Every December, I dedicate a Saturday to making my holiday wreath, a tradition that I spend months looking forward to. Today, I want to share some of the best DIY Christmas wreath ideas I’ve made over the years for you to craft with your loved ones this holiday season.
My favourite thing about the holidays is celebrating traditions with friends and family. When those holiday traditions also include fresh air, plants, and crafting, it becomes an event that I look forward to all year. The annual Christmas wreath-making day is one of the best of the year!
It all started in 2009 when one of my neighbours (a gardener by trade) invited me and some of the women from the block over for “bubbly” and wreath-making.
To say I became hooked on the art of wreathmaking is an understatement. I started making one every Christmas, and then some for a year-round display.
Thankfully, I have a photo journal of my wreaths of Christmas past, and today I’m sharing them with you. Soon, you’ll have your very own outdoor real Christmas wreath to call your own!
This post will cover…
- 17 DIY Christmas Wreath Ideas
- 1. Pacific Rainforest Christmas Wreath
- 2. Giant Pink Hydrangea Wreath
- 3. Bleached Pinecone Wreath
- 4. Fresh Magnolia Wreath
- 5. A Study in Green Wreath
- 6. Everything Wreath
- 7. Scented Aromatherapy Wreath
- 8. Dried Hydrangea Wreath
- 9. Holly Wreath
- 10. Evergreen Wreath
- 11. Culinary Herb Wreath
- 12. Red and Green Outdoor Christmas Wreath
- 13. Felted Snowball Wreath Ornament
- 14. Blue Hydrangea and Hawthorne Berries
- 15. Oval Christmas Wreath
- 16. Miniature Evergreen Wreath Ornaments
- 17. The Wreath That Started It All
- Basics of Wreathmaking + FAQs
- More Holiday Decorating Tips
17 DIY Christmas Wreath Ideas
Not all real Christmas wreaths are the same! There are many different ways to style a wreath, for indoors and outdoors, and for various styles. Here are a few of mine to spark some inspiration.
1. Pacific Rainforest Christmas Wreath
This wreath celebrates at least 13 different plant varieties that were cut from within a 1 km radius of my home. I used cedar, pine, blue spruce, heather, English ivy, holly, Nandina, Sarcococca, and more to add a ton of texture and colour to the wreath.
This seems to be my go-to style, as you will see, it’s pretty similar to the wreaths from a few of the previous years. You will also notice that I have become a better wreath maker over the years, as this one has a dense and even form with a clear hole in the middle. Both of these characteristics help to make the wreath look intentional and refined. I made sure to have a few sprigs popping out here and there so it still has that homegrown/homemade look that I love.
2. Giant Pink Hydrangea Wreath
One year, I decided to “Go Big or Go Home” with an enormous wreath that rivals those at a 5-star hotel with an opulent entryway.
That being said, I don’t live in a 5-star hotel, and my entryway is pretty average-sized. I hung the wreath (it held!), but it was pretty hard to get past it to get in the house. See how that looked here. The holly snagged everyone who came to visit, oy!
3. Bleached Pinecone Wreath
This DIY Christmas wreath can be displayed indoors and lasts forever. I went for a rustic, neutral wreath made entirely from pinecones. Bleached pinecones, to be exact.
I love how the soft, weathered look of the pinecones pairs with the natural ribbon that I used to attach them to the wall. The whole thing came together to look cozy and festive while remaining simple and clean.
4. Fresh Magnolia Wreath
I’m lucky to live by so many magnolia trees. They have the most gorgeous copper brown undersides that contrast with the dark green, shiny leaves.
For this wreath, I used Magnolia Grandiflora leaves and was sure to show off both sides. This created a beautiful contrast that the eye just can’t ignore. I also added incense cedar for fragrance and a little bit of texture variety.
The best part is that this wreath will last for months, taking you through most of fall and winter.
5. A Study in Green Wreath
The year I made this wreath, it was unusually cold and snowy. For 7 weeks, it hovered around freezing, so there was a thick layer of ice on the roads and sidewalks. I got Yaktraxs ice cleats to put on my shoes so I could still get around outdoors and enjoy the snow!
I love that when there’s snow on the ground, it makes everything green stand out all the more. This wreath was inspired by all of the gorgeous, varied green hues of the winter season. Snippets of bright green cedar, blue-green spruce, and everything in between come together to celebrate the season.
6. Everything Wreath
When I made this DIY Christmas wreath, I couldn’t quite decide on a theme, so I decided to make it with a little bit of everything, and boy, am I glad I did! It turned out beautifully, didn’t it?
It contained a lot of traditional holiday elements like holly and pinecones, but the hydrangea flowers added an unexpected yet equally festive vibe.
7. Scented Aromatherapy Wreath
Here’s a modern Christmas wreath idea to last you beyond the holiday season, I love this aromatherapy wreath. I think it would look gorgeous any time of the year.
In this design, I used incense cedar and eucalyptus to create not only a gorgeous look, but one that is scented and full of therapeutic benefits. It can be hung inside or out, providing a light scent to everyone passing by.
8. Dried Hydrangea Wreath
After I started adding hydrangeas to my wreath, I thought, why not make a whole wreath out of just hydrangea blooms?
Every year, I make an effort to dry my hydrangea flowers because I adore their weathered yet vibrant vintage colouring. As long as you handle the wreath with care, the dried flowers will last for as long as you like them. You could use this wreath year after year, inside or out.
9. Holly Wreath
Don’t be scared to do all but one kind of foliage. I went for a traditional holly and laurel wreath. Holly really is such a stunning plant, and it grows like crazy here in the Pacific Northwest, so it seemed like a good idea to showcase it in all its glory.
10. Evergreen Wreath
One of the cool things about evergreens is that they’re not all green. They come in lots of different colours and varied textures, making them look great all pulled together in one wreath.
Lots of colour in this wreath comes from the red foliage of new Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica) growth and holly berries (of course).
11. Culinary Herb Wreath
If you don’t have a ton of evergreen garden clippings, perhaps you have a prolific herb garden! I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing a wreath like this smells inside the home.
You can use it as an outdoor Christmas wreath, but I think it looks just as good indoors any time of the year. The herbs will dry on the wreath and look beautiful, but also allow you to harvest and use the herbs whenever you’re cooking.
12. Red and Green Outdoor Christmas Wreath
Using glossy green leaves like laurel, holly, English ivy, and magnolia made for a long-lasting, real Christmas wreath that won’t drop so many needles. I love the ivy flowers just before they are about to form berries.
Ripping out big handfuls will also prevent this invasive plant from spreading, and it does make a long-lasting wreath green. This year, I also went “crazy” and added a burlap bow to the wreath (I think I was probably just filling in a bare spot, but don’t tell anyone that!).
13. Felted Snowball Wreath Ornament
If working with fresh greens doesn’t tickle your fancy, or you’re looking for something long-lasting for the indoors, try this snowball wreath.
It’s a creative spin on the wreath, using a plain grapevine wreath as the frame for a simple winter wonderland inside. Inside, you can decorate with anything you like, such as tiny fake trees, dollhouse items, fairy garden pieces, and other small decorative objects.
14. Blue Hydrangea and Hawthorne Berries
I made this wreath for the first Christmas in my new home. I moved from the street my wreath-making sisters live on to a house 7 blocks away.
It’s adorned with hawthorn berries harvested from the tree in front of my old house. The blue hydrangea blooms, Aucuba, and Skimmia came from that street as well.
15. Oval Christmas Wreath
In an effort to make a wreath from scratch, I made my own wreath form from grapevines. I wanted a bit of a different shape, so I made an oval. Many of the greens I’ve used each year can be seen, but you may also notice some Sedum Autumn Joy flowers.
Some years, they look quite good at wreath-making time. It depends on how much rain we get in the fall. The red garage door of my old house was painted to match the Japanese maple I planted in front of the garage.
16. Miniature Evergreen Wreath Ornaments
Let’s take things mini. These mini wreaths are made with real cedar clippings. The best part is you really don’t need much, taking a single bough to make an entire wreath.
I used these wreaths as ornaments and to decorate my presents with. They’re small, versatile, and easy to make.
17. The Wreath That Started It All
My very first homemade wreath! As you can see, it was made up of snippets of all sorts of greenery, which looked festive on the red front door.
I included a teeny bit of red here and there with some holly berries, but you can see that this year, I was feeling pretty green. It’s a bit messier and has some curly willow twigs added for interest. I love the wreath that started it all, and I hope that you do, too.
Basics of Wreathmaking + FAQs
Once you make your own Christmas wreath, you won’t ever go back to buying them during the mad holiday rush. Gather the foliage for your wreath by foraging through your neighbourhood or the woods, or purchasing greens from a store or online. Look for a contrast of shapes, colours, and sizes.
Next, find a form for the base of your wreath. You can make your own (like this grapevine wreath or purchase one.
Start bunching your greens. Use one sturdy stem as a base and add a couple of other small branches to it. Wrap the base of the bunch in wire or twine and secure it to your wreath.
Repeat this process until you’ve gone all the way around the wreath. Overlap each bunch over the one before it to make it appear lush and full.
Snip off any branches you dislike and add final touches, such as additional decorations. Hang from a wreath hanger. For more detailed instructions, check out this post with step-by-step instructions and a video tutorial.
After you have your wreath made of bunched greens, you can go ahead and add in some extra decorative pieces if you wish. Items can either be wrapped in, poked in, or glued in if necessary. Some great additions include:
– Pinecones
– Lights (battery operated)
– Feathers (natural or coloured)
– Sparkly elements (such as ornaments)
– Living plants (air plants are a great one)
– Gourds (good for a Thanksgiving theme)
– Dried berries
– Dried flowers
– Ribbon or bow
The first item you’ll need for your wreath is the base. I like to use grapevine wreaths or wire wreath forms, depending on the type of wreath I’m creating.
For greens, holly, cotoneaster, pine, cedar, yew, pieris, laurel, fir, boxwood, camellia, magnolia, and cypress will all last long on your wreath. You can also add herbs such as lavender, rosemary, and sage.
To attach your greens to the form, opt for twine (natural) or wire (good for beginners). You may also want to buy a wreath hanger if you plan on hanging it on a door.
The more organic materials you use, the better! You can make your own grapevine (or other woods such as willow) wreath as a base and use twine rather than wire for wrapping your greenery around.
Avoid the use of floral foam as it is not compostable. Alternatively, you can use a sturdy wire frame that you reuse every Christmas. You can fill wire frames with straw or moss as a base.
Of course, fill the wreath with as many fresh or dried greens as possible and avoid the use of any plastics or non-natural materials that can’t be composted. Ideally, you should be able to chuck the whole wreath in the compost bin at the end of the season if you want to!
Most often, you’ll find wreaths hanging on a front or back door. You will want to make a wreath the right size for your door’s length and width. You can also hang them on doors inside, but remember that wreaths don’t last as long inside as they do in the cool air outside.
Other popular places outside include on top of windows and on garden gates. Inside, you can place it over the fireplace mantle, on kitchen cabinets, in the entranceway, or lay it flat as a table centrepiece with candles or other decor in the center.
Which of these DIY Christmas wreath ideas was your favourite? Let me know in the comments!
More Holiday Decorating Tips
- DIY Mini Grinch Tree
- Gather Around this DIY Christmas Candle Wreath
- A Magnificent Magnolia Wreath Brings Cheer to the Season
- Get to Know Your Poinsettias: History, Growing, and Styling
- The Best Garden Greenery for Holiday Decorating (and Which Ones to Avoid)
- How to Make a Christmas Wreath from Scratch
A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.
