The tree is up – big tick. So what’s second on your festive decorating list? We say it’s a Christmas wreath. Because is a door really dressed for the season without one?

If you agree, your next step is to decide on your wreath’s aesthetic. The obvious route is a full ring of classic evergreen foliage, dotted with sprigs of holly, berries and tied with a red or gold bow – timeless and gorgeous. But that’s far from your only option. How about a ring of brightly coloured baubles, a simple wire design adorned only with fairy lights, or an elegant ‘half moon’ wreath? You could even ditch the circles completely and hang a seasonal swag instead.

“What makes a great wreath? These days there are so many styles and colours to consider,” says Lindsey Kitchin, florist and founder of The White Horse Flower Company.

“From a Scandi Shaker style to a bejewelled orange and cinnamon design, the truth is there’s no right or wrong. You do you!”

Need some inspiration to get the creative juices flowing? Our Christmas wreath ideas run rings around the competition.

1. Go big

If you really want to wow your guests this Christmas, bigger is better, as Kris Manolo, senior category manager at Atkin and Thyme, explains: “We’ve taken the maximalist approach to create a focal point of a bar area at a party (below right), using an oversized wreath. It adds instant wow factor and would also look great placed in a Christmas hallway to give guests a fabulously festive welcome.”

2. Build up a ring of ribbons

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably got bags full of scrap ribbon you’ve collected over the years. I mean well, and always plan to use it to dress presents or decorate jars and vases. But what to do with all those pieces that are two short, or the wrong colour? Try some Christmas DIY decor and make it into a ribbon wreath, that’s what.

The great thing about this project is that anything goes – colours can clash, edges can fray, as it’s all part of the rustic Christmas look. Best of all, it will last year after year. Just grab a chunky willow wreath base, your ribbon collection, and get tying.

3. Swap a wreath for a simple swag

Getting fir branches to bend the right way around a wreath isn’t always easy. So first-timers may better fancy their festive foliage chances with a swag. Place the longest, thickest cuttings in the middle, then lay progressively shorter, more delicate branches at slight angles on top. Secure in place with some florist’s wire, cover with a velvet bow, and you’re done.

4. Hang a wreath over your dining table

“Christmas wreaths don’t have to be relegated to the front door,” says Simon Temprell, Interior Design lead at Neptune. “They can be used on windows, gates, above fireplaces or just about anywhere.” 

And they can take your Christmas tablescaping to the next level.

“If you suspend a wreath horizontally from the ceiling – this is especially effective above a dining table – you can hang things from it to create a festive chandelier,” Temprell adds.

“Battery-operated fairy lights or hanging votive holders will introduce some sparkle and consider using things that will drape and hang nicely from your wreath such as strings of faux pearls or miniature paper chains.”

5. Forage in your garden

“I prepare for crafting my Christmas wreath by going on a forage outside to see what inspires me,” says horticulturist Sarah Raven.

“I’ll tend to pick anything with abundant colour and scent, such as brilliant-pink spindle berries, eucalyptus and green pine making sure to leave enough for the birds and other woodland creatures. I adore the burnt orange and umber tones of Chinese lanterns (physalis) and mini Pumpkin ‘Jill Be Little’, so they often play a prominent part in my decorative display.”

It’s easy to get foraging for your festive wreath when you’re out on your morning dog walk or weekend hike.

“Mixing some foraged natural beauties with stunning seasonal flowers like hellebores or holly can make for a really stylish wreath with cool and contrasting textures. Not to mention it’s eco-friendly,” says Karen Barnes, competitive floristry judge and Interflora consultant.

Not confident about making your own? Sarah’s Mixed Eucalyptus and Green Pine wreath is available here.

6. Complement your door colour

Florist Lindsey Kitchin considers door colour really important when you’re choosing or making a wreath to hang on it.

“If your door is a dark green, blue or black, consider using variegated foliages and lighter decorative details to ‘lift’ it away from the background,” she says.

“Some colours really show off a wreath. A yellow door would great with grey-toned foliage such as eucalyptus and scenecio, for example. A good florist will advise you if you’re not sure.”

7. Go bold with baubles

Sure, you can buy a readymade bauble wreath – and there are few better than the Rainbow bauble wreath, £25, John Lewis. But you could have more fun making your own. It’s as easy as taking a wire coat hanger, carefully bending it into a hoop with pliers, and threading the baubles on.

For the most professional look, we recommend you use baubles of different sizes. You could easily use 80 to 100 baubles for a wreath, so it’s cost effective to source them secondhand if you can. Go for one colour, or use a combination of two or three (red and green, red and gold, or silver pink and pastel blue are personal favourites). Or mimic this stunning rainbow with baubles of every shade. For a dancefloor sensation, try using mini mirrored disco baubles!

8. Light the way

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best. That’s certainly the case with these hoops of light by Atkin and Thyme. They’re just the wreaths to brighten up a gloomy hallway or corridor, will bring glamour to a garden wall, and can guide visitors to your door after dark. You can buy these ready made or make your own by twisting a short string of LED fairy lights to an embroidery hoop or similar.

You could also introduce greenery by weaving ivy in with the lights. Complicated? No. Chic and contemporary? Most definitely.

9. Mix and match wreaths and materials

Why hang one wreath when you can have three? The key to this look is to make sure they are themed in some way. You can mix materials and styles – here we have felt, a willow half-wreath, and a full wreath in eucalyptus and pine cones. But there should be a theme or feature that ties them together. In this case, it’s the use of white berries on all three wreaths, and a united colour scheme. Otherwise, it can get messy.

10. Tap into the the dried flower trend

The ultimate transformation for wreaths this year is the inclusion of dried flowers and foliage, according to Interflora’s Karen Barnes.

“All the rage on TikTok, dried flowers are biodegradable, far less wasteful and last far longer, so what’s not to love? Making their jump from decor to door in beautiful Christmas wreath form, dried lavender and cornflowers add an extra pop of colour and texture for a statement fashion-forward Christmas wreath,” she says. 

“And when you add some stunning winter blooms to the mix, like poinsettias and roses, it’s easy to build up stylish earthy tones for a really contemporary look.”

11. Collect autumn leaves

“If you’re looking for one super-affordable way to make a Christmas wreath or garland, take a needle and a length of cotton, and thread dried autumn leaves onto it,” says Pamela Smith, a gardens and parklands consultant at The National Trust.

You can then wind this onto a ring of wire to make a simple and contemporary wreath, or weave them into a willow or foliage hoop and add pine cones for something sturdier and more traditional.

“To dry out the leaves, just place them on top of kitchen towel on a table. It won’t take long. They should last into the New Year – and if you use cotton to hold them together, you’ll be able to pop them straight onto the compost heap when you’re done,” adds Pamela.

12. Macrame your own modern designs

For wreaths that aren’t just for Christmas, try your hand at macrame. Adding a sprig of foliage will make it festive, and it can be easily removed for a year-round display. This Hobbycraft macrame make is a beginner-level project that requires just two balls of wool and three metal frames. Embroidery hoops or even twisted willow stems would work just as well.

How high should my wreath hang on my door?

According to Kiera Kay at Bloom & Wild: “As you’ve just put a lot of effort and care into making your beautiful wreath, you want it to be the centre of attention. We recommend placing the wreath at eye level. The centre of your wreath should be at around 57 inches (140 cm) from the ground.”