How to Elegantly Decorate with Outdoor Wreaths This Christmas
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An outdoor wreath is a timeless way to add a touch of festive elegance to your home during the holiday season. With the right wreath and styling, they can transform your outdoor space into a magical holiday scene. Here’s how to create a polished look with outdoor wreaths this Christmas.
I’ve always loved creating and displaying wreaths—it’s one of my favorite holiday traditions! Growing up on my parents’ Christmas tree farm, I learned the art of wreath-making, from gathering fresh greenery to decorating with care. Whether it’s a traditional evergreen wreath, a teardrop swag, or a luxurious natural design, wreaths bring warmth and personality to any outdoor space.
If you’re like me and enjoy DIY projects, you’ll love learning how to make beautiful wreaths of your own. Check out these helpful guides for inspiration:
- How to Make a Traditional Christmas Wreath
- How to Make Christmas Swag
- Luxurious Natural Christmas Wreath Ideas for Your Front Door
Choosing The Right Outdoor Wreath For Your Home
Selecting the perfect outdoor Christmas wreath starts with considering your home’s style, Christmas color palette, and climate where you live. Size and proportion are crucial, especially if you’re placing the wreath on your front door. Make sure it doesn’t obstruct functionality or overwhelm the space.
Take a moment to assess the color palette of your home’s exterior and coordinate your wreath with other Christmas decorations you’ll be using. A wreath with complementary embellishments—such as ornaments, ribbons, or pine cones, can accentuate your home’s overall aesthetic and create a cohesive holiday look. By coordinating your outdoor Christmas wreath with your home’s design and holiday decor, you’ll create a warm and polished look that’s truly inviting.
Creative Ways To Hang And Display Outdoor Wreaths
- Doors: It may be the obvious location, but consider adding a wreath not only the front door, which typically doesn’t get used as often as a side door or garage door. Welcome guests and yourself at all entrances.
- Windows: Hang wreaths on each window for a uniform, sophisticated appearance. Use a ribbon that matches your home’s holiday color scheme.
- Gates or Fences: Line a row of wreaths along your fence or two large wreaths that make a statement on your gate or driveway columns.
- Garage Doors: Add symmetry by placing matching wreaths on double garage doors.
- Columns or Railings: Wrap garlands around columns and pair them with wreaths for an elegant layered effect.
- Light Posts: Decorate outdoor light posts with smaller wreaths for a charming and festive touch. Secure them with weatherproof ribbons or add fairy lights for extra sparkle.
- Accentuate Décor: If you don’t have the perfect spot to hang a wreath traditionally, get creative! Use a wreath to accentuate a unique piece, such as draping it around the neck of a deer ornament or pairing it with a vintage-style sled. For inspiration, check out my DIY Vintage Sled tutorial—it’s a charming way to showcase your wreath and elevate your holiday décor.
DIY Ideas For Customizing Your Outdoor Wreaths
Personalized outdoor Christmas wreaths add a special touch to your holiday décor. Here are a few DIY ideas to make your wreath truly unique:
- Add Monograms: Personalize your wreath by attaching a large initial to its center. Embellish the letter with decorations that align with your home’s style and holiday color scheme for a custom, polished look.
- Bows: Create a statement with a luxurious ribbon bow made of materials like velvet or burlap. For exposed locations, consider weather-resistant ribbons—wider, wired options hold up better in wind, rain, or snow, maintaining their shape and color. Velvet ribbons are ideal for covered porches or protected doors.
- Incorporate Lights: Add battery-operated fairy lights to your wreath for a warm, glowing effect that makes your décor stand out at night.
- Use Unconventional Materials: Elevate your wreath’s design by incorporating ornaments, fabric scraps, faux snow, or other unique materials that match your holiday theme.
- Seasonal Blooms: Enhance your wreath with natural elements like poinsettias, magnolia leaves, dried hydrangeas, or holly to bring vibrant color and texture to its evergreen branches.
- Wreath Signs: Combine your wreath with a festive holiday sign. Shape it into a letter, such as the “O” in “JOY” or “NOEL,” or attach it to a custom holiday sign to complement your other outdoor decorations.
These simple DIY touches will make your outdoor Christmas wreaths stand out in your holiday décor!
Tips For Maintaining And Storing Your Outdoor Door Wreath
Natural Christmas Wreath Maintenance
Caring for an evergreen wreath is relatively simple, as cold winter temperatures help preserve the boughs naturally. However, during severe winter storms with high winds, it’s a good idea to bring the wreath indoors to prevent damage. If your wreath includes fresh flower arrangements, be prepared to replace them as they wilt to maintain its vibrant appearance.
Faux Outdoor Wreath Christmas Decorations
The maintenance of artificial wreaths depends on their quality. Start with a high-quality wreath designed for outdoor use and treated with UV protection to resist fading. If your wreath isn’t pre-treated, apply a weatherproof spray and consider placing it in a sheltered area to minimize exposure to harsh elements.
After the holidays, store your wreath in a durable container or wreath storage bag to preserve its shape and protect it from dust and damage, ensuring it looks as beautiful next year as it does this season.
FAQ
Wreaths symbolize eternity, unity, and celebration, with their circular shape representing continuity and everlasting life. Rooted in ancient traditions, they were used as crowns for victory in Greece and Rome and as symbols of life’s resilience in pagan winter rituals. In Christian traditions, evergreen wreaths reflect God’s eternal love and the promise of eternal life, while Advent wreaths add themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. Today, wreaths are a festive symbol of welcome, warmth, and community during the holiday season.
My go-to solution for hanging wreaths on windows is using outdoor-specific Command Hooks (*affiliate link). These hooks are damage-free, reusable, and easy to work with—just replace the adhesive strip each year! While suction cups are another option, I’ve found that adhesive hooks provide a more secure and reliable hold, especially in windy conditions.
For extra tips on wind-proofing your wreaths, check out my Instagram Reel where I share how to keep your wreaths in place during blustery weather.
Real wreaths’ watering needs are climate-dependent. In areas where you experience winter (hardiness zones 1-7), there’s no need to water your wreath, as the cold temperatures will naturally preserve the greenery. However, in warmer climates, you’ll need to take extra care to keep your wreath fresh. Follow these tips:
Mist Regularly: Lightly mist the wreath every few days to help prevent it from drying out.
Soak Before Hanging: If possible, soak the wreath in cool water for a few hours before displaying it.
Avoid Heat: Keep the wreath away from heat sources, such as direct sunlight or heaters, which can speed up drying.
A real wreath in areas with winter temperatures (hardiness zones 1-7) will typically last from November to March before it begins to drop needles and turn a rust color. The cold temperatures help preserve the greenery during this period. However, once the weather warms up, the wreath will start to dry out and lose its freshness. To extend its lifespan, try to keep the wreath in a cool, sheltered spot away from direct sunlight and harsh winds.
Yes, you can put a fake wreath outside, as long as it’s designed for outdoor use. Look for wreaths made with UV-protected foliage and weather-resistant materials like plastic or silk. These wreaths can withstand the elements and maintain their appearance. For added longevity, consider placing your wreath in a sheltered spot to protect it from extreme weather, such as heavy rain or snow. With the right care, an artificial wreath can last for many seasons outdoors.
Outdoor wreaths are a beautiful and timeless addition to your holiday decor. By carefully selecting the right wreath for your home, creatively displaying it, personalizing it with DIY touches, and properly maintaining it, you can create an elegant and inviting holiday atmosphere. Whether it’s a traditional evergreen wreath or a custom-designed masterpiece, outdoor wreaths symbolize the warmth and joy of the holiday season. Embrace the festive spirit and let your outdoor wreaths make a statement this Christmas!
your JOY wreath with your natural and colored burlap bow is gorgeous Virginia! 🙂 & how fun is it that your parents owned a Christmas tree farm, you must love making wreaths then! 🙂
I love it! Makes me full of Joy! Ok that’s was terrible. No really, what a great decoration piece and I am very impressed that you made the letters by yourself. 🙂
What a great idea! Your sign and porch look amazing Virginia! And how great that your parents owned a Christmas tree farm…what fun that would be at Christmas!
It’s beautiful! I love the bows you made – my attempts at bows always look pathetic, but yours are absolutely perfect.
You’re so clever! I opt to hang our fresh greenery wreath somewhere it doesn’t get banged around so much, and this is perfect. Love how you can mix it up every year, but you have the foundation in place.
ack…so, so , so clever ! Love it and pinning…Happy to have found a new Canadian friend…xo
Thanks Lucy, off to check you out too!
This is AWESOME, Virginia! I love how clever you are, and your touches of ribbon are perfect! Pinning this!
This is so smart and so creative! You are very talented!
So pretty! Makes me wish I had a front porch 🙁 #condoliving
wow, amazing! You went all out! This is so welcoming.
Are you kidding me?
No seriously – are you freakin’ kidding me?
There are people at Pottery Barn that don’t stage as well as you did. That is ah-maz-ing!!
Plus there’s the wreath….I would pay money for that. Full serious – money from my wallet to you!!
Thanks Becky! I love staging, think Pottery Barn has any openings, HA! I love making wreaths, I think this is one of my favourites!
Very nice. Creative too!
Love it! And I especially love that you are reusing odds and ends to make it. I never seem to figure out what I am going to need in the future, and I throw away all the good stuff! It makes a great vignette, and the skates are a great addition.
Absolutely stunning Virginia! Must pin!! The whole vignette is absolute perfection!!
You’re amazing Virginia!! I LOVE IT and I WANT IT!!!
Thanks Christine *blush*
I LOVE your wreath and Christmas display. Sooo Canadian! Thank you for the inspiration. Pinned and Tweeted! ~Thea
Oh my!! I LOVE this!!! Pinned and sharing on Facebook.
so pretty! Love how used the figure skates! definitely going to try that next year!
LOVE this idea! So creative and useful. I know what I might find myself doing this weekend… thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks Britt! I’m glad you stopped by!
I just love the burlap bow on this wreath. Last week I saw a beautiful moss wreath but not sure how it would hold up in our great canuck winters. I just started working on a small wreath I’m making for my son’s new place.
This is so beautiful! I love your sign and the wreath is gorgeous! I make wreaths with greenery too, I love yours.
Thanks for sharing this “How to Make a JOY Outdoor Wreath Sign”, this one seems so unique , will love to try this.