How to Hang Christmas Stockings for a Creative Display Around Your Home

Learning how to hang Christmas stockings is a surefire way to get everyone in your family in a holiday mood. But where is the best place to put your stockings so they can spread maximum Christmas cheer—especially if you don’t have a fireplace mantel? Here are nine beautiful ways to display Christmas stockings around your home.

1. Hang Stockings on a Staircase

A great option for homes with a centrally-located staircase, Christmas stockings can be attached to the railing with small hooks (use removable adhesive ones to avoid damage) or ribbon. Stockings can also be hung from the sides of your stair treads using small weighted hooks; just make sure you position them so they don’t snag on someone’s sock or pants cuff.

2. Use Your Dresser or Console Table

Who says Christmas stockings are just for the family room? You can put stockings anywhere in your home, and bedrooms are no exception. Your dresser can double as a stocking display area, with the stockings hung from the knobs or handles. Or, hang them from the hardware on a console table to bring your entryway or foyer in on the Christmas fun.

3. Hang Stockings on Your Headboard 

For a burst of holiday cheer every morning, hang your Christmas stockings from your headboard. Kids especially will love waking up to a reminder of the season every morning. Most stockings have loops for hanging, but if the loop is too small or your stockings don’t have them, you can use a piece of twine and clothespins to secure the stockings to the headboard.

4. Hang From a Bookcase

For an instant dose of cozy charm, display your stockings on a bookcase. Hooks are an easy and clean way to secure them; if you don’t want to use a single hook for each stocking, use two hooks on either side of a shelf and string a piece of ribbon between the hooks for a festive feel.

5. Use a Branch for a Rustic Look

Are you interested in a more rustic decor scheme? Try bringing the outside in by finding a long branch to hang your stockings from. Depending on the size of the branch and where it will be displayed, it can be hung up with nails and picture hanging wire or curtain rod brackets. Secure your stockings with ribbon, string, or twine for a more woodsy feel, then dress up the branch with garland, mistletoe, or ivy to give it a holiday kick.

6. Hang From a Clothesline

If you don’t have a fireplace mantel or don’t want to change your fireplace decor for every season, try hanging your stockings from a clothesline. Rope or string work well, or use clear fishing wire for a low-profile look. You can attach a clothesline practically anywhere in your home–on a wall, on a bookcase, or even across a kitchen island. 

7. Attach Them to a Ladder

Hanging your Christmas stockings on a ladder is an adorable way to repurpose an old ladder. Wooden ladders work best for this type of display, and the bigger the ladder, the more Christmas cheer you can display. Secure your stockings with twine or colorful ribbon, add garland and lights, and voila! The perfect stocking display. 

8. Place Them on a Coat Tree or Rack

Coat racks–it’s like furniture designers made them for hanging things, right? You’ll be surprised at how quickly an old coat rack is transformed once it’s adorned with Christmas stockings; take things a step further by wrapping the pole in ribbon or lights. Any empty hooks can be used to display Christmas cards, ornaments, and the like.

9. Hang Them on Your Windows

Paired with candles or simply on their own, Christmas stockings make a pretty window dressing, bringing your neighbors some holiday cheer while sprucing up your indoor space. Depending on how much they weigh, stockings can be easily secured with tape, hooks, or a tack on the window frame.