The beginning of the holiday season is often apparent when wreaths start appearing on front doors. Learning how to make your own DIY wreath is easy, fun and a great way to get into the festive spirit.
We are particularly fond of a greenery wreath, and they are actually much simpler to make than you may think. With a little creativity, some basic materials and a flat working surface, you can enjoy a quintessential holiday craft with the kids or some friends.
Read on for a step-by-step guide to make your own DIY wreath, and have fun spreading a little Christmas joy.
You’ll be able to forage for supplies and greenery for your DIY wreath around your neighbourhood; just remember:
Any of the following can be beautiful inclusions in your DIY wreath:
Once you’ve gathered the supplies above, you’re ready to begin! Follow these four easy steps, and feel free to “colour outside of the lines” where applicable for an original look.
Cut all of your materials into segments and try to aim for similar sizes so you can create a symmetrical wreath. Clip branches into 4- to 6-inch sizes, or for a wilder, more “natural-looking” wreath, vary the branch sizes from 4 to 8 inches. Sort them into piles by type, then wrap your paddle wire around the wreath frame to secure it.
Add the greenery by starting with a branch of each ingredient to make a small bouquet. Lay these on the wireframe and wrap paddle wire around each bunch. Make sure it is tight as tension holds your wreath together. Over time, the greens and branches will shrink and dry, so making sure the wire is a little extra tight from the beginning is a good idea.
Repeat the creation and attachment of the bouquet, setting them on the frame, slightly overlapping one another. Do this over the whole wreath, but step back and make sure the wreath looks full and balanced every now and then. Sometimes the tiny details make you miss the big picture!
If you notice things getting a little uneven or gaps forming, simply add materials by sliding them tightly under a wire loop to balance your wreath.
When you reach the last bunch, lift the first bouquet and tuck the ends of your final bunch underneath it.
Finish this section by wrapping more wire to make sure everything is secure, then step back and assess the wreath, identifying any areas that may need some small additions to create a full look.
The final step is tying off the wreath. To do this, wrap some more wire around the structure roughly two to three times. You don’t want there to be so much wire that it is overly visible, so aim for a good balance between aesthetics and functional security. Clip the wire with wire cutters or pruners, then turn the wreath over and thread the end of the wire through the frame.
Wrap any slack around one piece of the frame and secure the wire by tucking the end in so it won’t scratch anyone or anything. At this point, you should be looking at a completed wreath, but you can “fluff” necessary sections by gently pulling the branches. This is also the time to trim any pieces that are too long or add other bits and pieces to give your wreath a unique look.
Some people love natural-looking wreaths, and if that is you, you are likely already finished at step three. However, if you want a little more beauty than just the greens, you can add pine cones, flowers, a bow, or even some Christmas tree ornaments.
If you do want to add some things that have a little more weight to them, make sure you attach them securely with a piece of paddle wire. Position your ornament on the wreath, then snip a piece of wire and wrap it in the least visible spot around the ornament and through the frame.
If you are attaching pine cones, for example, lay them on the wreath, working the wire through the greenery and tying it off on the backside of the wreath. Tightly twist the wires together, and always make sure you tuck the ends to avoid any scratches on the door.
Repeat the steps and additions until you’ve reached a look you love.
A fresh wreath will last a lot longer than just the holidays. If your wreath lives indoors, give it a light mist every few days so it doesn’t dry out too quickly.
We should also mention, wreaths don’t just have to be for Christmas! While they are a symbol of the holiday, you can use the same steps above to create wreaths for other special occasions like weddings, or simply just use them to decorate your home with a touch of nature! There are no rules when it comes to the world of wreaths!
For an easy ‘how-to’ DIY Christmas wreath, just gather pruning shears, scissors, wreath frame, 22 or 24 gauge florist wire, evergreen branches and a wire cutter. You can choose whichever decorative materials you like, but commonly, ribbon (for bows), pine cones, fruits and ornaments are used to finish the wreath.
Find two branches that have some flexibility to them and overlap each one by about 1/3 of their length. Gently and carefully twist the ends around one another, and use some wire to secure each end into place. Repeat this with the other ends, and adjust them as needed to create the size you need for your wreath.
Grapevine wreaths are popular as they add a rustic look to your space. They are also quite simple if you follow these steps:
Now you see how easy it is to make your own wreath; you can use this as an activity that gets the family into the festive spirit! There are many other varieties you can explore as well, like a DIY burlap wreath with pipe cleaners or one that utilises dried flowers.
If your wreath is part of a grand Christmas decoration overhaul of your home, check out the skilled Taskers who can help with outdoor lighting installation to make your house the brightest on the block! (Take that, neighbours).
We also have some other very helpful blogs that will boost your festive spirit tenfold. Decorating for Christmas? Check out some of our holiday guides to inspire you to get into a festive mood:
Need help? We spotted some Taskers offering holiday decorating services, check them out:
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