Tips for the best ever Christmas wreath for your front door start with a store-bought fresh wreath. And, if you live near a Trader Joe's, you can buy a reasonably-priced fresh wreath with pine cones and fresh juniper berries. With a handful of tips you can take the already gorgeous wreath to a special one.
Like the wreath on my front door AFTER I transformed a basic fresh evergreen wreath...
There is something special about a Christmas wreath on a front door. Seeing a wreath when passing by or when visiting a home makes me smile and feel the joy of the Christmas season. For those of us who grew up reading Southern Living magazine, a Christmas wreath made using fresh greenery says Southern hospitality at its finest.
Thank you, Amber of Follow the Yellow Brick Home, for gathering twenty of us together to share the beauty of Christmas Door Decor. I love giving my readers beautiful inspiration for adding special holiday decor to their front doors. Links to all the ideas are at the end of the article.
If you just read Katie's at Let's Add Sprinkles door ideas for the holiday, welcome! Katie always has good ideas for decorating with special touches.
If you are fortunate enough to have live evergreens and hollies growing in your yard, you don't need to buy a fresh evergreen wreath to make a holiday wreath for your front door. Lucky you!
Then there are those of you who may prefer artificial greenery; keep reading. These tips still apply to help create a stunning wreath. Good ideas for all wreath lovers... fresh and faux.
Now, for those of you who love fresh greenery, but don't have spectacular evergreens in your yard, buy a basic wreath from your local garden center. You will turn the basic wreath into the best ever Christmas wreath.
TIP: Trader Joe's has beautiful fresh wreaths with pine cones and juniper berries for a very reasonable price.
Regular Botanic Bleu readers probably realize I love French Country and traditional decor. Therefore, my decor is more of the simpler, understated version of Christmas decorating. With touches of fleur de lis, live plants, fresh greenery, and with just a little sparkle.
I truly was brought up reading Southern Living, and it made an indelible impression on my style. All of which goes very well with my post and beam country house.
Look at those smudgy glass panes in the half round window in the door. Guilty of not taking my own advice before adding the wreath to my front door. But, an easy fix after I saw this photo!
Like the wreath on my front door AFTER I transformed a basic fresh evergreen wreath...
There is something special about a Christmas wreath on a front door. Seeing a wreath when passing by or when visiting a home makes me smile and feel the joy of the Christmas season. For those of us who grew up reading Southern Living magazine, a Christmas wreath made using fresh greenery says Southern hospitality at its finest.
Thank you, Amber of Follow the Yellow Brick Home, for gathering twenty of us together to share the beauty of Christmas Door Decor. I love giving my readers beautiful inspiration for adding special holiday decor to their front doors. Links to all the ideas are at the end of the article.
If you just read Katie's at Let's Add Sprinkles door ideas for the holiday, welcome! Katie always has good ideas for decorating with special touches.
T I P S F O R B E S T E V E R
C H R I S T M A S W R E A T H
If you are fortunate enough to have live evergreens and hollies growing in your yard, you don't need to buy a fresh evergreen wreath to make a holiday wreath for your front door. Lucky you!
Then there are those of you who may prefer artificial greenery; keep reading. These tips still apply to help create a stunning wreath. Good ideas for all wreath lovers... fresh and faux.
Now, for those of you who love fresh greenery, but don't have spectacular evergreens in your yard, buy a basic wreath from your local garden center. You will turn the basic wreath into the best ever Christmas wreath.
TIP: Trader Joe's has beautiful fresh wreaths with pine cones and juniper berries for a very reasonable price.
Front door wreath after adding personal style to a basic fresh wreath ...
Regular Botanic Bleu readers probably realize I love French Country and traditional decor. Therefore, my decor is more of the simpler, understated version of Christmas decorating. With touches of fleur de lis, live plants, fresh greenery, and with just a little sparkle.
I truly was brought up reading Southern Living, and it made an indelible impression on my style. All of which goes very well with my post and beam country house.
Where to start ...
Begin by cleaning the door, glass surrounds, windows, porch, steps, walkway... The most beautiful wreath will not shine unless the area around it is sparkling clean.
Look at those smudgy glass panes in the half round window in the door. Guilty of not taking my own advice before adding the wreath to my front door. But, an easy fix after I saw this photo!
Good points of first attempt for a beautiful wreath ...
- clean door ... but dirty windows ...
- fresh wreath with pine cones and juniper berries ... but with gaps in the greenery ...
- beautiful wired-ribbon bow ... but way too skimpy for even a minimalist ...
- extra starry decor ...
The wreath was pretty, but needed work to make it beautiful. The dirty window, skimpy bow, and gap in the greenery keep the wreath from being its best! The window is not actually part of the wreath, but can you take your eyes away from the splotches?
Not to worry, all can be fixed.
Clean, clean, clean ...
What a difference clean windows make. Now see the wreath without being distracted by its surroundings.
Make a bow to fit the size of the wreath ...
Wired ribbon holds its shape in all kinds of weather ... windy, rainy, freezing. Choose ribbon in a color to complement your door, decor added to the wreath, and your style.
Gold fleur de lis on a sheer background is French style and goes with the gold stars. The bow has several loops and fills the width of the wreath, but does not overpower the stars or greenery.
Add weather-proof embellishments ...
Metal gold stars are sturdy enough to take a beating ... against the door and from the weather. Avoid using glass ornaments unless your door is in a well-protected area.
Remember to add an odd number of items and to stagger their positions. From first glance at this photo, it appears there are only two stars as part of the wreath design which illustrates why three is more interesting than two.
Fill gaps with extra greenery ...
Recall the gap in the wreath on the left side? No longer there ...
I used stems from a small Christmas tree to fill in the missing space in the wreath. If you have an artificial wreath, fill in missing spaces with either fresh greens or faux stems salvaged from another artificial greenery.
But, the best way to avoid gaps in a wreath is to check the wreath for overall shape when buying it. I did not look closely enough at the wreath before I got it home.
From okay wreath to best ever Christmas wreath ...
In four easy steps
❶ Clean, clean, clean
❷ Make bow to fit the wreath
❸ Add weather-proof embellishments
❹ Fill gaps with extra greenery
Still considering another improvement ...
Perhaps the cords on the metal gold stars should be replaced with gold cords.
What do you think?
Keep the original brown twine hangers or switch to gold thread hangers?
~~~~❦~~~~
French Country, traditional, fresh greenery not your style?
With twenty posts for Christmas Door Decor, you are sure to find a style that fits your home. Up next on the hop is Cecilia at My Thrift Store Addiction with a totally different look from my style... but always gorgeous! And there are eighteen more articles with ideas for your Christmas Door Decor this season.
J O Y E U X N O E L
from my front door to yours
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Your wreath looks so pretty on your door, Judith. I wish there was a Trader Joe's near me to buy a fresh wreath to start with. The way you embellished yours looks wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI love how you embellished your wreath! It doesn't take much to make a plain wreath better! I like the stars the way they are but if you want a bit more 'sparkle' do the gold cords!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips Judith. I'm a stickler when Christmas comes. My windows and door must be clean. Love the stars hanging very much.
ReplyDeleteCindy
What a beautiful wreath! I'm with you in that one must start with a clean surface. My plans changed so I will see on Saturday. May your days be merry and bright!
ReplyDeleteThis wreath is so fabulous Judith! I love all your tips too. I'm always jealous whenever I hear people talk about Trader Joe's. The closest one to us is about an hour away but I swear everyone talks about all the fun things in that store. I need to take a field trip :) Love this gorgeous wreath and all your embellishments. It's perfection! Hugs, CoCo
ReplyDeleteFresh greenery is my first pick too and this wreath is the perfect compliment to your French blue door. I wouldn't change a thing, the brown twine hangers on the stars go perfect with the fresh pine. As always I love your simple and elegant style Judith!
ReplyDeleteI love your gorgeous wreath, Judith. I did some foraging in my yard and in the woods behind me. It was fun looking for fresh greens to dress up the house. Now, I think I need to forego faux and go hunting again.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun hopping with you. I hope to see you at your French Country Christmas sale.
Judith, I love your fresh wreath. Your additions are perfect and I wouldn't change out the strings on the starts. They look good just like that. I hope you didn't notice the dirty window and filthy door on my post. I was in a hurry to get back home so I didn't have time to clean it! Merry Christmas. BTW, I am so excited... I am coming to your sale on Saturday!
ReplyDeleteYour wreath is beautiful and it just pops off your blue door.
ReplyDeleteI love your wreath and the way you styled it with the stars. I would leave the twine - it gives it some texture. You reminded me that I need to clean my door surround. Our weather has been so nasty these past few days that I forgot to freshen up that area...oops. Great hopping with you!
ReplyDeleteShelley
Like Paula, I also wish I had a Trader Joe's in my small rural town. I am constantly seeing beautiful fresh florals and greenery that my blogger friends find there. I love how your door color sets of the greenery and gold stars! Have a beautiful Christmas season! Blessings, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction
ReplyDeleteJudith this is gorgeous, your simple tips for the bow and stars make it even more wonderful. very smart how you filled in a sparse spot with faux. I couldn't tell where it had been skimpy. now, one more reason to bemoan the fact we have no Trader Joe's!
ReplyDeleteJudith your wreath is so very elegant! I love your tips to create a special wreath for the holidays. The metal stars are so lovely and I adore your sweet little Christmas tree next to your door with the star on top! Simply beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love a fresh wreath! The embellishments you added are just perfect. I love the jute twine.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
Such a pretty wreath...I love the stars! And the potted tree is perfect!
ReplyDeleteJudith, your wreath is gorgeous! I love how you embellished it. What a wonderful welcome for your guests! Merry Christmas!!!
ReplyDeleteJudith,
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely gorgeous!
Thank you for the inspiration!
Pat
Judith, this is perfect! I'm always impressed with your sense of style. I may need to grab a wreath at TJ and follow your lead. It makes for a beautiful welcome. Love the color and style of your door.
ReplyDeleteJudith your post is wonderful, as always so many tips and inspiration. Thank you for sharing your dirty windows (keepin' it real!)
ReplyDeleteI agree that the clean windows make a huge difference. The fuller wreath and larger bow really transformed the wreath too. Love that ribbon!
Thank you so much for joining the hop. Merry Christmas!
Beautiful! I really love the unexpected on a wreath, and you did that here. Lovely for the season and beyond!
ReplyDeleteYour wreath is beautiful, Judith. I love the stars!
ReplyDelete