Christmas Wreaths to Make That’ll Make Your Front Door the Talk of the Neighborhood

Christmas Wreaths to Make That’ll Make Your Front Door the Talk of the Neighborhood

Christmas wreaths to make at home don’t require a degree in floral design or a trust fund.

I’ve spent years making wreaths for my own home, and I can tell you straight up: half the wreaths you see selling for $80+ at boutiques cost about $15 in materials to make yourself.

You just need to know what you’re doing.

Let me walk you through everything I’ve learned about creating gorgeous Christmas wreaths that actually look professional, not like a kindergarten craft project gone wrong.

Why Bother Making Your Own Christmas Wreath?

Look, I get it. You’re busy. The holidays are already stressful enough without adding another DIY project to your list.

But here’s the thing.

Making your own wreath gives you something you can’t buy in stores: exactly what you want.

That specific shade of burgundy ribbon that matches your door perfectly? Done. That rustic farmhouse vibe with just a hint of glam? Easy. A wreath that doesn’t shed fake snow all over your porch every time someone rings the doorbell? Absolutely.

Plus, there’s something genuinely satisfying about telling guests “Thanks, I made it myself” when they compliment your front door.

What You Actually Need to Make a Christmas Wreath

Let’s talk supplies, and I mean the real essentials, not some Pinterest fantasy list.

The Non-Negotiables:

• A wreath frame (grapevine, wire, or foam – pick based on your design)
• Floral wire or zip ties (I prefer wire because it’s more forgiving)
• Wire cutters (don’t use your kitchen scissors, trust me)
• Decorative elements (we’ll get into specifics)
• A hot glue gun (the crafter’s best friend)

The Nice-to-Haves:

• Ribbon in various widths (1.5″ to 4″ works for most wreaths)
• Greenery picks (artificial or real)
• Ornaments in different sizes
• Berries, pinecones, or seasonal picks
• Command hooks for hanging (because nobody wants nail holes in their door)

I learned the hard way that skimping on your frame is a mistake. A flimsy base means a flimsy finished product. Spend a few extra dollars on a sturdy wreath base and thank me later.

Five Christmas Wreaths You Can Actually Make (Without Losing Your Mind)

The Classic Evergreen Beauty

This is your bread-and-butter wreath. Timeless, elegant, works with any home style.

What You Need:

• 18-24″ grapevine or wire wreath frame
• Mixed evergreen picks (pine, cedar, fir for texture variety)
• Red berries or holly picks
• Pinecones (real or artificial)
• Burlap or plaid ribbon

How to Make It:

Start by laying out all your greenery on a table. This sounds obvious, but planning your layout before you start attaching things saves so much frustration.

Insert your longest greenery pieces into the frame first, working in one direction around the wreath. Think of it like shingling a roof – each layer overlaps the stems of the previous one.

Secure everything with floral wire, wrapping it tight enough to hold but not so tight it looks strangled.

Layer in your berries and pinecones, clustering them in groups of three or five (odd numbers always look more natural).

Finish with a bow at the top or bottom, depending on where your visual weight needs balancing.

Pro tip: Don’t distribute elements evenly around the entire wreath. Create focal points with denser decoration, leaving other areas more sparse. It looks intentional instead of like you ran out of supplies.

The Budget-Friendly Dollar Store Masterpiece

I’m not above a good Dollar Store hack, and neither should you be.

The trick is making cheap materials look expensive.

What You Need:

• Pre-made basic wreath from Dollar Tree ($5-$7)
• Three different ribbons in complementary patterns
• A statement decoration (large bow, wooden sign, or cluster of ornaments)
• Additional picks to fill gaps
• Spray paint in metallic finish (optional but effective)

How to Make It:

Take your basic wreath and remove anything that screams “budget.” Sometimes this means pulling off certain elements, sometimes it means leaving it as-is.

If your wreath looks too plain or dated, give it a light coat of gold or silver spray paint. This instantly elevates the look.

Layer your ribbons, weaving them through the wreath at different angles. Don’t just slap a bow on top and call it done.

Add your statement piece off-center for visual interest.

Fill any bare spots with additional picks, keeping color and texture variation in mind.

The secret: Metallics and texture are your friends. Even cheap materials look expensive when they catch the light.

The Rustic Farmhouse Wreath

Joanna Gaines made this style ubiquitous for a reason. It works.

What You Need:

• Grapevine wreath base (the messier, the better)
• Cotton stems or white berries
• Eucalyptus or olive branch picks
• Cream or white ribbon
• Small wooden or galvanized metal accents

How to Make It:

The beauty of farmhouse style is that imperfection is the point.

Keep your grapevine base visible – don’t cover every inch.

Tuck cotton stems and eucalyptus loosely into the wreath, letting them stick out at natural angles.

Add a simple fabric bow with long, loose tails.

Keep embellishments minimal and organic-looking.

Personal experience: I made this style for my first Christmas in our farmhouse, and three years later I’m still