A big thank you to The Home Depot for sponsoring this project!
I’m so excited to collaborate with The Home Depot for a DIY Workshop Virtual Party to bring you a fantastic holiday stocking post project. I’m joining 25 DIY and home decor bloggers to create unique versions of the same project, offering creative ideas on how you can customize yours!
THE HOME DEPOT DIY WORKSHOPS
Did you know that The Home Depot offers free DIY workshops at all locations for people of all ages and skill levels? They have three types:
- DIY Workshops (for everyone)
- DIH Workshops (do-it-herself projects)
- Kids Workshops (perfect for little builders!)
These workshops teach you how to build decor projects, tackle home repairs, and even learn to use power tools through step-by-step instructions. You can visit The Home Depot DIY Workshop website to explore all their offerings.
This Saturday, November 19, the featured workshop is this festive holiday stocking holder—perfect for homes without a fireplace! Even though we have a fireplace, we use it frequently, so I needed a clever alternative for hanging our Christmas stockings. This project was the perfect solution and is also great for apartments or small spaces.
Holiday Stocking Post DIY
I had an absolute blast making this holiday stocking post, and I can’t wait to show you how you can bring some festive charm to your home! I’ll also share how to repurpose the post even after the holidays.
This project includes affiliate links. (You can read more about affiliate links here.)
A Lantern-Topped Holiday Stocking Post
The centerpiece of my holiday stocking post is a stunning lantern with a battery-powered light that I transformed into a decorative topper! This lantern, from Martha Stewart’s holiday collection at The Home Depot, was exactly what I envisioned. I couldn’t believe my luck when I found it in the Christmas decor section—it was a perfect match! With a few adjustments, I securely attached it to the post while keeping it removable if needed.
As the sun sets, the magic begins—when the lantern glows, it turns this simple holiday stocking post into a cozy and festive display!
How to Customize Your Holiday Stocking Post
There are endless ways to personalize this holiday stocking holder to match your home decor. You can choose paint or stain in your preferred color, and I added trim details to coordinate with our craftsman-style fireplace.
Since we needed plenty of hooks for our family of five—plus extra for holiday guests—I made sure our holiday stocking post could accommodate everyone. Santa needs to find each stocking, after all!
Before I updated our stockings, they looked something like this. With just a small faux fur detail, I gave them a whole new look!
1. Building the Holiday Stocking Post
The holiday stocking post consists of four main parts:
- Base
- Post
- Post cap
- Ball finial (or lantern topper!)
You can learn to assemble these at The Home Depot DIY Workshop on November 19 (register here!).
I wanted my post to fit on our fireplace hearth, so I slightly reduced the size of the plywood base and trimmed the post using my miter saw.
Before attaching the post to the base, I carefully marked its position. By flipping it over, I secured it with screws from the underside, ensuring a sturdy connection.
For a polished look, I added lattice molding around the base and used a post base trim kit with wood glue and finish nails. However, the trim left a small gap—so I fixed it by adding an extra layer of box trim, securing it with clamps, nails, and a bit of wood filler, caulk, and paint for a seamless finish.
2. Transforming a Lantern into a Finial for the Stocking Post
The battery-powered lantern from The Home Depot features LED string lights inside, making it a perfect beacon for Santa!
To attach the lantern securely, I used a hanger bolt—a double-sided screw similar to those used for curtain rods (like what I used to hang my dining room curtains with cabinet knobs).
At The Home Depot’s hardware aisle, I met the nicest elderly gentleman who was also on a mission to find the perfect screw. (Have you ever browsed that aisle? There are millions of options!) After some friendly conversation, he helped me pick the exact 5/16″ hanger bolt I needed. It was the highlight of my day!
This simple modification transformed the lantern into a removable finial, allowing it to sit securely atop the post while staying easy to detach.
The lantern light switch is located on the bottom of the lantern, so before attaching the wood base, it needs to be repositioned. To do this, use a small Phillips head screwdriver to remove the screws and carefully push the battery pack inside the lantern.
The battery pack isn’t attached to anything, but it functions perfectly fine once secured inside.
Now, cut a wooden base slightly smaller than the bottom of the lantern.
Apply Liquid Nails adhesive to the base and press it firmly onto the bottom of the lantern to secure it in place.
To attach the lantern securely, drill a hole into the wood base of the lantern using a drill bit slightly smaller than the hanger bolt.
Using the same drill bit, drill a corresponding hole into the top of the holiday stocking post, making sure to drill through the post cap as well.
Next, screw the hanger bolt into the base of the lantern—I found that using a wrench made this step much easier!
Once the hanger bolt is in place, simply twist the lantern onto the top of the stocking post, securing it tightly.
That’s it—you’ve successfully created a lantern finial for your holiday stocking post!
3. Adding Hooks for Stockings
A few important notes about attaching the stocking hooks:
- Pre-drill holes for the hooks! The holiday stocking post is made from dense wood, and trying to insert the screws without a pilot hole can be incredibly difficult.
- I use my drill to drive in the screws and then tighten them by hand for a secure fit.
- Pro tip: Drill the hook holes before attaching the base to the post! It’s much easier to drill while the post is resting on a solid work surface like a table or workbench rather than trying to maneuver around an already assembled post.
4. Bonus: Use Your Stocking Post All Winter Long!
(Do I sound like an infomercial? I sure hope so!)
This holiday stocking post isn’t just for Christmas stockings—it can double as a drying rack for winter gear!
If you have kids, you know the drill: after 20 minutes of bundling up, they spend 10 minutes playing in the snow before coming back inside completely soaked. Those 10 minutes are always worth it, but drying all those mittens, hats, and gloves can be a hassle!
Instead of storing the holiday stocking post after Christmas, I repurposed it! I originally thought the white lantern looked very Christmas-specific, so I painted a wooden ball finial white as well. Once the holiday season is over, I’ll unscrew the lantern and replace it with the ball finial for a more neutral look.
Even without a topper, the holiday stocking post works beautifully as a winter gear drying station—perfect for hanging wet gloves, scarves, and hats after a snowball fight or a day of shoveling!
Build Your Own Holiday Stocking Post at The Home Depot!
So there you have it—your holiday stocking post not only serves as a festive beacon for Santa but also doubles as a functional winter drying rack.
And the best part? You can build this project for FREE at a DIY Workshop at The Home Depot!
Now it’s your turn—attend a DIY Workshop at The Home Depot and create your very own holiday stocking post. Then, customize it however you like! I considered using a copper post cap and spray-painting the hooks copper—wouldn’t that be beautiful?
Register for a DIY Workshop at The Home Depot Today!
Thank you to The Home Depot for sponsoring this project!
📌 Pin this project for later!
Check Out Other Creative Holiday Stocking Post Ideas
Want even more ideas? Visit these amazing bloggers who have put their own spin on the holiday stocking post:
Domestic Charm • Homemade By Carmona • My Altered State • Smart Girls DIY •
Chaotically Creative • Ciburbanity • Lazy Guy DIY • Build Basic • That’s My Letter • Her Toolbelt •
The Handmade Home • The Heathered Nest • Designer Trapped • The Chronicles of Home •
Cherished Bliss • Just a Girl and Her Blog • House of Wood • Shades of Blue Interiors •
Uncookie Cutter • Ella Claire Inspired • Shine Your Light • Sawdust 2 Stitches •
Remodelando La Casa • Paper Daisy Design • Fix This Build That
