- Thin brown twine (optional)
- Thin double-sided tape (not carpet tape)
Watch How To Hang a Wreath From a Window
Project step-by-step (5)
Step 1
Decide on wreath location and hanging method
- Hold your wreath at different heights on the window.
- Decide the height where your wreath looks best.
- Determine what style of window you have, because this affects how you’ll hang your wreath. Most windows are crank-open casement or horizontal or vertical sliders. Double-hung windows are a type of vertical slider.
- For vertical slider and crank-open windows that open on the top or either side, hang your wreath with decorative ribbon.
- For horizontal slider windows, you’ll need a hook and double-sided tape.
Step 2
Cut and knot your ribbon (for crank-open or vertical-slider windows)
- Loop some strong decorative ribbon through the center of your wreath.
- Unroll enough ribbon to hang your wreath on the window at the height you determined in the first step, plus several extra inches.
- Cut the ribbon at that length.
- Tie the two ends together into a large knot. Then tie it again in the same spot to make the knot larger.
- Cut off excess ribbon from the ends.
Step 3
Hang your wreath (for crank-open or vertical slider-windows)
- Slide the top side of your crank-open or vertical slider window open a couple of inches.
- Slip the knotted end of the ribbon into the open window slot.
- Ensure the ribbon is centered on the window, then close and latch the window over the knot.
- Allow the wreath to hang on the ribbon, giving it a light tug to ensure it won’t slip free. If it does, make your knot bigger and try again.
- This approach works whether you’re hanging the wreath on the interior or exterior side of your window.
Step 4
Hang your wreath (for horizontal-slider windows)
- Apply thin double-sided tape to the back face of a large suction cup hook.
- Apply the tape-filled hook to your window, centered horizontally where it will support your wreath at your preferred height.
- Be sure to press the suction cup firmly against the window to ensure it sticks properly.
- Hang the underlying wire or twig structure of the wreath on the section cup hook, arranging it so the foliage of the wreath hides the hook. Most wreaths can be hung securely on the hook.
- For wood trim windows, cut ribbon of the appropriate length, then secure in the top of your window trim with two thumb tacks driven into the woodwork. Wood trim windows make it possible to push in thumbtacks as an anchor for your wreath.
Step 5
Optional: Hang decorative bells for wreaths hung with ribbon
- Cut a short length of thin brown twine.
- Loop one or more small decorative bells onto it.
- Loop the twine under the ribbon holding your wreath, then tie it to itself to prevent the bells from falling off.
