Create Your Own Christmas Wreath

Learn how to decorate a Christmas wreath with fresh greens turning a plain artificial wreath into a beautiful holiday decoration for your front door.

I love the look of a fresh greenery wreath for Christmas and throughout the winter months. I've made lots of them over the years, however, if you are looking for a quicker way to create something similar or perhaps you don't have tons of greenery available, then this project is for you.

At this time of year, all the local craft stores have inexpensive artificial pine Christmas wreaths. You may also have one or two in your stash that would work well for this project.

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How to Decorate a Christmas Wreath

Supplies

• Pine Artificial Christmas Wreath
• Various clippings of greenery or berries
• Ribbon for a bow (optional)
• Wire or pipe cleaner to use as a hanger (optional)

Greenary Options

Many evergreen shrubs and trees are perfect choices for this craft. You can also use some berries that will hold their color and shape during the holiday season. Here's a list that I have had good results with:

• Juniper greens - a mix of green with a bit of blue
• Pine and Fir tree branches including airy white pine
• Holly leaves
• Spruce - blue spruce adds a nice cool color
• Cedar - green and sometimes green with gold
• Some herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and lavender stems
• Eucalyptus or Magnolia leaves
• Seed heads and pine cones

Stems or branches from hemlocks and boxwood tend to drop their leaves and are best suited for short-lived projects.

Berries from juniper bushes are pretty and last a while. Red winterberries are said to last but I have never tried them. However, you could supplement with a bit of faux berries if you want.

Start adding clippings to the wreath form in two different ways. First, you can stick the branches into the faux wreath and most will stay there. Secondly, you can use one of the pine needle branches from the artificial wreath to wrap around the greenery. (see image above)

After you begin adding in your various foliage, hang the wreath up to see how it's coming. Use something as a placeholder for your bow. I used an oak leaf. This way you won't be adding too much in the area that the bow will cover.

Pretty nice looking, right? It doesn't cost much. Perhaps nothing if you have an old artificial wreath in storage and access to fresh greenery. If not, you can usually buy fresh greenery at the big box stores. And, if you buy a fresh Christmas tree you can use cuttings from the seller or your own as you set up the tree.

I do like the gold accent ribbon on the wreath. Gold is a departure for me as I usually prefer red accents. So if you like you could use a nice red ribbon for a pop of Christmas cheer.

In addition, you could always take it a step further and use your hot glue gun or floral wire to add pine cones, moss, dried apple or orange slices, or cinnamon sticks.

This decorated Christmas wreath looks so nice on our front door with some fresh cedar garland around the entire frame.

Any extra greens could be used in your planters with a few large pinecones just like the ones I created for our front porch this season. All great (mostly natural) and beautiful Christmas decorations to greet your guests and anyone who passes by.