Make Your Own Wreath – Made Simple for Beginners

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Make your own wreath like a professional. Have you ever marveled at the beauty of a wreath hanging on a front door or adorning a festive table? You’ve thought about making your own, but the lack of experience holds you back. This post will empower you with techniques to create stunning wreaths.

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Grab your creative spirit and let’s dive into the world of DIY wreaths. The only limit is your imagination.

Friends, this post may contain affiliate links to products used to create the project. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases. You can read my complete disclosure here if you wish.

Tips to Make a Professional Looking Wreath

To be sure, I’ve sold a few wreaths created over the years, but I’ve never considered myself a professional wreath designer. But, I have learned the basics.

Choosing the Right Wreath Materials

Let’s talk about the base of your wreath. A popular choice for beginners is a simple wire or foam wreath form. These forms provide stability and are easy to work with, allowing you to focus on the fun part – decorating!

By the way, the boxwood wreath below has a DIY wreath base. The joy of small town living.

Fresh or artificial greenery

Select foliage that complements your lifestyle. Fresh doesn’t last long and makes more of a mess. But, it smells amazing. Consider using evergreen branches, eucalyptus, or even flowers from your own garden.

If artificial is more your style, there are a wide variety of realistic options available. Here’s my favorite collection on Amazon.

Decorative Elements

This is where you can let your creativity shine! Ribbons and bows, ornaments, pinecones, and berries, the possibilities are endless.

Pick your theme or occasion for your wreath and select materials that align with that vision. Don’t be afraid to mix and match textures, colors, and shapes to create a stunning design.

Wreath Making Tools

The essential tools that will make your wreath-making experience a breeze.

Wire cutters

Floral wire

Floral tape – This collection has everything above & is my favorite on Amazon

Hot glue guns

These are basic tools to attach materials to your wreath. These tools will help ensure that your design stays intact and stands the test of time and wind! I live in Oklahoma!

Step-by-Step Wreath Making

Step 1: Choose your wreath base

Start by selecting a wreath base that suits your style and desired aesthetic. Most wreath bases are wire, styrofoam or some type of vine. Consider the size and shape of your wreath, keeping in mind the intended location. I tend to go larger.

Step 2: Gather your materials

Get creative and mix and match different elements to create a unique look. Remember, the rule of uneven numbers. Three, five or seven items tend to look better than even numbers.

A great idea for beginners is to gather three largest element, five medium size elements. Then fill in with smaller elements.

Get quirky with your items. Try small picture frames, vintage silverware for a dining room or kitchen wreath. broken jewelry pieces for a bedroom wreath.

Remember to add a wreath center!

Step 3: Attach your base materials

Work on a flat surface and create a layout. Start by placing larger elements around the wreath. Space them out to create a balanced composition. Or, gather them at the bottom or top. Then the next size elements.

Stop, and take a picture. Why? Because as you look at your wreath, you see 3 dimensions, but a photo on your phone, is 2 dimensions. Anything that looks off or outta whack shows better in 2D.

Secure your chosen base materials to the wreath form using wire cutters and floral wire or hot glue. To make sure things stay attached in the wind or if you want it to stay upright, attach in 2 spots. Start by attaching the larger elements, then the medium size.

Step 4: Layer on more elements

To enhance the visual appeal of your wreath add smaller elements. Play with different textures, colors, and sizes to create depth and dimension. Hot glue guns come in handy for attaching delicate or intricate pieces.

Step 5: Add finishing touches

To make your wreath shine, add some finishing touches that tie everything together. This could be a bow made from ribbon, a personalized sign, or even some twinkling fairy lights. These final details will elevate your wreath from ordinary to extraordinary.

Design Ideas and Inspiration

If you’ve watched any of my several hundred DIY videos, you know I can not make a bow. Until now!

Check out how I make an almost “professional” bow on this Pinterest Idea Pin.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to designing wreaths. Let your imagination run wild to create a wreath that reflects your personal style.

If you prefer a more minimalist aesthetic, consider a monochromatic wreath. Achieve this using flowers, foliage, or even ornaments in your chosen color scheme.

For those who appreciate a touch of whimsy, a themed wreath might be the perfect option. Whether it’s a wreath inspired by a favorite book, movie, or hobby, let your interests guide your design. Gardening enthusiast incorporate miniature gardening tools and faux flowers into your wreath.

Consider incorporating unconventional materials into your wreath design. Use unexpected items like recycled materials, fabric scraps, or feathers.

Tips for a Professional Finish

Here are some helpful tips to elevate your wreaths to professional-level creations.

Pay attention to the symmetry of your wreath. A well-balanced design will give your creation a harmonious and pleasing appearance. Take a moment to step back and check the arrangement of elements on your wreath. Make any necessary adjustments to colors, textures, and placements. Take a final photo.

Another pro tip is to invest in high-quality materials. Using quality materials gives your wreath a designer look. Plus, they tend to hold up longer making them easier to redesign and update a wreath.

Make a faux boxwood wreath with a DIY base!

Make-your-own-wreath-supplies | Country Design Style | countrydesignstyle.com

List of supplies to make your own wreath

Wreath form {mine turned out to be around 8-inches}
Wire cutters
Scissors
Faux Boxwood stems
Floral tape
Hot glue gun and glue sticks or hot glue pot {my new friend}

The steps to make your own wreath and base!

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If you have regular, normal styrofoam wreath you can skip the next 3 steps!  We live in a small community.  Not many places to get art supplies.  Amazon in my other friend.  But when you can’t wait to make a project, you improvise.

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One ~ The only wreath form was this round styrofoam disk.  I used a marker to draw the inside circle.

Make-your-own-wreath-and-form-cutout | Country Design Style | countrydesignstyle.com

Two ~ I used an old steak knife to carefully cut out the circle.

Make-your-own-wreath-and-form-shape | Country Design Style | countrydesignstyle.com

Three ~ Still being careful and using that steak knife, I cut about a 45-degree angle.  This was done on the inside and outside edge on the top.  I left the bottom flat.

Make-your-own-wreath-and-form-wrapped | Country Design Style | countrydesignstyle.com

Four ~ Then I wrapped my “wreath frame” in floral tape.  If you have a white wreath you can wrap it in floral tape or spray paint it green.

How to use floral tape

If you haven’t used floral tape, add it to your shopping list.  It’s so handy to have around.  Floral tape is stretchy and sticks only to itself.  Scissors are not necessary, simply tear off how much you need.

  • Use it on fresh and faux greens and flowers to hold together.
  • Tape on wide vases in a criss-cross pattern to help hold flowers.
  • Use to temporary hold lightweight items while you’re trying to snap a picture.
  • Wrap frail styrofoam like I did above.

Now back to making your wreath

Make-your-own-wreath-boxwood-stems | Country Design Style | countrydesignstyle.com

Five ~ I’m using the same boxwood stems in the link above from Amazon.  Only 2 of the 4 stems were used in my 8 inch wreath.  Use the wire cutters to remove the individual stems from the plastic “handle.”

Make-your-own-wreath-boxwood | Country Design Style | countrydesignstyle.com

Six ~ The smaller stems just pop off.  Other types of greens you may need to cut the smaller stems.

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Seven ~ Start adding the stems going in the same direction.  The hot glue pot is the Bomb Diggity!

Take a moment and look at the image above.  Notice on the right side the stems seem shorter and snug.

Make-your-own-wreath-boxwood-stems-cut | Country Design Style | countrydesignstyle.com

Eight ~ That’s because when I finished the wreath was too shaggy for the look I wanted.  So I went around the wreath again and used the hedge clippers [okay, the scissors] to give it trim.  I cut almost half the stems down.  Then added the tops here and there.

Make-your-own-wreath-without-big-bucks | Country Design Style | countrydesignstyle.com

This is the end result.

Plus, I only used two of the four clusters from Amazon.

So, the other two clusters…

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were bent into a natural bush shape…

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and added them to the stone vase.  I spent under $11 dollars for the boxwood stems and everything else I had.  Two pops of green without big bucks.

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Our organ mantel with pops of color, twine nests, and wood eggs.  Stuff that doesn’t die! 🙂

With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to craft wreaths with a professional finish that will wow everyone! No experience is necessary to create stunning DIY wreaths.

As you experiment with different combinations, you’ll develop your own signature style. So, why wait? As the saying goes, “Creativity is intelligence having fun.”

In the end, the only limit is your imagination. So, go ahead and create wreaths that reflect your personal style, leaving both you and others in awe. Happy wreath-making!

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