How to Decorate a Christmas Wreath

Design Ideas

Use green and red ribbon to keep things simple. What better way to decorate a Christmas wreath than with Christmas colors? Select at least 3 different kinds of ribbon so you have a variety of colors, prints, and sizes. Use the ribbon to make bows in different sizes and hot-glue them to your wreath. Or, wrap the ribbon around the wreath and make a single, large bow the focal point.

Attach ornaments to add color and shine to your wreath. Get ball-shaped ornaments in a variety of colors and sizes to really make your wreath stand out. Space them out evenly and attach them to the wreath with hot glue. Space out groups of 3-5 ornaments for an aesthetically-pleasing design.

String twinkle lights around the wreath for a magical touch. Twinkle lights are a cost-effective way to make your wreath sparkle. Pick up a short strand and wind them around the wreath so the lights are evenly spaced out. Hang the wreath in your window for a beautiful, festive decoration. You can purchase a 10 ft (3.0 m) strand of twinkle for around $10 from your local crafts store.Tip: Pick up a battery-operated set of twinkle lights so you don’t have to worry about plugging them in! Use floral wire to attach the battery pack to the back of the wreath.

Spray on fake snow for a festive addition. Pick up a can of spray-on snow and use it to dust the edges of the wreath. Concentrate more on areas where snow would naturally gather, like the top of the inner edge. Then add faux miniature trees and pinecones to complete your Christmas scene.

Decorate your wreath with flowers for a feminine feel. Silk flowers are perfect for this project since they won’t wilt and you can store the wreath and use it each year. Pick out a variety of blooms from your local craft store. Make sure they are proportionate to the size of the wreath. Cut off the stems and use floral wire to attach the flowers to the wreath. Put groups of 3 blooms together at the top left and bottom right portions of the wreath and fill in the negative space with small ornaments or ribbon bows.

Add a monogram for a trendy option. Monograms are super popular right now, and you can easily incorporate one into your holiday décor. Select a large letter from a craft store in a style you like. Paint the letter if you want to change the color, then attach it to the wreath with hot glue. Position the letter in the center of the bottom of the wreath, then add coordinating decorations, like ribbons or ornaments, around it.

Attach pinecones for a more traditional look. Pinecones have an inviting smell and can make for a great contrast to the bright colors of candy canes and ornament balls. Go out and purchase a pack of scented pinecones from your local crafts store. Then, spray the back of the pinecones with glue and press them against the wreath for 15-20 seconds to let the glue harden. If you’re having trouble gluing the pinecones to the wreath, wrap ribbons around the wreath first and glue the pinecones to the ribbons.

Decorate your wreath with candy for a whimsical option. You can use candy-shaped ornaments or real candy, like candy canes. This makes a great option if you have children and can also tie into your decorating scheme if you use candy on your Christmas tree or have other candy-shaped decorations.

Crafting Your Wreath

Pick a theme to make your wreath cohesive. Deciding on a theme before you start decorating can help you achieve a balanced, beautiful look. Think about the rest of your home décor so you can create a wreath that will fit right in with the rest of your holiday decorations. Theme ideas include candy, winter sports, country Christmas, holiday baking, and fishing. You could even design your wreath around a single color like red or gold. The possibilities are endless!

Select a wreath. You can pick up a real wreath or a faux wreath or even make your own. Or, you can even make a wreath out of non-traditional items, like ball ornaments or cookie cutters! Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and choose something that really reflects your personality. If you go with a real or faux wreath, fluff up the greenery and trim any overly long pieces before you start decorating.Tip: If you want to use non-traditional items, simply hot-glue them together in a circular shape in whatever size you like to create your wreath. You can even use a circular loom as a template.

Choose a variety of different decorations. You don’t have to stick with a single item, even if your wreath is themed. Pick a few different items that you like and think go well together. For instance, you could use a monogram letter, a ribbon bow, and a few flowers to make a gorgeous, balanced wreath.

Lay out your design before attaching anything. Gather all of your materials and play around with the design. Aim for a balance between decorations and negative space—you don’t want the wreath to look too cluttered! Asymmetry and grouping odd numbers of items together can help you create a wreath that’s visually striking.

Secure each item to the wreath. Once you have everything exactly where you want it, start attaching the individual pieces. In most cases, you can hot-glue the items directly to the wreath. If that doesn’t work, try using floral wire to attach the items.