I’m excited to kick off this post today because it answers a question from one of my lovely blog readers and it’s part of this month’s Pinterest Challenge! (I’m even thinking of turning reader questions into a series starting in January, but I digress.) Let’s talk about Maria’s question. Maria reached out and mentioned she had noticed in a recent Holiday home tour that I had placed my Christmas stockings into a basket under the tree. She wanted to know if it was on purpose (it was!) and if that’s where they stayed. Yes, that is the answer for this season—I don’t have a fireplace or mantle in this home. Which brings me perfectly to the challenge! The inspiration photo for this month’s group challenge featured a gorgeously decked-out mantle full of stockings, but since I don’t have one, it inspired me even more! I thought I’d show you some creative ways to Hang Stockings When You Don’t Have a Mantle.

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5 Ways I have hung my Holiday Stockings without a Mantle.

In all the different homes I’ve lived in and the rentals we’ve owned over the years, I can hardly believe I’ve only had one house with a proper fireplace and mantle! Because of this, I’ve had to get pretty creative over the holiday seasons. When my daughters were young, I simply stashed the stockings away until Christmas morning when Santa strategically placed them, already filled, for gift opening. As they grew older, I started looking for places to “hang” them throughout the season.

Using a Blanket Ladder to Hold Christmas Stockings.

One of my favorite solutions was using the blanket ladder. It was already a piece of decor in our home, and switching it from holding throws to holding stockings was a quick and easy change.

I love a Freestanding Stocking Holder:

Honestly, I wish manufacturers would recognize that not everyone has a mantle and start making more options for this holiday decor accessory! I’ve had mine for about fifteen years (it’s from Pottery Barn) and it’s always such a great solution. It holds eight stockings when they’re squished together, and six comfortably.

This is usually my first pick for hanging stockings without a mantle. But, it is a very heavy piece (it’s weighted so it can hold stockings filled with presents), and since we have two toddlers visiting this year, it will be safely stored away for a while until they are bigger.

Stocking Stands:

I shopped a few freestanding stocking stands in a variety of styles for you.

Stockings hung with Garland on a Curtain Rod:

I found these little clips last year, and they are wonderful for hanging all kinds of holiday decor! They work perfectly for Christmas stockings, too. I actually clipped a few stockings directly to our garland to give it a nice pop of color.

Hang Stockings on a Windowsill:

Hanging your stockings from a windowsill is quite easy. I used command strips like these to secure mine here in my living room, but I have seen people use those little suction cup hangers, too.

Other Popular Ways to Hang Christmas Stockings without a mantle:

In addition to the ideas above, here are a few more easy ways to find a great hanging spot:

• Use regular stocking holders to hang from furniture (an entryway piece or a dresser).
• Add ribbon and hang it on the back of your dining room chairs.
• Hang on the footboards of your family members’ beds.
• Hang them from your bookcases! (Love this one as it seems so festive).
• How about decorating a bar cart and hanging it there?

My Take on the Pinterest Challenge Inspiration Photo:

The inspiration photo from Home by Heidi for this month’s challenge was truly beautiful—a mantle layered with garland, lights, and several stunning Christmas stockings. Since my current home doesn’t have a mantle, I was tasked with taking that feeling of festive stocking display and adapting it to my space. This is why I chose to tuck them into a vintage basket beneath the tree this year (as Maria noticed!). The basket is my current solution, but as you can see from the other ideas in this post, I’ve had to get creative in the past! The goal of the Pinterest Challenge is to capture the holiday cheer and anticipation of Christmas morning, no matter where you live!