As we head into the festive season, many people will be decorating their homes for Christmas. Wreaths are a traditional decorative piece hung on front doors up and down the UK. However, if you have an aluminium or stylish steel front door, is it still possible to hang a Christmas wreath and if so how?
What Can I Use to Hang a Wreath on My Door?
There are a number of factors to consider when choosing what to hang your Christmas wreath on, including the weight of wreath, the type of door you have and which product you are going to use to hang it on. If you have a traditional wooden door, then the likelihood is that you have a doorknocker that has been used for many years of wreath hanging.
Newer steel or aluminium front doors often have a minimalist look with no features suitable to hang a wreath on but there are ways and means around this.
The simple solution is to use an over the door wreath hanger, however, you will find that with quality steel and aluminium doors that the gap between the frame and door is a lot tighter and that the compression on rubber seals won’t allow for a wreath hanger. This is, of course, a good thing, as your home will be nicely insulated and warm throughout the winter.
To get around this and to hang your wreath, ribbon, voile or suchlike is going to be the best material to use for the festive season.
How Do You Hang a Wreath on an Aluminium Door?
There are tonnes of advantages to installing a steel or aluminium front door, but one you might not have thought about the ease of hanging a festive wreath. Depending on the construction of the door, it is sometimes possible to fix a ribbon to the top of the door where any accidental marks or residue will be hidden from view. If there is nowhere to loop the ribbon around on top of the front door, adhesive glass hooks are perfect.
Place a removable hook on the inside of the door and upside down, so that you can loop the ribbon on which your wreath is attached around the hook. This process of placing a hook on the internal side of the door upside down and looping the wreath around is perfectly demonstrated in this wreath hanging video from the US, Christmas ‘Fixmas’…
It is better to use adhesive hooks on glass if at all possible, rather than on the paint or powder-coated finish. Please remember to never use a scraper or abrasive such as a scourer to remove any adhesive residue.
If you are planning on using an adhesive hook on the outside, bear in mind removable sticky hooks are designed more for internal use within the home and may not stand up to the outside changing conditions. Failure of a sticky hook or magnet will result in the wreath falling risking damage as it falls, so we recommend reading the manufacturer’s instructions first.
Magnetic Wreath Hangers
Unfortunately, aluminium and some stainless steels are not magnetic but if you are lucky enough to have a door constructed from a magnetic material, magnetic wreath hooks are the perfect solution for hanging a Christmas wreath on a metal front door, with no holes in the door required at all. Simple often works best.
Just be sure to choose a magnet that will have the strength to hold up the wreath for the entirety of the Christmas period. Magnetic hooks products often come with soft padding on the back to prevent any scratches or damage.
Can You Hang a Wreath on a Glass Door?
It is possible to hang a wreath on a glass door, or steel door with a glass insert. A plastic adhesive hook or suction cup is the best option for glass doors, and should not look out of place if buried amongst the beauty of your festive wreath.
How Do You Keep a Wreath From Scratching at the Door?
There is a risk that a wreath will scuff front entrance doors, especially those with a high gloss finish, and therefore its essential to minimise if not eliminate potential movement of the wreath. It is not just the motion of opening and closing the door that can cause this. Throughout December, there will likely be regular windy weather that will cause the wreath to sway and rub against the door. Even the smallest of movements will cause slight scuffing over time.
PROFESSIONAL TIP - Always give the door a thorough clean using warm soapy water to remove dirt and grime because even soft padding of the wreath will rub dirt, which could cause marking. It is like cleaning a car with a dirty sponge; despite it being soft, it will leave marks if there is the slightest amount of dirt.
There are two good ways to prevent a festive wreath from scratching a steel or aluminium front door.
- Felt or foam can be attached to the back of the wreath so that even when it moves, it will not cause any damage to the door surface.
- Stop the wreath moving completely. Attach some Velcro to the surface of the door, or some double-sided sticky tape combined with the fabric on the back of the wreath. However, be wary of using a solvent that will not damage the surface of the door.
In the event damage is caused there are some incredible specialist companies that can repair damage to surfaces, just get in touch with Freelance Entry Solutions and we will be happy to help and point you in the right direction.
Why Do We Hang a Wreath on the Door at Christmas?
The tradition of hanging a wreath on a front door can be traced back to a number of religious and cultural traditions. Christians believe the wreath is representative of Jesus’ suffering, while others say the Romans hung wreaths on front doors to represent victory or that the tradition of the wreath stem from German folklore, with the evergreen leaves used as a symbol of sustained life throughout the winter months.
Today, wreaths add a warm look and feel to the property and represent the excitement in the lead up to the festive fun. There are many classic and modern variations available to buy or make and attached to your front door to fit in with the rest of your decorations. Wreaths are often the first thing people see when they come over to celebrate at Christmas, so it is no surprise that many us put the effort into this decoration.
Time for a New Front Door?
As you hang the wreath on the door this Christmas, you might stand back and think it is soon time for a change of door or the very least time to give it some TLC.
Before you hang your wreath, or after you take it down in January, it is a great opportunity to give the front door a little care, clean the door, silicone rubber seals, clean and refurb any stainless steel, lubricate locks and mechanism and look for any problems.
If the time has come to install a new front door, steel or aluminium doors offer enhanced security, insulation and style. A door with a glass insert will allow light to through into the hallway and can transform the kerb appeal of your home. Additional security features such as digital viewers are also available to increase safety, however, please note we have yet to capture any footage of Father Christmas doing his rounds.
If you want to start a new project next year, why not browse our front door range or come and visit our showroom to get your hands on our products and get a feel for the quality available to enhance your entrances. Give us a call to discuss your requirements.