Decorating & Design
December 8, 2020
35+ DIY Holiday Wreath Ideas To Dress Up Your Home
It’s both easy and rewarding to craft your own wreath — and you’ll end up with something more beautiful than anything store-bought. Scroll down to find beautiful DIY holiday wreath ideas for every space and style.
Winter-White Wreath
For a whimsical look, opt for a snowy effect by spraying or brushing a simple evergreen wreath with white paint.
Wreaths En Masse
Create an inviting entryway by hanging an array of wreaths in different shapes and textures. “Don’t be afraid to fill the whole wall — just place your hero wreath near the center of the arrangement,” says stylist Christine Hanlon. To finish off the look, add a playful ribbon.
Minimalist Wreath
Give your front door a touch of Christmas curb appeal with a simple wreath hung with black grosgrain ribbon.
Metallic Leaf Wreath
Go for everlasting rather than evergreen with this metallic wreath by Indaba Trading — achieve a similar look with gilt leaves hot-glued into a circle.
Feathery Wreath
Try hanging your wreath in an unpredictable place, like homeowner Leigh Gravenor did in her bathroom. Using fresh, untrimmed greenery will create a festive aroma while you soak your stresses away in the tub.
Fresh & Faux Wreath
Buy a twig or wreath base from your local craft store, then tuck in fresh greenery, faux winter florals and other sprigs as desired.
Abstract Wreath
If the classic round wreath isn’t your thing, draw inspiration from designer Tanya Krpan’s front door. Tie a bundle of branches, pinecones and other greens together with a bow for a more abstract door decoration.
Miniature Wreaths
Dress up a large window with multiple small wreaths. Homeowner Sandra Smirle used these fuss-free greens made of cedar, eucalyptus and olive branches for a minimalistic holiday look.
Flower & Holly-Trimmed Wreath
Imperfectly shaped wreaths can sometimes be the most charming. Take it up a notch with small white flowers and holly for some dimension and color.
Fallen Foliage Wreath
Designer Alison Milne kept things simple for her festive front door, wrapping a flexible found branch together with other fallen greenery.
Crochet Wreaths
H&H‘s Tess Ciarloni created a sweet collection of miniature wreaths with the same cozy look as your favorite cardigan. White, wood and gold beads and eucalyptus leaves make these creations even more Instagram-worthy.
Get step-by-step instructions for these Crochet Wreaths.
Lush Green Wreath
Augment a store-bought pine wreath with an accent plant material for added lushness and texture. A pretty satin bow can be customized to a room’s palette. To make it, bundle up bunches of dusty miller and eucalyptus with florist’s wire (available at craft stores) and tie to the wreath’s existing frame.
Hazelnut Wreath
Get personal and embellish a wooden initial with hazelnuts for a natural, woodland spin on a traditional wreath.
- Start with a pre-primed letter (available at craft stores), or spray-paint it white.
- Arrange hazelnuts in orderly rows and use hot glue to affix them to the letter.
Minimal Wreath
Stumped on new ways to decorate with a baby tree? Place it in a hanging planter and top with bells to ring in some cheer. Slip jingle bells on the tips of a small evergreen or rosemary plant (keep the base wrapped in cellophane so it doesn’t leak), or try a faux tree.
Buffalo Check Wreath
Warm and bright, buffalo plaid flannel is a cheery winter staple. Play up the homespun appeal with a contrasting check for a cozy, lodge-style vibe.
- Cut two-inch strips widthwise from a half-yard length of buffalo plaid and fray the edges.
- Hot glue strips around a Styrofoam wreath form.
- Tear half-inch strips (also fraying the edges) widthwise from a half-yard of check fabric and glue them onto Styrofoam balls.
- Attach the balls to the wreath with toothpicks.
Soldier Wreath
When a glossy white nutcracker (unfinished versions are sold in craft stores) makes a holiday cameo, it updates a traditional motif.
- Use hot glue to cover a Styrofoam circle with preserved moss, secure with florist’s wire and spray with faux snow.
- Affix a wooden nutcracker in the center with hot glue.
Olive Wreath
Olive branches have become a trendy choice for wreaths, but they’re often hard to find during the holiday season. This faux version does a handy job of replicating an olive tree’s spear-shaped leaves with their silvery, two-toned shading. Embellish a faux wreath with a string of bells and a wired grosgrain ribbon bow that will maintain its shape outdoors in the elements.
Natural Christmas Wreath
Let winter’s harvest inspire your Christmas decorations this year, as Graham Kechnie and Andraya Frith, owners of an old stone house in Hastings County, Ontario, do.
Get step-by-step instructions for this Natural Christmas Wreath.
Georgian-Inspired Mirror Wreath
Break away from the generic circular shape and opt for a riff on Georgian-style mirrors with broken-scroll pediments for a stately, old world look.
Get step-by-step instructions for this Georgian-Inspired Mirror Wreath.
Bird’s-Eye-View
A ring of everlasting foliage clipped from birchbark sheets, makes a pretty perch for ornamental cardinals.
- Cut an 18 inch diameter x 2 inch wide ring out of foam core. Print out or draw two leaf stencils. Trace approx. 75 leaves onto 20 sheets of birchbark and cut out leaves with a utility knife.
- Cover foamcore with bark scraps and hot-glue in place. Arrange leaves in multiple layers on foamcore until fully covered and hot-glue in place.
- Prop edges on the top layer of leaves with bits of foamcore to give them a multidimensional effect. Attach ornamental cardinals with hot glue to finish.
Festive Chandelier
This festive “chandelier” adds an eye-catching focal point over a buffet table.
- Tie three strands of ribbon about 6 1⁄2 inches each in length at equal distances around a 16 inch cedar wreath.
- Repeat step using 24 inch wreath and three strands of ribbon about 3 1⁄4 inches each in length.
- Gather all three strands of ribbon on the 16″ wreath to the center and knot them together about 12″ above.
- Set the 16 inch wreath on a table and hover the 24 inch wreath about 12 inches above. Feed the longer ribbons through the center of the 16 inch wreath.
- Knot all six ribbons together about 24 inch above the 24 inch wreath and hang the “chandelier” from a ceiling hook.
Ornament Wreath
A miniature landscape set on a moss wreath reminds us there’s no better place to be for the holidays.
- Cover a 16 inch diameter Styrofoam wreath with light green reindeer moss and hot-glue in place.
- Place a small glittery house ornament and three mini bottlebrush trees in the inner bottom curve and hot-glue in place.
- Tie a 4-inch-wide ribbon at the top to finish.
Rustic Wreath
Go beyond evergreen and bows with a rustic offset wreath that’s beautifully simple.
- Arrange pine boughs around one side of an 18 inch diameter grapevine wreath.
- Wedge bough ends into wreath slightly and hot-glue in place.
- Cluster pinecones at one end and hot-glue in place.
- Add a few more pine boughs to the other side of the pinecone cluster and hot-glue in place.
Present Wreath
Presents don’t just belong under the tree — layers of small gift-wrapped boxes make a playful wreath that’s ideal for hanging on a child’s bedroom door.
- Arrange boxes into your desired shape.
- Snap a picture to use as your guide before securing in place.
- Cut a 12 inch diameter x 1 inch wide ring out of foamcore.
- Wrap boxes in coordinating paper and ribbon.
- Secure wrapped boxes to foam ring with hot glue, starting from the bottom layer and working up.
Lit-Up Wreath
Grapevine branches wrapped in twinkling lights add subtle sparkle to a cozy corner.
- Wrap a 30 inch diameter grapevine wreath with Christmas lights, weaving in between the vines as you work your way around.
- Tuck the battery pack on the back of the wreath and secure it in place with floral wire.
Pine & Dandy Wreath
Strike a rustic note with a wreath of fallen pine cones presented as a one-of-a-kind snowflake.
- On heavy-duty cardboard (at least 1 1⁄2″ thick), trace or draw a snowflake that’s about 14 inches in diameter and relatively simple in design, as the pine cones will quickly fill out the shape.
- Cut out the snowflake with a utility knife, and working from the tip of each “arm,” begin mapping out how the pine cones will sit on the shape, leaving the center until last; think of layering them like petals or feathers and positioning them so that the base won’t show through.
- Once mapped, attach the pine cones with hot glue. To finish, lightly brush the pine cones with craft glue and sprinkle with glitter for a hint of sparkle.
Square Wreath
To create a striking square wreath, add fresh greenery to an artificial base like this one. Then pick a ribbon that complements your festive scheme and tie it around the center to create a hanging loop. For another colorful accent, use matching clips to display holiday cards around the door frame.
Yarn Wreath
A yarn-wrapped wreath is a colorful focal point with staying power.
- Choose six or seven different colors of yarn in rich, vivid shades. (Look for multipacks at craft and dollar stores, or if you’re a knitter, sort through your remnants.)
- Wrap yarn around a round foam wreath form (at craft stores) in sections of varying widths. Knot ends of yarn on back to secure.
- Attach a cluster of metallic ornaments with safety pins. We used pinecone shapes for a nod to traditional Christmas wreaths, but round ornaments would work, too.
- Hang the wreath with a contrasting ribbon in a graphic pattern.
Simple Boxwood Wreath
Keep boxwood stems unadorned for a fresh and organic look.
- Using wire cutters, bend a coat hanger or two into an oval shape.
- Attach boxwood stems to the wire form using florist’s tape or wire. Layer the sprigs as you go to conceal the form and achieve a full look.
- Thread a silk ribbon through the wreath and mount it against an interior or exterior door.
Sage Wreath
This lush sage wreath is mounted with a length of rustic burlap.
- Use a metal wreath form as the base.
- Attach sage stems to the metal form using florist’s tape or wire. Layer the sprigs as you go to conceal the form and achieve a full look.
- Thread a length of burlap through the wreath and mount it against an interior or exterior door.
White Felt Wreath
For a fresh take on the classic Christmas wreath, fill a frame in soft, three dimensional forms.
- Using hot glue, affix white felt balls to a foam wreath form. For a similar look to the wreath shown, use balls in different sizes. Layer as you go to fill any gaps.
- After the glue dries completely, loop a length of thick silk ribbon through the top and hang. To enhance the wreath’s 3-D effect, consider mounting it against a large mirror.
Wreath Door Hanging
Create a warm welcome by joining three wreaths with a handsome tartan ribbon.
- Purchase three small Christmas wreaths. These berry-embellished versions look particularly cheerful.
- Select two lengths of thick plaid ribbon. The first piece should be long enough to reach about 2/3 of the way down your front door, with some extra length for weaving and securing. The second piece should be long enough to tie a bow.
- Arrange your wreaths on a flat surface, evenly spaced. Weave the longer ribbon in and out, leaving a bit of length at the beginning and end of the chain.
- Secure the ribbon wherever it touches the wreaths using hot glue.
- Tie the short ribbon into a bow and affix to the top wreath with hot glue.
- After the glue dries, drape the top of the long ribbon over your door and secure it on the inside.
Candy Wreath
For a sophisticated look, wrap a trio of mini-wreaths in old-fashioned candies.
- Wrap a foam wreath base with ribbon.
- Arrange the candies around the outer rim until the pieces fit easily side by side. Attach them to the wreath base with hot glue so they overlap the outer rim by about 1/2 inch.
- Repeat for the next two layers, working inward. For a tidy look, the innermost layer should line up evenly where it is attached to the base.
- Loop ribbon around the top of each wreath, then glue in place.
- Hang a length of ribbon on the wall, then tap three nails through it where the wreaths will hang. Balance the inner rim of the wreaths on the nails so the ribbons all line up. (See this technique demonstrated in this Online TV segment.)
Card Wreath
Instead of littering the mantel, transform tags, photos and Christmas cards into a decorative wreath.
- On a painted bulletin board, arrange items in a circle and affix them with pushpins. For a large volume of cards, consider dividing them up into pretty color palettes and creating multiple wreaths.
- Complete the effect by pinning a big satin bow at the top of the display.
Cookie Wreath
Sweeten a dinner party with a sugar-dusted wreath made from gingerbread stars.
- Order cookies from a bakery or bake them using a gingerbread house recipe (cookies need to be extra-sturdy). Try this recipe.
- Cut a round base 14 inches in diameter from craft cardboard, then an inner hole 4 1/2 inches in diameter.
- Cover the base in tinfoil, punch two holes in the top and thread with a loop of florist’s wire.
- “Glue” cookies to the base with royal icing. Place first layer around outer edge, overlapping cookies so the foil is hidden. Let dry. Attach a second layer overlapping the first to hide the interior edge of base.
- When dry, dust with icing sugar.
- Wrap a satin ribbon around the top, and hang by wire loop.
Mixed Berries Wreath
Embellish a store-bought wreath with fresh eucalyptus and plump faux berries.
- Start with a three-dimensional cardboard wreath, like this snowflake design.
- There’s no need to mess with glue or wire: just tuck the eucalyptus and berries into the frame until it looks leafy and full.
Tissue Paper Wreath
Use bright tissue paper to transform inexpensive picture frames into colorful Christmas wreaths.
- Choose any frame — we used plastic ones from a dollar store — then remove the backing and glass (if any).
- Wrap florist’s wire around the top center of the frame and create a loop (to hang the wreath later).
- Cut tissue paper into 2 1/2 inch squares.
- Working around the frame, glue on the tissue paper one piece at a time: center then fold the paper over the rubber end of a pencil, wet the center with white craft glue, then press it onto the frame.
- When the frame is completely covered, tie thick ribbon in the same hue around the top of the frame to disguise the wire loop, then hang.
Monogram Wreath
Put a preppy spin on the traditional boxwood wreath by working branches into a shapely letter.
- Choose a font that’s not too intricate and print out a letter to the desired size.
- Using wire cutters, bend a coat hanger or two into the shape of the letter using the print-out as a guide.
- Wrap the finished letter in green florist’s tape.
- Attach boxwood branches to the letter by wrapping them around it and tying them on with fine-gauge florist’s wire.
- To make the monogram look fuller, layer the boxwood so the leaves point in various directions.
Modern Fruit Wreath
Choose a boxy frame to give a traditional fruit-and-greens wreath a modern feel.
- Insert magnolia leaf stems into a metal wreath frame, available through florists or craft shops, until the frame is covered, securing them with florist’s wire as you go.
- Next, add the faux fruit (we chose red pomegranates): poke a florist’s pick through the base of the fruit, secure pick with hot glue and tie it to the frame with the attached wire.
- Fill in any gaps with single magnolia leaves.