7 easy festive wreath ideas
Start the Christmas styling with a DIY wreath, or several, to adorn your door and walls.
Beautiful Christmas additions
Making your own wreath lets you design it just the way you want it. It’s also easier than you might think – some of these ones need nothing more than wire and a sprig of garden greenery.
Safety tip:
When working with wire, cut it on a flat, clear surface. Make sure your pliers are sharp and use gloves and protective eye-wear to prevent pieces flicking up and causing injury.
Foliage wreath
Tools and materials
30cm pot trivet
Clear cable ties
Large bunch of foliage such as Eriostemon
Mini pliers
Create the ring
1. Remove the two inside rings of a 30cm-diameter metal pot trivet, using bolt cutters to snip the joining pieces around the inside, keeping the outer rings joined.
Secure the foliage
2. Working around the ring in one direction, position foliage sprigs, securing the stems with cable ties, trimming the excess ties with pliers.
Tip: Completely cover the ring, positioning sprigs so the foliage hides the stems and ties.
Wire star
Tools and materials
1.6mm PVC coated tie wire
Clear cable ties
Mini pliers
Natural jute twine
Two sprigs of gum leaves (or similar from the garden)
Make the star
1. Cut an 800mm length of tie wire, bending it into a five-pointed star shape. Twist the ends together and position the join at the base.
Add gum leaves
2. Cover the join with a gum leaf sprig along either side of the point, secure with cable ties, trimming the excess with pliers. Hang from a wall hook or door handle with a double-length of jute twine.
Baby's breath wreath
Tools and materials
Bunch of baby’s breath flowers
Clear cable ties
Mini bolt cutters
Mini pliers
Veggie cage
Dismantle the cage
1. Remove the frame from a veggie cage, using bolt cutters to trim as close to the wire rings as possible.
Tip: Keep the remaining rings to make other wreaths.
Attach flowers
2. Position sprigs of baby’s breath around two-thirds of the ring, securing stems with cable ties, trimming the excess with pliers.
Tip: If hanging your wreath on a wall, use fasteners to suit the wall type – usually plasterboard or masonry.
Rope wreath
Tools and materials
30cm pot trivet
20m x 6mm twisted rope
Masking tape
Scissors
Start weaving
2. Cut coils of rope into equal thirds with scissors. Tape the end of a length to the back of the frame, weave the rope around and over the outside of the frame, then under and over the inside of the frame, repeating to complete the length.
Joining sections of rope
3. Tape the end of the rope to the back of the frame, tape the beginning of a new length over
it and repeat weaving, positioning the rope over the ends to hold them in place. Repeat with the remaining lengths.When the frame is covered, leave 50mm at the end to tuck into the weaving at the back.
Olive wreath
Tools and materials
Bunch of olive branches
Clear cable ties
Mini bolt cutters
Mini pliers
Veggie cage
Make the frame
1. Remove the frame from a veggie cage, using bolt cutters to trim as close to the wire rings as possible.
Tip: Keep the remaining rings to make other wreaths.
Attach the greenery
2. Position small olive branches around three-quarters of the ring and secure the stems with cable ties. Trim the excess length of the ties with pliers.
Branch Wreath
Tools and materials
0.7mm galvanised tie wire
Dried twig branches
Mini pliers
Shape the circle
1. Use pliers to cut four 100mm lengths of tie wire. Twist a handful of dried twig branches into a circular shape, bending and weaving them together.
Secure the twigs
2. Secure each quarter with wire, wrapping it around the twigs firmly and bending the ends inwards.
Draping wreath
Tools and materials
4mm thick wire rope
Bunch of olive branches
Bunch of Pieris japonica
Clear cable ties
Clear fishing line
Mini bolt cutters
Mini pliers
Trim the wire rope
1. Cut a 500mm length of wire rope with bolt cutters. Arrange a handful of foliage sprigs so the stems are offset.
Add the foliage
2. Working on a flat surface, position the arranged sprigs along the wire, from one end, securing the stems with cable ties. Trim the excess ties with pliers.
Repeat with more arranged sprigs along the wire, covering the full length.
Hang with fishing wire
3.Tie fishing line onto either end of the wreath's wire to hang it from the top, allowing the middle to drape.
Tip: Keep natural foliage fresh by hanging away from direct sunlight and spritzing regularly with water.
Looking for more crafty Christmas ideas?
Have a go at our festive DIY projects.
Photo Credit: Cath Muscat
