15 Easy DIY Holiday Wreaths (Simple, Stunning & Made in an Afternoon)
A handmade wreath is the most satisfying Christmas decoration there is: an afternoon of making, a whole season of looking at it every time you come home. And a DIY wreath does not need to be complicated — some of the prettiest ones below use three materials and a single afternoon.
The secret to an easy wreath is starting with a good base — a grapevine ring, a foam ring, or even a wire hoop — and then adding one thing at a time. Stop when it looks full, not when you run out of materials. Over-decorating is the most common wreath mistake.
If you are decorating the whole house, start with our Christmas decor ideas and our Christmas wreath ideas — the DIY wreaths below fit right in with both.
1. A Classic Evergreen Wreath
A classic evergreen wreath — fir branches, a few pinecones, and nothing else — is the easiest wreath to make and the hardest to get wrong. The evergreen does all the work; the pinecones are just the punctuation.
Wire short branches onto a grapevine ring, overlapping each one so the stems disappear, and work your way around the ring. Add the pinecones last, with a little wire, and stop there.
Tip: Mix two kinds of evergreen — fir for fullness and pine for length — and the wreath will look far more interesting than a single-variety one.
2. A Dried Orange and Cinnamon Wreath
Dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks are the most fragrant wreath there is — and one of the easiest. The orange gives the colour, the cinnamon gives the scent, and the evergreen gives the shape.
Glue or wire the orange slices around the wreath in a loose ring, then tuck cinnamon sticks between them in small bundles of three. Finish with a little twine bow.
Tip: Dry orange slices in a low oven (about 100°C for two to three hours) the day before, so they are completely dry and will not go sticky on the wreath.
3. A Pinecone Wreath
A pinecone wreath is the most forgiving wreath to make: pinecones hide every mistake, they cost nothing if you gather them yourself, and they look beautiful with almost no other decoration.
Wire the pinecones onto a foam or grapevine ring, packing them tightly so no base shows through, and add a few small ornaments in the gaps for colour.
Tip: Bake gathered pinecones briefly before using them — it kills any insects, and it opens the scales beautifully.
4. A Eucalyptus Wreath With Flowers
Eucalyptus with a few small flowers makes a wreath that smells wonderful and looks soft and modern. The silvery eucalyptus lightens the deep green, and the little flowers give it a gentle, natural finish.
Wire small bunches of eucalyptus alternately around the ring, tuck in the flowers, and let a few stems stick out naturally — a eucalyptus wreath should look a little wild, not clipped.
Tip: Eucalyptus dries beautifully, so this is the wreath to make if you want it to last from December into January without shedding.
5. A Big Red Bow on a Simple Wreath
Sometimes one thing is enough: a simple evergreen wreath and one big red bow. The bow is the decoration, the wreath is the frame, and the whole thing takes ten minutes.
Make the bow from wired ribbon — it holds its shape — and wire it to the bottom of the wreath, with the tails hanging down. One bow, no other decoration, and it looks deliberate.
Tip: Wired ribbon is worth the small extra cost: it holds its loops, and you can reshape the bow as many times as you like.
6. A Wreath With Fairy Lights
A wreath with fairy lights woven through it glows after dark — and a lit wreath on the front door is the prettiest thing on the street in December.
Weave one short battery string of warm white fairy lights through the wreath before you add the decorations, and tuck the battery pack behind the wreath where it cannot be seen.
Tip: Battery fairy lights with a built-in timer (six hours on, eighteen off) mean the wreath lights itself every evening.
7. A Simple Wreath in a Bright Living Room
A simple wreath in a bright living room works because it does not compete with the room: a plain evergreen ring, a few ornaments, and the houseplants around it do the rest.
Hang an indoor wreath on a wall or a mirror rather than the door, and keep it light — a heavy outdoor wreath looks out of place inside.
Tip: A wreath hung on a mirror doubles itself in the reflection, and it makes the whole room look decorated.
8. Red Berries on a Window Wreath
Red berries on a wreath hung in a window are the farmhouse look at its simplest: the berries give the colour, the window gives the light behind it, and the evergreen gives the shape.
Tuck small bunches of berries into the wreath in threes, and hang the wreath where the daylight falls through it — the berries glow like little lights.
Tip: Artificial berries last the whole season and never stain; real ones look better but drop. Mix them — real berries on top, artificial ones underneath.
9. Oranges and Cinnamon on a Wooden Table
Making a wreath on a wooden table, with oranges and cinnamon spread out around you, is half the pleasure of it. This is the wreath to make on a slow afternoon, with a hot drink beside you.
Work in layers: the evergreen base first, then the orange slices, then the cinnamon bundles, and finally a twine bow. Check the wreath from arm’s length as you go — that is how everyone else will see it.
Tip: Lay out all your materials on the table before you start, so you can see the colours together and spot anything that clashes.
10. A Wreath on the Front Door
A wreath on the front door is the whole point of making one: it greets everyone who comes to the house, and it is the first thing you see when you come home.
Hang the wreath at eye level on the front door, with an over-door hanger or a suction hook, and keep it in proportion to the door — a small wreath on a big door looks lost.
Tip: A wreath hanger that hooks over the top of the door leaves no holes and holds even a heavy wreath securely.
11. Red Bells on a White Wreath
Red bells on a white or frosted wreath are the most cheerful combination there is: the red pops against the white, and the bells actually ring when the door opens.
Wire small red bells around the wreath in a loose ring, and add a few sprigs of greenery so the white does not look bare. The bells should be the star.
Tip: Small craft bells wired on loosely will jingle gently; bells glued on firmly will not ring at all.
12. Ornaments Tucked Into the Greenery
Ornaments tucked into the greenery are the easiest way to finish a wreath: a few small baubles in the gaps, a couple of pinecones, and the wreath looks complete without any extra work.
Wire the ornaments in at different depths — some sitting on the surface, some tucked deeper — so the wreath has dimension instead of looking flat. Keep the ornaments small, so they do not drag the branches down.
Tip: Use unbreakable ornaments on a front-door wreath, so a knock from the wind does not shatter them on the step.
13. A Rustic Twig Wreath
A rustic twig wreath — twigs and pine branches twisted into a ring — is the simplest base there is, and it needs almost no decoration. The twigs are the decoration.
Twist flexible twigs into a ring and wire them together, then tuck in pine branches and a few pinecones. Leave some of the twigs sticking out — a rustic wreath should look a little wild.
Tip: Willow or grapevine twigs bend without snapping; dry, brittle twigs will break. Soak stiff twigs in warm water for an hour first.
14. Dried Flowers and Red Ornaments
Dried flowers and red ornaments make a wreath that feels both vintage and festive: the dried flowers give it softness, and the red ornaments give it Christmas.
Tuck small bunches of dried flowers into the wreath first, then add the red ornaments in the gaps. Keep the flowers small — big dried blooms overwhelm a wreath.
Tip: Dried flowers are fragile, so this is an indoor wreath — hang it on a wall or a mirror, not on a windy front door.
15. A Wreath as a Table Centrepiece
A wreath laid flat on the table, with a candle in the middle, is the easiest Christmas centrepiece there is — and it takes two minutes to make from a wreath you already have.
Lay the wreath flat, set a candle on a small plate in the centre, and add a few ornaments around the outside. Use a flameless LED candle if children are at the table.
Tip: A wreath centrepiece doubles as a decoration and a talking point — and you can hang it on the door after dinner.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest DIY Christmas wreath for a beginner?
A grapevine ring with evergreen branches wired on and a few pinecones. It needs no glue, no special tools — just wire and greenery — and it looks good even if the branches are a little uneven.
How long does a fresh evergreen wreath last?
About three to four weeks indoors, and longer outside in the cold. Keep it out of direct heat and sunlight, and mist it lightly every few days to keep the greenery fresh.
What do I need to make a Christmas wreath?
A base (grapevine, foam, or wire ring), greenery, floral wire, wire cutters, and your decorations. That is the whole kit — everything else is optional.
How do I hang a wreath without damaging the door?
Use an over-door wreath hanger, a suction hook, or a command hook. All three hold a wreath securely and leave no holes — avoid nails and screws on a finished door.
Can I reuse a DIY wreath next year?
A wreath made with artificial greenery and ornaments will last for years if you store it in a box, out of sunlight. A fresh evergreen wreath is compost after the season — but the base and the ornaments can be reused.
