Christmas Wreath Ideas and How to Make One Fast

A good Christmas wreath takes about 30 minutes if you start with a store-bought base. Pick a base, add greenery and a bow, then finish with a few simple accents. Below are style ideas, a full step-by-step, and tips for hanging it safely.

Choose your base

• Fresh evergreen base. Smells wonderful and looks full. Best outdoors in cold weather.
• Grapevine base. Rustic and open, with lots of room to add greenery and ribbon. Lasts for years.
• Wire frame. Cheap and flexible, good for building a thick custom wreath from greenery bundles.
• Foam or straw base. Easy to pin and glue onto, good for dried or faux decorations.
• Faux evergreen base. Reusable and low maintenance, especially good for covered porches.

Wreath style ideas

1. Classic. Evergreen, a red bow and a few pine cones.
2. All greens. Mix cedar, pine and boxwood in one wreath for texture without any color.
3. Dried orange and cinnamon. Warm and fragrant for indoor use.
4. Ornament cluster. Group shiny ball ornaments in one corner of a grapevine ring.
5. Minimal ring. A thin grapevine ring with a single ribbon and one sprig of greenery.
6. Winter white. White-painted pine cones, cotton stems and silver ribbon.
7. Berry and bird. Faux red berries and a small decorative bird tucked into greenery.
8. Mixed-size. A big wreath for the door with a mini version for the mailbox or a cabinet.

How to dress a store-bought base

You need: a wreath base, 6 to 10 stems of greenery (about 8 to 10 inches long), floral wire, wire cutters, 2 to 3 yards of ribbon, hot glue or floral picks, and a few accents.

1. Lay the base flat on a table and decide where the “top” will be.
2. Cut greenery into 8 to 10 inch pieces and group three or four stems into small bundles.
3. Wire the first bundle to the base, angling the stems in one direction.
4. Overlap the next bundle so it covers the wire, and keep going all the way around.
5. Check the wreath from the front and fill any gaps with extra stems.
6. Make a bow: cut a 24-inch piece for loops and a 6-inch piece for the center, then tie it together. Wire it to the base at the bottom or the side.
7. Tuck in pine cones, berries or ornaments, gluing or wiring each one tightly.
8. Attach a ribbon loop at the back for hanging.
9. Hold the wreath up and shake it gently; anything loose should be re-secured.

Hanging your wreath

• Use an over-the-door hanger for a smooth door that you do not want to mark.
• For a heavy wreath, choose a removable hook rated for at least twice its weight.
• Try a wide ribbon looped over a window frame for a wreath on glass.
• Hang it at eye level, usually 58 to 62 inches from the floor to the center.
• Fresh wreaths drip as they warm up; put a felt pad or tape on the back to protect paint.

Keeping a fresh wreath looking good

• Mist the greenery with water every few days if the wreath is indoors.
• Hang it away from direct sun and heating vents.
• Remove any browning stems and tuck in a fresh sprig.
• Bring it inside during hard freezes or heavy wind if it is delicate.
• After the holidays, strip off the greenery and keep the base for next year.

Safety notes

• Fresh greenery is flammable once dry. Keep wreaths away from candles, fireplaces and space heaters.
• Hot glue is hot enough to burn; let it cool before handling.
• Berries on some decorative stems are toxic to pets and children. Choose faux ones if either is around.
• Plug-in lighted wreaths should be rated for outdoor use if hung outside.

Want a kid-friendly version? See homemade Christmas wreath with kids. For the rest of your entry, check front porch decorating ideas.

Wreaths beyond the front door

A wreath does not have to hang outside. Try one on a mirror, on the back of a dining chair, above a bed, on a cabinet door, or flat on a table with a candle in the middle. A mini wreath tied to a gift or a napkin makes a nice finishing touch. Keep indoor wreaths on the lighter side so adhesive hooks hold them, and keep real candles well away from any greenery.

Quick Checklist

• Choose a base that suits your door and climate
• Gather greenery, wire, ribbon and accents
• Wire greenery bundles in one direction around the ring
• Add a bow and two or three accents
• Attach a hanging loop and test the weight
• Hang at eye level
• Mist fresh wreaths every few days
• Keep away from flames and heaters