[ I’m basically prohibited from talking about Christmas in my household until Thanksgiving is over. So — bring it on!!! ]
One thing I love about the holidays is driving down the street and seeing how people adorn their front doors. I love that most people hang wreaths and I think they are a great way to express your style outdoors.
I seem to always have grand intentions to make a wreath with fresh greenery and berries, but have never been really successful. One year, I even harvested some red berries from a bush in my yard in the summer and dried them, anticipating an awesome Christmas wreath; but, alas, it was a failure because every time we opened the door a few berries would fall off. This year, I’ve done a little wreath research and here are my findings.
I think my all time favorite wreath is this one from Sundance Catalog.
A NY neighbor puts up a fresh wreath decorated with fresh fruit during the holidays. It is totally “them.” I’m sure it was a lot more inexpensive to make than this one available for $150 here. Although this fruit is freeze-dried and would last multiple years.
I think this idea is really pretty and simple — you simply string fresh cranberries (I would have never thought of that!) and wrap them around greenery. I would love to try this. Instructions here.
I especially love this hip wreath idea from the magazine Cottage Living. The instructions are so simple — you use a square frame for the form! and I love the green berries. I also think using nontraditional holiday colors is a great way to keep things interesting. Cottage Living also has some great ideas for filling window boxes and planters with fresh greenery here.
This is a unique wreath using fresh greenery and simple ball ornaments. It would be fun to see this on someone’s door.
Using faux leaves and berries can also be exquisite — and usable year after year with little or no maintenance. I am amazed at how real some of them look! My friend Megan has had a wreath like this on her front door in the past. The red made a great statement on her black door. Instructions to make this one found here.
And there are a million options for purchase out there. These amazing ones are from Restoration Hardware. There are similar ones available for $25 at Target.
How will you adorn your door this year?
Top wreath available from Smith and Hawken.
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, first one! Most holidays, I don’t get too wild to decorate. Oh, but Christmas comes out in full force! I love decorated front doors – it’s so welcoming and so very charming!
i threw out my wreath last year because so these ideas are perfect. i’m already figuring out what i want to use for the square wreath.
I decided to just buy a basic wreath of fresh greens from Costco (pretty cheap) and then I can add berries, bells, bows, or whatever else to spuce it up.
I love a good wreath–but have the hardest time keeping it from going totally brown with the full-on southern sun exposure that beats down on my front door.
I finally got the best-looking fake one I could find, but I’m not lovin’ it like the fresh wreaths I used to buy from Costco.
Any suggestions?
compulsive writer:
everything i’ve read says to keep out of direct sunlight– which sounds impossible for you– at least because of the way your front door faces. that’s a bummer because the wreaths from costco are great and inexpensive. i think if you really want a fresh wreath, you will probably need to make it yourself–just so you know it’s super fresh when you start out; it may last a little longer. martha stewart has a little blurb about making wreaths here: http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=channel1301&catid=cat363&navLevel=4
also, the square wreath i featured actually has you soaking some foam in water for 30 minutes before adding the greenery to keep it fresh longer. good luck!
Thanks!
We gather up magnolia branches and twist them into a plain old fake evergreen wreath (these work great because they are green and you can twist anything in them…) I love the smooth shiny green side and the orange side of the leaves……. :-)
I love wreaths–especially the bay leaf wreath. My current one is on its last leg, so I might wait until the after Chrismas sales go on and make a trip to Pottery Barn and buy that Bay leaf wreath I’ve been eying for so long.
I love Christmas wreaths. I am not a big fan of the year round wreath, epecially those that have fake birds on them and such. The “just berry” wreaths are very popular in my neighborhood, and I think they are beautiful. Can’t wait to get the Christmas tree, wreath and all the other decorations up!
I really love the one with the lemons and pears, and figs. So pretty. If I didn’t live in an apartment, I would put that on it.