Skip The Basic Wreath Or Garland: The Cuter Way To Decorate Your Front Door

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For centuries, homeowners have decorated their doorways during winter with evergreen wreaths and garlands, especially during Christmas. The greenery welcomes visitors into a warm and festive home while also symbolizing renewal and life. These days, garlands and wreaths are no longer seasonal and can be seen as front door decor year-round. They're easy to customize to reflect your personal style, but if you really want to stand out from your neighbors, swap out the boughs and hang baskets around your front door instead.

On TikTok, home decor influencer @thekwendyhome channeled her inner Francophile to recreate the rustic and romantic basket-laden doorways often associated with storefronts in the south of France. She built a frame with chicken wire, attached it around her doorframe with Command hooks, and hung baskets on the wire using zip ties. While Wendy only lined the left and top sides of her doorway, you can extend the frame all the way around or go for a minimalist look by hanging baskets along only one side of your door.

When buying hooks to put up the decorations, first estimate the weight of the baskets that you'll be hanging on the wire. Hooks like these Command Outdoor Metallic Bronze Hooks can accommodate up to 5 pounds each — and they're made for outdoor use, too. Double-check that the products you purchase are made for external siding, trim, painted walls, or whatever surface you're working with. Also, clean the surface well to give the adhesive a firm grip. 

From here, the aesthetic and placement of baskets on the chicken wire is up to you. Mix and match basket colors, weave styles, and sizes for a more organic display, or stick with one or two styles for a more uniform look. Also, keep in mind these decor mistakes to avoid as you're decorating. For example, don't ignore functionality; overlapping the baskets creates a stunning, full display, but make sure they're not getting in the way of people walking through the doorway.

Use zip ties to attach the baskets to the chicken wire frame, stepping back occasionally to see how the baskets look together. Once you're satisfied with the overall configuration, tie the baskets together for extra sturdiness. Fill the baskets with artificial greenery, flowers, battery-powered twinkle lights, or other decorations that match the season and your decorative style.

Note that the decor will be exposed to outdoor elements and critters. Consider spraying the baskets with a waterproof sealant to protect them from moisture (and resulting mildew). Also, insects are drawn to the baskets' natural materials, so regularly dust or vacuum their crevices or mist them with a solution of one part water to one part vinegar. You can also spray the baskets with essential oils, like lavender, peppermint, or tea tree, to repel pests. Inserting bird spikes into baskets, using a bird repellent spray, or hanging reflective tape can keep them from nesting in your decorations.