A door specialist has warned that hanging a wreath on a front door could lead to homeowners having to pay bills of between £80 and £200 if they are not careful. As autumn officially arrives, wreaths are a common decoration sold in garden centres and home decor stores, with some people already adding festive lights alongside them.
Why wreaths can cause costly damage
Ilja Medvedevs, door specialist at Door Supplies Online, claimed the safest way to hang a wreath depends on the type of door. He explained: "A wreath looks harmless, so it is easy to think any hook will do, but different door materials react differently."
"The method that works on one door could scratch the finish, leave a permanent hole or affect how another door closes," he added. He shared six tips to consider when deciding how to hang a wreath to help prevent damage to the door.
Avoid drilling into composite and uPVC doors
One of the most common mistakes people make is treating modern uPVC doors like a wooden door, which could lead to more damage than expected. Ilja urged people to avoid drilling a hole directly into the uPVC wall, arguing it is not worth causing permanent damage for something that will only be up for a few weeks of the year. Instead, he recommended trying removable options first, particularly where the door surface is decorative or difficult to repair.
Check hangers, hooks and the wreath itself
Over-the-door wreath hangers are popular because they do not require drilling, but can still cause problems if they are too thick. "If the door suddenly needs more force to close once the hanger is in place, stop using it," Ilja said. Metal hangers can also rub against the face of the door, particularly if they move every time the door opens. "If the hanger shifts around, protect any point where metal touches the door," he added.
The wreath itself can also cause damage if exposed wire, hard decorations or stiff branches rub against the surface. Ilja recommended turning the wreath over to check for exposed wires or anything sharp on the back, and covering them with a soft barrier to prevent scratches.
Adhesive hooks, existing furniture and final checks
Removable adhesive hooks can work well on some doors, but Ilja warned homeowners to check whether the product is suitable for the surface first. "I would be cautious on recently painted doors or any finish that is already starting to lift," he said. "An adhesive strip may come away cleanly from one surface and take paint or coating with it on another."
For some homeowners, the safest fixing may already be built into the door. "If you have a strong door knocker in the right position, ribbon can be a simple option," Ilja said, but added that the wreath should be light enough not to put unnecessary strain on the knocker or other door furniture.
Once the wreath is in place, Ilja recommends opening, closing and locking the door as usual to make sure it is not different to normal. "If the hanger catches, the seal looks compressed or the wreath knocks against the surface every time you use the door, change the setup," he said.
