Clothes Hanger Christmas Decor: 14 Boutique Style Pieces Nobody Will Guess Started in Your Closet
Clothes hanger Christmas decor is the cheapest way to get a front door that looks like it came from a fancy gift shop. Every closet has a few bent wire hangers or old wooden ones nobody uses. With a little greenery, ribbon and twine, they turn into stars, hearts, snowflakes, candy canes and even a reindeer. These hanger crafts are blowing up on Facebook right now, with some videos passing 80,000 reactions, and it is easy to see why. The supplies are almost free, the shapes are simple, and the finished pieces look rich and full. Below are 14 ideas for doors, walls, porches and even kitchen cabinets. Each one has a short supply list and three easy steps. Wear gloves and use pliers when you bend or cut wire, and keep sharp ends tucked away. Now grab a hanger and let’s make something pretty..
Clothes Hanger Christmas Decor Star Wreath for the Front Door
Ready for the piece your neighbors will ask about? This star starts as one plain wire hanger. Bend it into five points, then pack it with evergreen, pine cones and red berries until no wire shows. A big red velvet bow on top makes it look like a boutique buy. It feels fresh next to our front door swag ideas, and it costs a fraction of a store wreath. Add a wooden hanger with a tiny sled beside the door to finish the look..
You will need: 1 wire hanger, pliers, work gloves, green floral wire, faux evergreen picks, pine cones, red berry picks, wide red velvet ribbon.
How to make it: 1. Wearing gloves, untwist the hanger and bend it into a five point star with pliers, keeping the hook at the top. 2. Wire evergreen picks all around the star, overlapping so the wire disappears. 3. Tuck in pine cones and berries, then tie a large velvet bow at the top.
Heart Wreath From a Bent Wire Hanger
A heart wreath says welcome in the sweetest way. Pull the bottom of a wire hanger down into a point and push the top in to form the dip of the heart. Cover it with soft cedar and eucalyptus for a calm, modern look. A small cream bow keeps it simple. This one looks lovely all winter, not just at Christmas. If you like gentle greens, our classic wreath ideas are full of more ways to style a door.
You will need: 1 wire hanger, pliers, gloves, faux cedar stems, faux eucalyptus stems, green floral wire, cream ribbon.
How to make it: 1. Bend the hanger into a heart shape and tape over the twisted neck. 2. Lay cedar and eucalyptus along the frame and wrap them on with floral wire. 3. Tie a small cream bow at the top dip and hang it on the door.
Clothes Hanger Christmas Decor Star Wrapped in Jute
Sometimes less is more. A wire star wrapped tight in natural jute twine looks warm and rustic. Add one sprig of pine and a small red bow and you are done. It takes about 30 minutes, and you can make a few in a row for gifts. The twine hides every bit of wire, so it looks handmade in the best way. For more cozy texture, see our jute and twine decorating ideas. Hang it on a gray, white or navy door.
You will need: 1 wire hanger, pliers, gloves, 1 roll of natural jute twine, hot glue gun (adult use), 1 pine sprig, red ribbon.
How to make it: 1. Bend the hanger into a star shape. 2. Glue the end of the twine to one point and wrap it tightly all the way around, adding a dot of glue at each corner. 3. Tie on the pine sprig and a small red bow.
Fluffy Pom Pom Snowflake
This one makes everyone smile. Cut wire hangers into straight pieces, cross them at the center and wire them together like a snowflake. Then cover every arm with fluffy white pom poms. It looks soft and snowy, even in a warm climate. Kids can make the pom poms while an adult handles the wire cutting. It looks great on a pale blue door. Want more snowy shapes? Our paper snowflake ideas are a fun next project.
You will need: 2 or 3 wire hangers, wire cutters, gloves, thin craft wire, about 40 white yarn pom poms, hot glue gun (adult use).
How to make it: 1. An adult cuts three straight pieces of the same length and files the cut ends. 2. Cross them at the center and wrap tightly with craft wire to make six arms. 3. Glue pom poms along each arm and add a bigger one at each tip.
Clothes Hanger Christmas Decor With a Mini Sled
A plain wooden hanger becomes a tiny winter scene in minutes. Hang it on a wall or door, then tie on a little red sled and a bundle of evergreen and pine cones with twine. The hanger’s hook makes it ready to hang right away. It feels like a vintage cabin in the woods. You can find small wooden sleds at craft stores or make one from scrap wood. Our vintage sled decorating ideas show more ways to use sleds big and small.
You will need: 1 wooden hanger, 1 small wooden sled, faux evergreen stems, 3 pine cones, natural twine, a wall hook.
How to make it: 1. Hang the wooden hanger on a wall hook or over the door. 2. Tie the evergreen bundle to the center of the hanger with twine. 3. Tie the sled just below it and wire the pine cones on top of the greenery.
Wire Hanger Tree With a Ribbon Zigzag
Bend a hanger into a tall triangle and you have a Christmas tree outline. Now weave red and white ribbon back and forth across it in a zigzag. The stripes fill the space and look cheerful and bright. Top it with a small gold star. It hangs flat on a wall or a door and takes up no room at all. This is a fun one to make with kids. If you love ribbon trees, try our ribbon Christmas tree ideas too.
You will need: 1 wire hanger, pliers, gloves, red ribbon, white ribbon, hot glue gun (adult use), 1 small gold star ornament.
How to make it: 1. Pull the bottom bar of the hanger down to form a tall triangle. 2. Glue the end of each ribbon at the bottom and weave both colors from side to side, crossing them as you go up. 3. Glue the star at the top near the hook.
Clothes Hanger Christmas Decor Mitten Garland
Tiny knit mittens are just too cute. Clip them along a wooden hanger with mini clothespins, and you have a little garland that hangs anywhere. It looks great by the front door, in a mudroom or over a kid’s bed. You can knit the mittens, cut them from felt or buy a small set. Swap them for tiny stockings or paper stars later. For longer versions of this idea, see our handmade garland ideas. Kids love moving the mittens around.
You will need: 1 wooden hanger, 6 to 8 tiny knit or felt mittens, mini wooden clothespins, a wall hook.
How to make it: 1. Hang the wooden hanger on a hook. 2. Lay out the mittens in an alternating color pattern. 3. Clip each mitten to the hanger bar with a mini clothespin, spacing them evenly.
Striped Ribbon Candy Cane
A giant candy cane on the door looks sweet and playful. Straighten a wire hanger, then bend the top into a cane hook. Wrap it in red and white striped ribbon so it looks like a real peppermint treat. A green velvet bow adds a pop of contrast. It is light, cheap and easy to store. You can make a pair for double doors. For more sweet shapes, check out our candy cane crafts. Tape the cut ends so they never poke through.
You will need: 1 wire hanger, pliers, gloves, duct tape, red and white striped ribbon, green velvet ribbon, hot glue gun (adult use).
How to make it: 1. Straighten the hanger and bend one end into a cane hook. Tape both ends. 2. Glue the ribbon at the bottom and wrap it at an angle all the way up. 3. Tie a green velvet bow where the hook begins.
Clothes Hanger Christmas Decor Bell Trio for the Porch
Three bells hanging at different heights look full and festive on a porch post. Each bell is a wire hanger bent into a bell outline, then wrapped in red ribbon and greenery. A plaid bow ties them all together at the top. They move a little in the wind, which is so charming. We have more bell projects in our DIY Christmas bell ideas. Hang them where people walk up to the door so they get noticed.
You will need: 3 wire hangers, pliers, gloves, red ribbon, faux greenery garland, floral wire, plaid ribbon, a porch hook.
How to make it: 1. Bend each hanger into a bell outline with a flared bottom. 2. Wrap each bell in red ribbon, then wire a little greenery around the edges. 3. Tie the bells to plaid ribbon at three lengths and hang them from the porch hook.
Pants Hanger Photo Display With Tiny Ornaments
Do you have a clip pants hanger in the closet? It makes a darling holiday photo display. Clip on your favorite family photos or holiday cards, then hang tiny red and gold ornaments from the bottom bar with ribbon. Add a sprig of greenery at the hook. It is easy to change as new cards arrive in the mail. Love photo projects? Our picture frame Christmas crafts have more ideas. Hang it on a wall or inside the pantry door.
You will need: 1 wooden pants hanger with clips, 3 photos or cards, 5 small shatterproof ornaments, thin red ribbon, a greenery sprig.
How to make it: 1. Clip the photos or cards along the hanger. 2. Tie the ornaments to the bottom bar with short ribbons at different lengths. 3. Tuck the greenery sprig at the hook and hang it up.
Mistletoe Ball From Two Wire Loops
Two hangers bent into circles and crossed make a round frame like a globe. Cover it with faux mistletoe and greenery, add a red ribbon on top, and hang it in a doorway. It is a sweet nod to an old holiday tradition. You can read about the history of the humble clothes hanger on Wikipedia. Use only faux mistletoe, since the real berries are not safe for pets or kids. It pairs well with our entryway holiday ideas.
You will need: 2 wire hangers, pliers, gloves, floral wire, faux mistletoe, faux greenery, red ribbon, a ceiling hook.
How to make it: 1. Bend each hanger into a circle about the same size. 2. Slide one circle inside the other at a right angle and wire them together at the top and bottom. 3. Wrap greenery and mistletoe all over, then tie the ribbon at the top and hang.
Twine Wrapped Reindeer Head
This rustic reindeer is pure charm. Bend wire into a simple head shape with two branching antlers, then wrap it in twine. A tiny red pom pom nose makes it smile. It looks perfect on a wood plank wall or a cabin style door. Take your time with the antlers, since a little wobble makes it look handmade. If you love woodsy looks, browse our woodland holiday decor. Draw the shape on paper first to use as a guide.
You will need: 2 wire hangers, pliers, gloves, thin craft wire, natural twine, hot glue gun (adult use), 1 red pom pom.
How to make it: 1. Bend one hanger into a head shape and the second into two antlers, then wire the antlers on. 2. Glue the twine at the base and wrap it over every part. 3. Glue the pom pom nose at the bottom tip.
Clothes Hanger Christmas Decor Mini Wreaths for Cabinets
Small child size hangers make the perfect mini wreaths. Bend each one into a circle and wrap it with greenery. A tiny red bow finishes each one. Hang them on kitchen cabinet doors with clear adhesive hooks for a sweet, matching look. Make one for every upper cabinet, or just two by the sink. They also look great on a hutch or bedroom door. See our kitchen holiday decorating ideas for more ways to dress up a kitchen.
You will need: 2 or more child size wire hangers, pliers, gloves, faux greenery garland, floral wire, red ribbon, clear adhesive hooks.
How to make it: 1. Bend each hanger into a small circle and keep the hook at the top. 2. Wrap the greenery around the circle and secure it with floral wire. 3. Tie a small bow at the bottom and hang each wreath on an adhesive hook.
Ornament Hoop With One Big Bow
The last idea is the boldest. Bend a hanger into a teardrop and wrap it in white ribbon. Hang one large shiny red ornament inside and add an oversized red satin bow on top. It is simple, modern and looks expensive on a dark door. Use a shatterproof ornament so it never breaks in the wind. For even more ribbon magic, see our Christmas bow decorating ideas. You will have this one up in under 20 minutes.
You will need: 1 wire hanger, pliers, gloves, white ribbon, 1 large shatterproof red ornament, wide red satin ribbon, hot glue gun (adult use).
How to make it: 1. Bend the hanger into a teardrop shape with the hook at the top. 2. Glue the ribbon at the hook and wrap it all the way around. 3. Hang the ornament from the top inside the hoop with ribbon and tie a big bow above it.
