DIY Hanger for a Swag Wreath
Y’all, if you’ve ever finished a gorgeous swag wreath and then stood there wondering how on earth to hang the thing, this quick tip is for you!
Making a hanger for a swag is so simple once you know the trick. If you’ve already seen any of our wreath hanger tutorials, you’ll get this in about thirty seconds flat.
The Quick Answer to Adding a Hanger to a Swag Wreath
Cut a length of 18 gauge rustic wire and fold it in half to make a loop. Feed both legs through the hole in your swag spine, bend them up and over, then wrap the legs tightly around the loop to lock it in place. No hole in your spine? Wrap the wire around the top branches instead. That’s it!
Watch the video below and then keep reading for the full breakdown!
The #1 Swag Hanger Mistake
Adding the hanger after the swag is fully decorated. Always attach your hanger to the bare spine first and test it on a hook before you add a single flower or ribbon loop. Finding a hanger problem on a finished swag means potentially undoing hours of work. Hanger first, every single time.
Step-by-Step: The Wire Hanger Method
Cut and Fold Your Wire
Cut a length of 18 gauge rustic wire and fold it in half. The folded end is your hanger loop — this is what goes over your door hook or wreath hanger. The two open ends are the legs that do the securing work.
Julie’s go-to: 18 gauge rustic wire. Strong enough to hold a fully decorated swag, flexible enough to bend and wrap by hand with no tools.
Feed Through the Spine Hole
If your swag spine has a hole at the top (most do!), feed both legs of the folded wire through that hole from front to back. Pull snug so the loop sits at the top of the spine with the legs coming out the back.
No hole? Skip to Step 3b below.
Bend Up, Wrap, and Lock
Bend both wire legs upward and back over the spine hole, then wrap each leg around the loop itself several times. This locks the hanger in place so it cannot pull free under the weight of a fully decorated swag. Give it a tug to test before moving on!
No Hole? Use the Branches
If your swag spine does not have a hole, wrap both legs of the wire tightly around the top branches of the spine instead. Pull snug so the wire grips the branches securely, then bend the legs upward and wrap them around the loop the same way. The branch wrap method is just as secure as the hole method when pulled tight.
Test Before You Decorate
Hang the bare swag spine on a hook or door hanger and give it a gentle tug in all directions. The loop should feel completely solid with no shifting. Only once it passes that test should you start adding florals, ribbon, or a bow. This thirty-second check saves a world of frustration later!
Julie’s Tip
When wrapping the wire legs around the loop, wrap in opposite directions, one leg clockwise, one counterclockwise. This cross-wrap distributes the tension evenly and makes a hanger that stays put no matter how full and heavy the finished swag gets. The Summerween swag in this video turned out absolutely adorbs and that hanger never budged!
Wire or Ribbon: Which Should You Use?
Julie uses 18 gauge rustic wire as her go-to for swag hangers, but ribbon works beautifully too depending on the look you want. Here is how they compare:
| Option | Pros | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 18 gauge rustic wire Julie’s pick | Very strong, invisible once swag is decorated, blends with natural greenery spine | Any swag — especially heavier, fully-loaded designs |
| Wired ribbon Great option | Decorative finish at the top of the swag, coordinates with the bow ribbon | Lighter swags or designs where the top of the hanger will be visible |
Watch Julie make the complete Summerween swag wreath from start to finish on YouTube — including how this hanger holds up on a fully decorated design!
Quick Answers
How do you make a hanger for a swag wreath?
Cut a length of 18 gauge rustic wire and fold it in half to create a loop. Feed both legs through the hole in your swag spine, bend them upward, and wrap the legs tightly around the loop to lock it in place. If your spine has no hole, wrap the wire legs around the top branches instead, then wrap them around the loop the same way.
What wire do you use for a swag wreath hanger?
18 gauge rustic wire is the best choice. It is strong enough to hold a fully decorated swag, flexible enough to bend and wrap by hand, and its natural brown color blends into the greenery spine so it disappears once the swag is decorated.
What if my swag spine does not have a hole?
Wrap both legs of the folded wire around the top branches of the spine instead. Pull snug so the wire grips the branches, bend the legs upward, and wrap them around the loop the same way as the hole method. When pulled tight, the branch wrap is just as secure.
Can you use ribbon instead of wire for a swag hanger?
Yes! Thread a length of wired ribbon through the spine hole or around the top branches, tie it into a secure loop, and you have a decorative hanger that coordinates with your bow ribbon. Wired ribbon holds the loop shape better than unwired ribbon over time.
When should you add the hanger to a swag wreath?
Always add the hanger to the bare swag spine before adding any florals, ribbon, or decoration. Test it on a hook first. A hanger problem is easy to fix on a bare spine and a real headache to fix on a finished swag.