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Wind chimes are a great way to add a touch of zen to your home or garden! With the right mounting tools, you can hang them from the ceiling or a wall. You can also use a standing lantern holder or hang them from a tree outside if you don’t want to make holes in any surface.

Things You Should Know

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Hanging Wind Chimes from a Ceiling

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  1. The name doesn’t lie: wind chimes need wind in order to chime! An outdoor porch or patio that is exposed to wind is the perfect spot to hang your chimes. You can also hang them by your front or back door so you can provoke them every time you pass by. [1]
    • Place it in an area that isn’t near a bedroom where nighttime chiming might keep someone awake.
    • You can hang them inside as well, but you’ll have to disturb them to hear any chiming.
  2. Drill a hole for the hook using a drill and pilot point bit. First, insert a pilot point bit into a drill—make sure it has a smaller diameter than the hook. Then, drill a small hole into the place where you want to insert the hanging hook. Make the hole about 2 inches (5.1 cm) to 3 inches (7.6 cm) deep. [2]
    • You may need to stand on a step ladder if you’re hanging the wind chime from a high ceiling.
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  3. Twist the pointed end of the ceiling hook clockwise into the ceiling. Hold the hook by the end with the hanger and insert the sharp end into the pilot hole that you’ve drilled. Then, twist it clockwise until it’s secured in the hole. [3]
    • You may need to apply some pressure while you make the final twists if the hook screw is longer than the depth of the pilot hole that you drilled.
  4. Lift the wind chime by the chain and hook it onto the hook at the desired length. If you’ve made your own wind chime and used a string instead of a chain, tie a sturdy loop at the end of the string to act as a hook.
    • If you want the wind chime to hang lower, hook the last chain link onto the hook. To hang it higher, choose a chain length towards the middle or beginning of the chain.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using Alternative Hanging Methods

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  1. If you don’t want to make a hole in the ceiling, you can purchase adhesive hooks specifically made to hang plants and other items from ceilings. Be sure that the wind chime weighs less than the upper weight limit listed on the package.
    • Simply remove the protective strips from the adhesive mount and stick it onto the hanging surface.
    • You may need to apply pressure to the stuck-on mount for up to 1 minute to ensure a firm hold. Refer to the instructions on the package.
  2. Use a drill and screws or a hammer and nails to attach a plant hanging bracket onto any vertical wall. After the bracket is in place, attach the wind chime by looping one of the chain links onto the hook. [4]
    • Make sure the hanging part of the bracket sticks out far enough that the wind chime will have enough room to sway back and forth without hitting the wall.
  3. A tall lantern, plant holder, or bird feeder pole is a great choice if you want to be able to move the wind chime to different locations. A holder that’s at least 4 feet (1.2 m) to 5 feet (1.5 m) tall is ideal, but you could use a shorter one for a small wind chime. [5]
    • You can buy lanterns, plant holders, and bird feeder poles at garden supply or home hardware stores.
  4. If you want your wind chime to hang in a tree, simply loop a rope through one of the chain links and tie it onto a tree. Choose a relatively low-hanging horizontal branch. Ideally, one that has a small dip so the wind chime doesn’t slide along the branch. [6]
    • To prevent rope friction from damaging the tree, use a bandana, sock, or other cloth to wrap the part of the rope that comes in contact with the tree. You can also use a tube of garden hose material as padding.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    My windchime falls off the hook when it's windy, what should I do?
    Diane Henkler
    Crafting and Home DIY Specialist
    Diane Henkler is a Crafting and Home DIY Specialist based in Lexington, South Carolina. She is the owner and creator of InMyOwnStyle.com, a crafting, DIY, and home design blog. She started her blog in 2009, and has now been blogging about affordable decorating, creative DIYs, and lifestyle tips for 15 years. Her career background was in retail display curation, which led her into the world of DIY decorating and home design. In her blog, she features pieces on decorating inspiration, seasonal holiday decor projects, organization strategies, room makeover guides, painting tutorials, furniture restoration tips, and more. Diane’s blog demonstrates how decorating a home does not have to be hard, expensive or time consuming. Through her posts, she shares decorating advice, ideas, project how-to’s, and more, furthering her mission to help her readers create beautiful homes, especially on a budget. She also creates tutorials and educates followers on her social media crafting channels.
    Crafting and Home DIY Specialist
    Expert Answer
    You can use a pair of pliers and gently bend the hook so it closes to a circle. You can further secure it by using a sturdy wire. A craft wire, florist wire, or even jewelry wire will work great here. Wrap the wire tightly around the base of the hook where the chime is hanging. Make sure it’s nice and snug, then trim any excess and carefully tuck in the ends to keep it looking neat and tidy. This extra wire wrap reinforces the connection, so even in strong gusts of wind or hurricane, your wind chime stays securely in its place.
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      Tips

      • Choose a lightweight wind chime made from bamboo or aluminum if you’re using small adhesive J-hooks.
      • Hang heavier ceramic, steel, or copper wind chimes from screwed in mounts or ceiling hooks.
      • Hang the wind chimes on exposed corners of a house or porch to get most wind (and the most chimes!).
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      Warnings

      • If you have a plug-in drill, fit the drill bit into the holder before you plug it in.
      • Avoid hanging wind chimes over seating areas or other places where they could hurt someone if they fall.
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      Things You’ll Need

      Hanging Wind Chimes from a Ceiling

      • Drill
      • Pilot point drill bit
      • Ceiling hook

      Using Alternative Hanging Methods

      • Adhesive J-hooks (specifically for ceilings)
      • Plant holder wall bracket
      • Tall lantern or plant holder
      • Rope and tree branch (plus optional protective cloth or hose material)

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about crafting, check out our in-depth interview with Diane Henkler .

      About This Article

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