Secrets from the Shoot: How to Hang Garland and Wreaths

Welcome to the second part of our “Secrets from the Shoot” blog series, where we share tips and tricks for achieving the professionally decorated look of the homes featured in Balsam Hill catalogs and TV commercials.

In our first post, we showed you simple ways to decorate holiday foliage to create elegant displays. This time, let’s discuss one frustrating challenge homeowners often face when decorating: how to hang garland, wreaths, and other accent pieces without causing damage or leaving unsightly cords or wires visible.

Hanging Wreaths and Other Foliage

Wreaths, garlands, and swags are festive favorites during the Yuletide season, but hanging them with nails or screw-in hooks can lead to unwanted holes on visible surfaces. There are a few common household items that can help you overcome this problem. The first is transparent nylon fishing line, which is strong, versatile, and difficult to see from afar.

This Mountain Meadow Wreath is cleverly secured to the banister using a length of fishing line, with no one the wiser. Best of all, at the end of the season, you can remove it without leaving any damage. Paper clips are a good alternative for securing lightweight items such as small ornaments or bunting are best for short-term use.

Another solution is to use non-damaging adhesive hooks. These can be purchased from any hardware store (or even most big-box stores such as Target or Wal-Mart), and can be removed or re-positioned very quickly. Our Crystal Palace Wreath pictured above is an elegant focal point for any space, and you can display your own wreath just like this, in a few easy steps. Simply position an adhesive hook on the desired spot on your wall, create a floral wire loop and attach it to the back of the wreath, and then hang the loop on the hook. Just like that, you can hang a wreath on a wall without leaving any lasting marks!

Fishing line and adhesive hooks can be used to hang wreaths and garlands on windows to beautiful effect. In seen in this photo, our Norway Spruce Holiday Garland is mounted atop the window while our Holiday Peony wreath is suspended in the middle of the glass pane – an elegant display that adds color and cheer to the kitchen.

Hiding Cords and Wires

Visible electrical wires or extension cords can take away from the polished look of hanging wreaths or garland. However, a bit of decorative ribbon can easily solve this problem. In the image below, our pre-lit wreath is mounted to the wall, and coordinating ribbon and bow are used to hide the power cord that runs up to the ceiling.

The cord is run along the seam where the crown molding and the ceiling meet, making the cord less noticeable. Then a few strips of white-colored gaffer tape is used to further conceal the cord. This heavy cotton cloth tape is widely used in film and television staging because it adheres well and removes easily without damaging paint. It comes in a variety of widths and colors, making it a great short-term decorating solution for the holidays.

With a bit of ingenuity and effort, even the simplest of household items can be used to make your home camera-ready for Christmas. Be sure to visit our “Shop the Look” page for simple guides on holiday decorating, and on replicating the styles seen here in our TV commercial.