Want some practical advice on how to create a design that’ll help you (and all those who walk through your door) to sink into the true spirit of the season?
You’re in the right place!
Here, we’ll inspire you on how to artfully employ the colours and textures of the seasons to create wreaths for autumn and Christmas – we even run in-person courses to teach you live with immersive masterclasses at our studio in London.
There is so much wreath-making advice online this is damaging to the planet – well, not here! Because if you’ve been here before, you’ll know that at Blooming Haus, we’re ALWAYS mindful of both people and our planet.
Once you’ve completed your foraging adventure, you need to organise the materials you’re going to use.
Christmas wreaths and autumn wreaths can contain different items, and it’s always good to add a personal touch.
But in general, you’ll need a basic frame for your wreath, some twine, and the items you want to attach to the frame.
Traditionally, floral foam has often been used to create wreaths, but people are now more aware of the damage it can cause to the environment and realise that it should be avoided when making an eco-friendly wreath.
You can read more about this in our journal entry.
The only way to be completely eco-friendly when making a frame for your wreath is to use uncoated, non-anodised wire, but this can be difficult to source.
So, using a wire coat hanger is a substitute you can consider.
It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s preferable to using plastic.
You should also have some uncoated rusty wire or twine available to bind materials to the wreath.
Ribbons can be a beautiful addition too.
Once you’ve arranged the basic materials, you have a decision to make about how your wreath will be decorated.
There are no rules about this.
For autumn wreaths, we love evergreen laurel leaves and branches as well as beech.
You can also include pine cones and feathers.
For an extra pop of colour, hydrangeas are perfect flowers to include in a wreath for autumn.
They’re available in blues, greens, pinks, and purples, and their full blooms add depth to your wreath.
Plus, these gorgeous flowers symbolise grace and gratitude, so they’re ideal if you want to make a wreath to give as a gift.
Other flowers that add colour and texture to an autumn wreath are physalis (Chinese lanterns), rose hips, hypericum, thistles, and dried lavender.
Whichever flowers and other items you choose, arranging them in boxes in the order you’re going to use them makes sense as it helps to keep everything organised.
Preparing the base is the start of the practical side of wreath making once the organising of your materials is complete.
To start with, you need to form your wire coat hanger, or piece of rusty wire, into a circle.
Don’t worry too much if you can’t make a perfect circle; you’ll cover the base with materials, and this will hide most imperfections.
Plus, one of the fun things about wreath making is that you create something that’s personal to you, so it’s more important that you put love into making it than it is to worry about trying to make everything perfect.
If you’re using a coat hanger as the base for your autumn wreath, bend the hook into a loop to make it easier to hang your wreath.
If you’re using twine in your wreath-making, wrap it around the wire circle to create a more sturdy base.
Doing this gives you the structure you need to begin the next part of your wreath-making, which is decoration.
We’d also love for you to call us on 020 3389 9609 if you’d like to speak to us about bespoke wreath-making classes or any of our other floral design classes.
Have Questions About Wreath Making at Home?
If you have questions about making wreaths at home, just pop them in the comments, and we’ll take a look.
We’d also love to hear about your experiences making seasonal wreaths this year.
If you found our guide useful, remember to share it on your social media channels.