Buying guide for Best holiday stocking holders
The Christmas holidays come with many traditions like baking cookies and decorating the house with lights. Hanging holiday stockings is another. However, few people want to hammer nails into their wall or mantel for a temporary event, so they use holiday stocking holders.
The best holders are easy to install and remove. You don't want them to leave behind holes or remove paint or mar the surface of your mantel in any way. You also want a stocking holder that fits in with your home’s holiday décor.
Because stocking holders come in many shapes, sizes, styles, and colors, it’s helpful to read through an unbiased guide before making your decision so you know what to look for, what your options are, and what questions people usually ask before buying the product. If you're having trouble narrowing your selection, it can also help to see a selection of models that are consistently rated the best.
How to buy the best holiday stocking holders
Mantel
If you want to hang your Christmas stockings from a fireplace mantel, note that they aren’t all the same. They can be thick, thin, rough, or porous, while some have a rounded edge. You'll need to know the thickness, materials, and shape of the mantel before choosing an appropriate stocking holder. For example, a mantel with a rounded edge is unsuitable for most weighted stocking holders.
Mounting type
Holiday stocking holders are secured in a few different ways. Not all methods are suitable for all situations. For example, a model that depends on adhesive to stay in place might not hold on a stone mantel. Read the product description carefully so you know how to install the stocking holder. This will tell you not only how well you can expect the device to perform but also if the holder is suitable for your needs.
Weight: Some stocking holders are heavy enough to simply sit on the mantel.
Clip: Others are long, curled clips that can be finessed into place by gently bending the metal until the unit holds tight against the mantel.
Adhesive: Still others use adhesive to secure the holder in place.
Expert tip
When possible, place felt or rubber bumpers on the tips of the stocking holder that touch the mantle to prevent scratching of the wood finish.
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Features to look for in holiday stocking holders
Design
The most important aspect of your holiday stocking holder is what it looks like. You can purchase models that have a low profile and are barely noticeable, or you can find ornate, highly detailed options. If you purchase holders that are meant to be seen, you want them to fit in with the holiday décor of your room. Would a brightly colored elf be a better fit than a candy cane or a stylized silver reindeer?
Number of hooks
While it's true that most holiday stocking holders hold only one stocking, you can purchase them in sets that usually range from four to eight units.
Personalization
Stocking holders are meant to hold an individual’s Christmas stocking so Santa can fill it with treats on Christmas Eve. This makes it important to be able to easily distinguish one stocking from another. With personalized holiday stocking holders, Santa will know whose stocking is whose.
Freestanding
If you don't have a fireplace mantel in your home, you can purchase a freestanding holiday stocking holder that stands on the floor like a small coat rack and holds several stockings.
Expert tip
For many styles of stocking holders that lie flat on the mantle, consider a good quality velcro adhesive strip for extra grip. After the holidays, remove the adhesive strip properly by following the manufacturer's instructions.
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How much do holiday stocking holders cost?
Inexpensive
Basic, simple stocking holders cost $15 or less. Don’t be fooled by the low price. These items aren’t inferior quality. Depending on your mantel, some of them might work better than more expensive models.
Mid-range
You can find weighted stocking holders in the $15 to $30 price range. These heavy models rest on the mantel and have a hook to hold the stocking. You can find weighted holders that feature reindeer, Christmas trees, snowmen, snowflakes, stars, and virtually any other holiday theme you can think of. Some have a picture frame so you can personalize them. You can find freestanding stocking holders in this price range as well.
Expensive
Above $30, the holiday stocking holders are similar to the mid-range ones but their designs are much more elaborate. For instance, instead of a single figure, it might have a whole Christmas scene.
For something extra special, a few manufacturers make lighted stocking holders.
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Tips
Not everyone has a fireplace mantel. If this is the case for you, consider hanging your Christmas stockings from one of these other creative options.
- Bookcase: Weighted holiday stocking holders can do double duty as bookends.
- Ladder: If you like rustic farmhouse décor, a small wooden stepladder leaning against a wall makes a great place to hang holiday stockings.
- Drying rack: In a pinch, a laundry room clothes drying rack can be easily adapted for holiday stockings. Consider adding a garland or lights to make it even more festive.
- Staircase railing: If you have a stairway in your home, hanging the stockings from the railing is a popular option.
- Coat rack: A wall-mounted or freestanding coat rack is an ideal place to hang Christmas stockings.
- Bed: Headboards, footboards, and bedposts all make great places to hang stockings, especially for a child who wants to open the stocking first thing on Christmas morning.
- Cabinet knobs: If you have a cabinet that you don’t access frequently, the knobs are a suitable location to hang holiday stockings.
- Removable picture-hanging hooks: If you have no other viable option, you can use adhesive hooks to hang your Christmas stockings nearly anywhere you’d like.
FAQ
Q. Why do people hang stockings by the fireplace?
A. In times past, a fireplace was a necessity. Typically, a fire was kept burning all day for cooking as well as for heat. Laundered or wet stockings were hung by the fire to dry. Back then, stockings were made of wool, which is naturally flame resistant and not as dangerous to hang near fire as the synthetic materials we use today. Hanging Christmas stockings by the fireplace also makes it easy for Santa to quickly slip in through the chimney, fill the stockings with presents, and slip back out undetected.
Expert tip
In some cases, you can use
slotted weights on the stocking hook to offset the weight of the stocking contents.
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Q. Are holiday stocking holders dangerous?
A. First, you should never hang stockings near fire. If you plan to light a fire in your fireplace, remove the stockings from the mantel. Second, many stocking holders are simply held in place by their weight. A small child tugging on a stocking could be all it takes to bring a heavy stocking holder off the mantel. If you have small children, hang the stockings securely.
Q. How much weight can a holiday stocking holder support?
A. The answer depends on its design. Some support as little as 2 pounds, while others can easily support 10 or more pounds. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations before purchasing so you're not disappointed.
Q. The stockings keep twisting and don’t hang straight. What can I do?
A. There are two quick fixes for stockings that don’t hang straight. The first is to fill the stocking with something lightweight, such as plastic bags or fabric, to give it some shape. The second is to give the hanging loop a little twist. If the first attempt doesn’t work, simply twist the loop in the opposite direction.
