18 Christmas wreath ideas

Browse our collection of practical how-to projects and videos, and find out how to make anything from a classic Christmas wreath to 'cool-themed', contemporary and even wildlife-friendly takes on the original wreath design. There’s an abundance of plant material in winter that’s perfect for making a wreath, from the red berries of hawthorn and pyracantha to the tawny hues of last summer’s seedheads. See what you can gather from your garden or local park, but be careful not to take too many seeds or berries so there's plenty left for the birds.

Browse our selection of projects on making Christmas wreaths, below.

Merry and bright Christmas wreath

For this wreath, pyracantha berries, rosehips, and skimmia and viburnum flowers add pops of colour to a textural base of mixed evergreens, including bay, euonymus, hebe and pine. The base is a wire frame that is cheap and can be used year after year, with the moss, foliage and decorations all harvested from the garden. As long as the wreath is not exposed to too much direct wind and rain, it will last well for three to four weeks.

Pampas Christmas wreath

Dried flowers and seedheads, such as teasels and poppies, from the garden are a thrifty way of adding texture and interest to a wreath, and can be saved for future years. The amaranthus and nigella add wonderful purple tones, while the pampas grass and cardoons bring flair and pizzazz to your front door. This style of wreath doesn’t use moss, and can withstand some wind and rain. The evergreens include leylandii and eucalyptus.

Festive Christmas wreath

This festive wreath is made with colourful plants or parts of them that should be easy to source from the garden, parks or florists. We’ve used more traditional plants like fir, holly and crab apples, but more unusual materials like echinops seedheads, sunflower seedheads and hydrangea bracts look great, too.

• How to make a festive Christmas wreath

Contemporary Christmas wreath

This contemporary Christmas wreath is created using birch twigs, Scots pine sprigs and the fluffy seedheads of old man’s beard (Clematis vitalba). You can then leave it as is, or add some finishing touches using silver baubles or bells, to catch the eye.

• How to create a contemporary Christmas wreath
• Buy a twig wreath from Crocus

Brussels sprout Christmas wreath

This contemporary Christmas wreath, with an edible twist, is made from vegetables including Brussels sprouts, shallots and bell peppers. It’s cheap to make and is a fun winter project for the family. You can use any evergreens you have in your garden, and homegrown or shop-bought vegetables.

• How to make a Brussels sprout Christmas wreath

Living wreath

A living wreath is the ultimate plant-lover’s choice. Use hardy succulents, such as sempervivum and sedum, to create this stylish wreath than can be unpicked and planted into the garden, come spring.

• How to make a living wreath

Fiery and festive wreath

This red berry wreath was created using skimmia and cotoneaster berries and leaves, with pine cones and crab apples as extra decoration. A water-based red spray paint was used to add a more festive look.

Traditional Christmas wreath

David Hurrion explains out how to make a traditional Christmas wreath using evergreen plants from the garden like holly, English ivy and conifer sprigs – you could even use small branches from the Christmas tree.

• How to make a traditional Christmas wreath

Blue and gold Christmas wreath

This blue, gold and green Christmas wreath combines materials that can be foraged from the garden or on winter walks. We used a touch of gold and blue paint, to give some of the ingredients in this wreath extra Christmas sparkle. Look for paints that contain low or no VOCs, to minimise environmental impact.

• How to make a blue and gold Christmas wreath

Pyracantha, ivy and crab apple Christmas wreath

This classic wreath design is made with yew, box and ivy, elder stems, pyracantha berries and crab apples gathered from the garden.

• How to make a pyracantha, ivy and crab apple Christmas wreath

Mistletoe and teasel Christmas wreath

This unusual Christmas wreath should encourage you to get outside and forage. Experiment with seedheads, fir cones, hips and berries, and garnish with dried flowerheads. Mistletoe can be found growing wild, but is sold at florists and markets during the Christmas season.

• How to make a mistletoe and teasel Christmas wreath

Rustic Christmas wreath

David Hurrion shows you how to make a rustic Christmas wreath. He uses materials that can be found in the garden, including birch twigs, teasel seedheads and rose hips. The result is a naturalistic festive decoration that can be hung up indoors or outdoors, to welcome friends and family.

• How to make a rustic Christmas wreath

Glamorous Christmas wreath

This sustainable wreath includes a little bit of everything: greenery foraged from the garden creates the base layer, with seedheads and dried flowers woven in to add texture and interest. Pine cones, willow stems, thistles and frothy clematis seedheads were added at the end to give a natural look.

• How to make a glamorous Christmas wreath

More wreath inspiration

Exclusively for Subscriber Club members, Amber Partner shares how to make a stylish 3/4 wreath. Click to see a full step-by-step guide to how to make it.

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Wildlife-friendly Christmas wreath

This simple design is made using dogwood stems and long-lasting rosehips, although you could easily use other berries. Hang it where you can easily view any visiting birds – you could attach it to a fence or shed, for example.

• How to make a wildlife-friendly Christmas wreath

Cool-themed Christmas wreath

This contemporary looking wreath is made using white snowberries, silver- and grey-leaved foliaged such as euonymous and eucalyptus.

• How to make a cool-themed Christmas wreath
• Buy a make your own wreath kit from Sarah Raven

Golden-toned Christmas wreath

This autumn-hued wreath features crab apples, beech and chestnut leaves, and wild carrot flowers, along with sprigs of eucalyptus to give off a wonderful scent. The foliage has been kept long and loose to give your handmade wreath a natural, foraged look.

• How to make a golden-toned Christmas wreath

Alternative Christmas wreath

This heart-shaped wireframe, stuffed with foraged pine cones, echinops seed heads, and crab apples, is a fresh twist on the traditional Christmas door wreath. To shape it, use an off-cut of 13mm-gauge chicken wire. It’s possible to make any shape you like, so if a heart isn’t for you, choose a star or a circle.

• How to make an alternative Christmas wreath

Golden greeting Christmas door wreath

This blue-green wreath with hints of gold uses foraged ivy, pine cones and eryngium. Gold accents were added with a water-based spray paint. Pine and spruce are used for the evergreen foliage.

Listen to our Christmas wreath making podcast

Florist and gardener Shilpa Reddy shares just how easy it is to make your own traditional Christmas wreath, using ingredients foraged from the garden, in this free podcast.

Listen here