Door Cover vs Wreath

The short answer

Choose a door cover if you want a big, playful look for one holiday, such as Halloween, at a low price, and you need something that folds flat into a drawer afterward. Choose a wreath if you want a decoration that works for a whole season or several, looks good on any door, and hangs without tape. In an apartment, check your building’s rules first, since some don’t allow anything on hallway doors.

Side by side

	Door cover	Wreath
Coverage	Most of the door	A focal point, usually 18 to 24 inches (46 to 61 cm) across
Typical size	Made for a 36 x 80 inch (91 x 203 cm) door; often a little smaller	22 to 24 inches for a front door; 18 inches for narrower doors
Material	Fabric or plastic sheet	Evergreen, dried stems, artificial greenery or grapevine
How it hangs	Tape, removable strips or ties over the top of the door	Over-door hook, magnetic hook or rated adhesive hook
Weather	Flaps in wind; fades in sun	Artificial holds up under cover; fresh dries out in weeks
Seasons of use	Usually one holiday	One season to year-round, depending on design
Storage	Folds flat into a bag	Bulky; needs a box, bag or wall hook
Cost level	Usually cheaper	Cheap to expensive

When a door cover is the better buy

A door cover is the better buy for one holiday with a lot of personality. Halloween is the classic case: a cover turns the whole door into a monster face, a haunted house or a giant spider web for the price of a small decoration.

It also packs small. When the holiday is over, a door cover folds into a gallon bag or a flat drawer, which matters if your seasonal storage is one bin on a closet shelf. Our guide to Halloween door covers covers sizes, materials and how to hang one without damaging paint.

Door covers work well on interior doors, too. A bedroom, closet or kids’ room door is out of the weather, so tape and lightweight fabric hold up better there than outside.

The trade-offs are durability and fit. A cover usually lasts a season or two, flaps in the wind on an exposed door, and can fade in direct sun. Make sure it doesn’t block the peephole, the lock, the handle or your unit number.

When a wreath is the better buy

A wreath is the better buy for longer use. A plain greenery wreath works from late November through winter, and a dried or artificial wreath with neutral colors can stay up for months. You buy one and swap the ribbon or a small pick for each holiday.

It also hangs without adhesive on the door itself. An over-door hook sits on the top edge of the door, and on a steel door, a magnetic hook holds without touching the paint. That makes a wreath easy to put up and take down in a rental.

For sizing, a 22 to 24 inch wreath suits a standard 36-inch front door. On narrower interior doors, around 30 to 32 inches wide, an 18-inch wreath looks better proportioned.

The trade-offs are bulk and upkeep. A wreath needs a box or a hook in a closet to keep its shape in storage. A fresh evergreen wreath lasts a few weeks outside in cool weather but dries out and drops needles much faster indoors.

Rentals and apartment doors

Before you hang anything, check your lease or building rules. Hallway doors in apartment buildings are often fire-rated, and some buildings limit or ban decorations on them. If your building allows it, keep decorations light and away from the latch and hinges so the door still closes fully on its own.

Protect the paint. Test any tape or adhesive strip on a hidden spot first, and use removable products rated for the weight. Adhesives are less reliable in cold or damp weather, so outdoor doors are a better fit for hooks. Our renter-friendly wall decor guide covers what removes cleanly.

Check over-door hooks, too. A thick hook can stop a door from latching or wear down the weatherstripping, so look for a slim one and test the door after you hang it.

In a small space

In a small entryway, the door is often the only spot for seasonal decor. A wreath adds a focal point without taking floor space, and a door cover makes a bold statement for a few weeks. Choose based on how often you want to change things.

Storage often decides it. If you have room for a wreath box, one good wreath can carry you through several seasons. If not, flat door covers for each holiday take less space than one wreath. For more ideas on making a narrow entry work, see our entryway guide.

Care and lifespan

Wipe plastic door covers with a damp cloth before folding, and let fabric covers dry fully so they don’t mildew in storage. Fold along the same lines each year to limit creasing.

Store artificial wreaths in a wreath box or bag, or hang them from a hook in a closet so they keep their shape. Fluff the greenery when you take it out. Fresh wreaths last longest in cool shade outside; mist them occasionally and compost them when they turn brittle.