Originally Published on December 8, 2021. Last Updated on February 20, 2024.

Zhuzh up your front door with a DIY wreath this holiday season. Before you sigh thinking about money spent at the craft store, look around your home first. Most, if not all, of the supplies you need for these ideas are in your house or backyard. Browse these creative DIY wreath ideas and see if any spark your creativity.

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Evergreen Wreath
Box & Bow Wreath
Bird Food Wreath
Woven Table Wreath
Wine Bottle Cork Wreath
Wrapping Paper Wreath
Halloween Wreath

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Evergreen Wreath

We love this wreath because it’s simple and smells great. If you put up a real tree for the holidays, you can use some of the cutoffs to make your wreath, or snip some branches from the conifers in your backyard and add them in. This one is crafted with wire hangers for easy hanging.

Supplies Needed

• 2 wire coat hangers
• Floral wire
• Wire cutters
• Pruning shears
• Pine or fir branches
• (Optional) glue gun
• (Optional) pine cones and dehydrated slices of lemons, limes, oranges, and other citrus fruits

Instructions

Step 1: Hold the hangers together with the hooks facing the same direction. Use your hands to bend the metal bases into a hoop shape, leaving the hooks as they are.

Step 2: Secure the hangers together with a few short pieces of floral wire.

Step 3: Cut 10-inch branches with the shears.

Step 4: Place a branch along one curved side of the hanger hoop and tie it on with one or two pieces of wire. Repeat this step on the same side, overlapping branches in the same direction around the circle until it’s fully covered.

Step 5: (Optional) Glue pine cones and dehydrated citrus rounds to the wreath for extra color and scent.

  PRO TIPS:  

• Avoid using spruce branches because the needles are sharp and pointy.
• When the branches die, compost them and save the hangers for your next wreath. (Remove glued bits first if you used any.)

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Box & Bow Wreath

If you are like many savvy DIYers and save gift bags, boxes, tissue paper, and bows, know that we appreciate your desire to be thrifty. The question now is, what do you do with all your seasonal bits and baubles? You make a wreath, of course.

Supplies Needed

• Large cardboard box (at least 14-by-14 inches)
• Wrapping paper
• Thin ribbon
• Scissors
• Gift wrap bows of varying sizes and colors (the kinds with adhesive backs are great for this)
• Tape

Instructions

Step 1: Cut a 12-inch circle from one side of the cardboard box. Cut out another circle from its inside that’s eight inches in diameter, leaving you with a ring that’s two inches thick on all sides.

Step 2: Cut the wrapping paper into long, 2-inch thick strips. 

Step 3: Wrap the strips around the cardboard, taping each end in place. Overlap them to ensure full cardboard coverage until the entire ring is covered. 

Step 4: Cut a three-foot length of wire ribbon and fold it in half to make a loop at one end.

Step 5: Create a lark‘s head knot by hooking the ribbon loop through the center of the ring and folding it up over the front. Bring the loose ends up from the back, thread them through the loop over the top of the ring, and pull them tight.

Step 6: Tie the ends together in an overhand knot to finish your ribbon hanger.

Step 7: Position the bows in clusters on the wreath in any way you like. If the bows don’t have adhesive backs (or they’ve lost their stickiness over time), fold pieces of tape into loops with the sticky side out and use these to attach the bows on one side of the ring.

  PRO TIP:  
Hang this wreath indoors, as the materials won’t weather the outdoor elements.

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Bird Food Wreath

Spread the holiday cheer to your feathered friends with this DIY bird feeder.

Supplies Needed

• 8” metal wreath frame
• Braided nylon rope
• Scissors
• Lighter
• 26 gauge floral wire
• Wire cutters
• Pine cones (amount varies depending on shape and size)
• 1 jar of peanut butter
• Glass measuring cup
• Spatula
• Large sheet pan
• Wire rack
• 4+ cups birdseed

Instructions

Step 1: Cut a four-foot section of rope, tie one end to the frame, and make a loop in the other. Singe the ends with the lighter to prevent fraying.

Step 2: Place a pine cone against the metal frame and thread a piece of floral wire (six to eight inches depending on the cone size) through it, twisting the ends together to keep it secure. Repeat with all your cones until the entire frame is covered on the front and back.

Step 3: Place the wire rack on the baking sheet and top it with the wreath. This makes cleanup much easier.

Step 4: Scoop the peanut butter into the measuring cup, microwave it for 30 seconds, then stir. Repeat this until the peanut butter has melted to a thin, easy-to-pour consistency.

Step 5: Drizzle the melted peanut butter over the wreath, spreading it over the cones with the spatula. Scrape any drippings from the pan back into the cup, flip the wreath over, and pour the remaining peanut butter over the other side.

Step 6: Liberally sprinkle birdseed onto the wreath and gently press the seeds into the peanut butter with your hands. Flip it over, and repeat on the other side.

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Woven Table Wreath

Wreaths make excellent centerpieces. Try this one to add an extra special touch to your seasonal tablescape.

Supplies Needed

• 10 fresh willow, dogwood, beech, or other thin, flexible branches cut into three-foot sections (or more if you want a thicker ring)
• Floral wire
• Burlap ribbon
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun
• Autumn leaves or pine cones (whichever makes sense for the season)
• Dehydrated lemon, lime, and/or orange slices
• Rosemary springs

Instructions

Step 1: To start the base, assemble two thicker stems, staggering the ends.

Step 2: Twist the branches together, then bend them into a circular shape.

Step 3: Weave the ends together and secure them with a length of floral wire.

Step 4: Wrap more stems around the base to thicken it up, securing them with wire—try to distribute the wire evenly around the ring.

Step 5: Cover the wire sections with ribbon pieces long enough to wrap around the ring, gluing them in place.

Step 6: Glue pine cones or leaves on one side of your wreath, exposing areas to see the pretty ring.

Step 7: Finish up by gluing on the citrus slices and rosemary, then let the wreath sit overnight so the glue can cure.

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Wine Bottle Cork Wreath

Attention all oenophiles: Proudly display your love of a good glass of red with a DIY wine cork wreath. Collecting enough corks might take some time, but it’s worth it when you hang this cute wreath on your door.

Supplies Needed

• Floral wire
• 12″ polystyrene wreath ring
• 60–70 wine bottle corks
• 15–20 mini pine cones
• 3 rosemary springs
• Hot glue gun
• Wire ribbon

Instructions

Step 1: For the hook, cut a long length of floral wire and bend it in half.

Step 2: Twist the pieces together about two inches from the bent section to form a loop.

Step 3: Position the loop on the side you won’t be decorating, then wrap the two loose ends around one section of the wreath ring, twisting them together on the other side.

Step 4: Glue the corks on the ring until one side is fully covered.

Step 5: Fill in the open spaces with pine cones and pieces of rosemary.

Step 6: Tie your ribbon into a bow and glue it to the front of the wreath.

  PRO TIP:  
Get family and friends in on saving corks so you can accumulate supplies faster.

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Wrapping Paper Wreath

Have excess wrapping paper? Make it the main character of a DIY wreath. Bonus: You can do this project with your kids.

Supplies Needed

• 12″ polystyrene wreath ring
• Multiple styles of wrapping paper
• Scissors
• Tape
• Wire ribbon

Instructions

Step 1: Choose one style of wrapping paper as the base cover for your wreath and cut it into long, thin strips.

Step 2: Tape one end of a strip to the wreath, then wrap it around the ring, making sure to overlap the pieces as you go.

Step 3: Repeat Step 2 until the ring is fully covered.

Step 4: Create a lark’s head knot with the ribbon. See Box & Bow Wreath instructions above for details.

Step 5: Tie the ends together in an overhand knot to finish your ribbon hanger.

Step 6: Pick two or three other types of wrapping paper as accent materials, then cut out your preferred shapes (flowers, hearts, stars, etc.).

Step 7: Tape the shapes to the ring in any way you like.

  PRO TIP:  
Use craft scissors to zhuzh up the accent pieces.

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Halloween Wreath

Usher in spooky season with this eerily cool DIY wreath. Made using thorn-covered honey locust branches, it’s also a clever way to keep invasive trees in check.

Supplies Needed

• Durable work gloves
• Safety glasses
• Thin honey locust branches, cut into two- or three-foot sections
• (Optional) floral wire
• Garden shears
• Dried flowers, stems removed (roses preferably)
• Hot glue gun
• Scissors
• Dark brown felt
• Black, brown, or dark red ribbon
• (Optional) dark red paint

Step 1: Don your gloves and glasses and carefully twist three of the branches together, staggering the ends. 

Step 2: Bend the stems into a circular shape and either twine the ends (the thorns help keep them in place) or use floral wire. 

Step 3: Twist in more branches to make the wreath look fuller and extra thorny.

Step 4: Use the shears to cut the thorns off one side of the wreath. This lets it hang flat against your door.

Step 5: Cut the felt into small pieces and glue them to the cut side of the wreath to prevent possible scratches.

Step 6: Carefully tie the ribbon into a lark’s head knot. See Box & Bow Wreath instructions above for details.  

Step 7: Glue the flowers around the wreath any way you like.

Step 8: (Optional) Dribble a bit of the red paint on a few of the thorns for a sanguine effect.

Step 9: Leave the wreath to dry overnight so the glue and paint can fully cure before hanging.

  PRO TIP:  
The thorns on a honey locust tree are very sharp, so be sure to wear proper safety gear and work in a kid- and pet-free area to prevent accidental pokes.