Make Your Own Christmas Wreath

The method for making a wreath with a straw base is the same, whether you're creating an autumn wreath with heather, a moss wreath, or a wreath with winter greenery, like the one we're showing here.

If you cover a straw wreath with winter greenery or other plants that dry well, you can save the wreath and change the decorations for different occasions. Why not decorate it with red for Christmas and with white and glitter for New Year's? Reuse at its best!

• Straw wreath − available in different sizes at Plantasjen
• Plants − we used fir branches, pine branches, and skimmia
• Decorations − we used pinecones
• Pruning shears for the branches
• Florist wire
• String, ribbon, or cord to hang the wreath with

Step 1
Choose which winter greenery and plants you want in the wreath. We chose fir, pine, and skimmia. The leaves of the skimmia have a different shape, and the flowers add some color, giving a nice contrast to the wreath.

TIP! Cut and prepare the materials for the wreath in advance, so you don't have to do it while your hands are full making the wreath.

Step 2
Attach the florist wire around the straw base.

Step 3
Make a small bouquet and wrap it around the base.

TIP! Remember to tie it fairly tightly, as the plants shrink when they dry. If you have a small straw wreath, it's important not to make the bouquets too big, as the wreath could become so thick that the hole in the middle is covered.

Step 4
Continue attaching the bouquets around the wreath. Place the new bouquets in a way that hides the wire holding the previous one. Make sure to cover the straw base on both the inside and outside. Check the wreath from different angles to see if any part of the base is showing.

TIP! To make a uniform wreath, it's a good idea to attach the bouquets in a pattern. For example, you could alternate between pine and fir for every other bouquet, or include skimmia in every third bouquet. Experiment to see what looks best—only your imagination sets the limits!

Step 5
When you've gone all the way around, take a final bouquet and tuck it under the first one, securing it tightly with wire. Lift the first bouquet and press the new one firmly into place. This way, the florist wire on the last bouquet is hidden, making the wreath even and with no visible transitions.

Remember to wrap the florist wire between the branches to create an invisible overlap and avoid flattening the branches.

Step 6
When you're satisfied with the wreath, the only thing left to do is secure the florist wire at the back. Thread the wire under the existing wires and fasten it securely.

TIP! Did the wreath turn out a bit uneven, or is the straw base showing in some places? No problem! You can easily insert extra branches under the florist wire afterward. If you found it hard to create smooth transitions, add some larger decorations, and you won’t even notice!

Step 7
Once you're happy with the wreath, it's time to decorate it. We chose to use pinecones. To attach the pinecones, use the florist wire and wrap it around the cone. Then tuck the wire under the plants so it doesn’t flatten the wreath. Finally, secure the wire at the back of the base.

Step 8
When you're happy with how the wreath looks, it’s time to display it. Hang the wreath with a nice string, ribbon, or cord for an extra decorative touch.

TIP! When the wreath has served its purpose, you can remove the decorations you've tied to the straw base. Feel free to reuse the base next time you make a wreath.

You can decorate the wreath however you like! Choose what suits your style and home. Here are a few suggestions:

Feel free to use materials you have around the house or in the garden. Here, we've used kale, Brussels sprouts, red onions, and apples to decorate the wreath. For the base, we've used thuja, fir, and juniper. Experiment and have fun!

If you don’t want to make a wreath from scratch, you can find ready-made wreaths with fir branches at Plantasjen, which you can decorate yourself. Cute little gnomes can also have a place on the wreath.