How to make a Christmas wreath – six steps to a festive floral masterpiece

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Create a festive first impression for your guests and passersby by getting crafty this Christmas. We reveal in six easy steps how to make a Christmas wreath to wow from your front door. Or hang above the mantelpiece if you’d prefer, of course.

Related: Christmas mantelpiece ideas – to set the scene in style for the festive season

In just six steps you can craft your own centrepiece to hang on the front door or pride of place in a living room or hallway. Try it at home to save money this festive season.

How to make a Christmas wreath – step by step

What you’ll need to make a wreath:

Most of what you need should be available at your local garden centre.

1. Collect your foliage

This can be done in several ways. You could grab a few supermarket bouquets. For a fuller wreath, supplement your stems with extras cut from your garden or forage some on winter walks in the countryside. Birch branches, holly and ivy make pretty additions.

Alternatively there’s the option to buy a readymade kit, as suggested above.

2. Prepare your wreath ring

First, take your moss sheet and wrap it around your wreath ring. Then, wrap your florists’ wire clockwise around the moss, leaving gaps of 4cm evenly around the wreath. Pull the wire tightly so it’s good and secure.this tension also helps to hide the wire, nestled amongst the foliage.

When you have created a full circle, cut the wire and twist the ends together, then fold them away out of sight.

3. Overlay the moss with greenery

Bulk out the base with festive greenery, such as fir stems. Although this can be any green foliage you’ve foraged, as long as it covers in abundance. Prep the foliage, ready to make hand-tied bundles to adorn the moss covered frame. Lay the cuttings in groups of 2 to 3 stems, staggering down so the tips lay slightly below each other. Use the wire to bunch these together. Attach on top of the moss frame.

4. Trim your stems

Add to the greenery with flower stems of your choice. Cut the stems so they’re 8-15cm long, and use the same principle as above to tie them into clusters of 3-4 different sprigs. You’ll need to make about roughly 18 grouped bundles to fill the wreath.

5. Start arranging

Take your first group of stems and lay them diagonally across the wreath ring. Use more wire to secure the base of the stems to the wreath ring – but don’t cut the florists’ wire from the spool! All will become clear…

Now pick up your second bundle of stems and lay them just below the first. Again, secure with the same length of wire. Continue working around the wreath clockwise, never cutting the wire, tucking the last section of stems beneath the previous ones, until the whole ring is covered.

5. Prune and personalise

Hold up your wreath and inspect it for any gaps, which can be filled with leftover foliage. You might also want to print a little around the edge to achieve a strong circular shape. Don’t go overboard though, as you still want a natural look.

For a bit of glam, you could consider adding a few leftover baubles or weaving in some fairy lights. Finally, tie in some ribbon for hanging.

Related: Budget Christmas decorating ideas for a high-impact, low-cost Christmas

Your beautifully made wreath should last for at least 3 weeks. You can always remove and replace any sprigs of foliage that start to look a bit sad – prolonging its lifespan.