DIY: Holiday Wreath

Happy December!

We’ve already seen the Christmas lights go up, mall Santas are arriving from the North Pole, and the holiday parties have begun! Whatever you celebrate this time of year, there is a consistent feeling of togetherness and cheer that really makes this, as the songs say, the most wonderful time of the year.

One of our favourite ways of decorating for the holidays is with a wreath. What could be more west coast that bringing a little bit of the outdoors in? We are so lucky here in Vancouver to be living in the middle of evergreen heaven– local florists and garden centers provide fantastic options to make your own wreath at home. We went around to source some classic west coast-inspired greenery to make the perfect wreath as well as a few seasonal accents…  We hope you’re inspired to embrace the boughs and add a touch of west-coast Christmas trimmings to your holiday home!

Naturally pretty: one of our favourite projects– the Eucalyptus Wreath

What to look for:

There are really no rules for what you choose to make your wreath from. Traditionally, Christmas wreaths are made from evergreen boughs– but don’t be afraid to make wreaths from flowers, fruits, or other greens like (one of our favourites) Eucalyptus. Different types of greenery will have different shades of green, different shapes of leaves/needles, and a variety of scents– so go with what you like!

Here are a few samples of what is available…

Fir: Classic west coast evergreen. Smaller needles and a fresh aroma.

Skimmia: A beautiful textural contrast to evergreens, available in soft mauves and greens

Pine Cones: Available in a huge variety of shapes and sizes… Smaller varieties can easily be added to a wreath

Cedar: Another west coast standard. Drapes well around a wreath and will last the entire holiday season

Baby’s Breath (Gypsophalia): This little flower almost looks like snow, no? Add a couple sprays to your arrangement or make an entire wreath from it!

Red Berries: It doesn’t get more festive that a splash of red on a wreath, these also look stunning in a vase

Pine: Longer needles can make a very graceful-looking wreath, lots of layers may be needed as these are not as dense as over evergreen varietals

Magnolia Leaves: This robust green gives a great contrast in texture 

Holly: Beautiful colours and a classic Christmas vibe (watch out for pointy leaves!)

What to Use:

• Wreath Base (wire frame or grapevine work well!)
• Greenery of choice
• Accents (berries, flowers, ornaments, bows… just be mindful of the items’ longevity!)
• *Optional* Ribbon (for hanging)

Also have on hand…

• Newspaper to protect your work space and make for easy clean-up
• Garden shears
• Garden gloves (some foliage can be quite rough!)
• Glass of mulled wine to get in the holiday mood!

What to do:

1.Prepare your wreath base

If you are using a wire base you can use twine or floral wire to attach your materials. Alternatively you can pack it (very) tightly with moss so you can secure your materials by inserting them into the moss.

If you are using a vine base, you can tuck slender stems/branches directly into the base; for larger pieces that cannot fit, use twine or floral wine to secure them.

2. Get your greens ready

Snip foliage into lengths of about 15-25cm. Use your judgement based on how sturdy your materials are.  If you are just sticking your materials into the wreath (ie. vine or moss base) go a bit shorter. If you are securing materials with wire you can go a bit longer and secure at various points so it looks tidy and the wreath maintains it’s circular shape.

Have any accents and decorations on standby!

3. Assemble

Add your greenery following one direction (clockwise/counter clockwise), then add any decorative bits at your discretion. When you are satisfied with your wreath add a wide ribbon (about 5-10cm) by threading it through the wire rack or around the wreath. Now you can hang it and enjoy your work!

It’s not as hard as you might think… In our DIY video, Brooke puts together a wreath of Eucalyptus using a grape vine wreath base.

Regardless of what holiday you celebrate this season, we hope you’re inspired to kick off the holidays and make your decor a little greener!

Have fun with all your holiday DIY!

Brooke and Tina