When decorating for Christmas, the obvious place to hang Christmas stockings is on the mantel above a fireplace.
But what do you do if you don't have a mantel or even a fireplace?
Here are a few alternate places to hang your Christmas stockings when you don't have a fireplace or a fireplace mantel.
photo courtesy of Casey Fleser flickr.com/photos/somegeekintn/4181949009/
DIY Stocking Wall Hanger
If you don't have a fireplace or fireplace mantel, you can create a DIY stocking hanger.
Start by getting a scrap piece of plywood that is approximately 3' wide by 1' tall. You can use a smaller piece of plywood if you have smaller stockings and a larger piece of plywood if you have larger stockings or many stockings.
Paint the piece of plywood and decorate it to coordinate with the rest of your Christmas decor.
You can add a photo of each family member or a group photo, paint a cute Christmas saying (such as "The stockings were hung"), cut the plywood into an interesting shape, paint it a fun color, or leave it plain for a more rustic look.
Purchase cute cabinet knobs - one per stocking. The cabinet knobs can be matching or mismatched. Attach the knobs to the plywood in the location where you want to hang each stocking, typically at the bottom. Keep in mind that the stockings will hang at an angle.
Coat Hook Bar
Consider using a coat hook bar to hang your Christmas stockings.
You can use your coat hook bar already in your entryway or hang one just for Christmas stockings.
If you purchase or make one just for Christmas stockings, decorate it to make it more festive.
You can decorate your coat hook bar to look like a winter sled, snow skis, Santa's workshop, or anything else you can imagine.
Your coat hook bar can be hung horizontally or vertically.
Existing Curtain Rod
You can hang your Christmas stockings from an existing curtain rod in your home, assuming the stockings are empty.
Once Santa has filled the stockings, the weight will generally be too much for the curtain rod to hold, so Santa can place the stockings on a table or the sofa at that point.
Decorative Curtain Rod
You can add a curtain rod to your wall just to hang stockings. You can use temporary hooks that do not damage a wall or brick clips to hang the curtain rod from a brick wall.
Staircase
A staircase is a wonderful place to hang Christmas stockings.
The stockings can be hung using ribbon to the staircase handrail and mixed into other staircase Christmas decorations.
Bedroom Door
Each member of the family can have their own stocking hung from the outside of their bedroom door if you don't have a fireplace or fireplace mantel.
You can use a wreath hanger to hang the stockings or simply hang them on the door knob.
Since Santa will be visiting the kids' rooms to fill the stockings hung on their doors, they will be more motivated to keep their rooms clean for Santa.
Any Ledge
You can use a bookcase, window sill, floating shelves, kitchen countertop, top of a dresser, top of a piano, top of an entertainment center, or any other ledge to hang Christmas stockings using traditional hooks or decorative stocking hangers.
To add extra Christmas excitement, decorate your ledge with Christmas lights, evergreen garland, and other Christmas decorations.
The ledge would be a great backdrop to take photos of the family either Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.
Window Latch
Hanging Christmas stockings in a window adds Christmas decor to both the inside and outside of your home.
If you have double hung windows (windows where the bottom half opens), consider hanging your Christmas stockings from the latch at the middle of your window so the stocking hangs on the lower half of your window.
This method is especially attractive if you have a row of identical windows in the same quantity as the stockings you want to hang.
Tree Branch
For a more rustic and natural look, consider hanging a tree branch on your wall and hanging your Christmas stockings from the branch.
On a Wall or Around a Door Frame
You can hang Christmas stockings on a wall or around a door frame using temporary removable wall hooks.
Disguise the unattractive plastic hooks with a large bow or evergreen garland for a designer look.
Headboard or Footboard
You can hang a Christmas stocking on each family member's headboard or footboard so they see it immediately when they wake up on Christmas morning.
Mom and Dad's Foot Board
Consider hanging your Christmas stockings on the foot board of mom and dad's bed.
The kids normally run downstairs to wake up mom and dad on Christmas day, so they can find their Christmas stockings there if you don't have a fireplace or fireplace mantel.
Having the stockings in mom and dad's room will deter them from sneaking to get into the stockings in the middle of the night.
Decorative Ladder
Consider purchasing or making a decorative ladder to hang your Christmas stockings from.
The ladder can be industrial looking, rustic, or modern to coordinate with your home's decor.
Hung From the Ceiling
For a more whimsical approach, consider hanging your stockings from the ceiling.
You can hang them using fishing line, chain, or ribbon.
Bulletin Board
You can use an oversized bulletin board to hang stockings.
Use a bulletin board that is framed and coordinates with your Christmas decor as artwork with your Christmas stockings hung from the top.
The bulletin board can rest on a shelf and lean towards the wall or it can be hung directly on the wall.
From a Chandelier or Pendant Light
If you have small light weight stockings, you can hang them from sturdy chandelier or pendant light.
Make sure your light fixture can handle the weight before hanging.
Remove the stockings before filling them.
Specialty Stocking Holder
Some companies sell specialty stocking holders that are generally made out of wood or metal and are freestanding.
Some freestanding stocking holders are meant to be placed on the floor while others are meant to be placed on a table.
Chair Rail
If your home has a chair rail in any room, you can hang your Christmas stockings from that ledge.
Clothes Line
You can string a clothes line across a room and hang stockings on the clothes line.
Try to hang the clothes line as stright as possible since the stockings will want to sag towards the lowest part of the line.
You can use traditional clothes line or a thick rope for a more rustic or nautical look.
Decorative Mantel
You can make or purchase a decorative mantel and attach it to your wall just for Christmas so you have a place to hang stockings.
On Your Christmas Tree
If your Christmas tree is sturdy, you can hang your stockings on the tree.
The stockings will both decorate the tree and hold goodies from Santa.
Non-Hanging
You can place your Christmas stockings on a small table or decorative chair instead of hanging them.
In order for them to stand upright, fill them with a hollow tube, crumpled up paper, pillow filling, a rolled up T-shirt, or a stack of cans.
More Ideas
For more stocking hanging ideas, see the video below.
