The traditional evergreen wreath is one of the most universal symbols of the holidays. Adorning front porches and mantels, evergreen wreaths offer unlimited flexibility when it comes to decorating styles and aesthetics. No matter what type of home decor you have—from modern to rustic, traditional to transitional—the evergreen wreath is a blank canvas just waiting for a touch of personal style.
Here are four examples of the same simple wreath decorated in dramatically different styles. The example is a 28-inch pre-lit artificial wreath, but the tips and suggestions included below could be applied to any size wreath, real or artificial.
Traditional
Embracing the traditional red and green color palette of Christmas, this wreath offers a lot of visual impact from both far away and up close. This is the perfect style for a front door or large room, where people will be viewing it from a distance.
The design features a large embroidered bow, some inexpensive plastic ornaments and small glittered floral picks.
Tips for Styling
- Group ornaments into bundles for more visual impact.
- Add small accents to any open space to keep the eye moving around the wreath.
- A large bow can be placed anywhere on the wreath, but putting it off-center adds more interest.
Monochromatic
This type of styling lends itself to almost any aesthetic, since the color you choose can be matched to any decor. By focusing on a single color (in this case, silver) you can choose any type or theme of ornament to get the look you want. Spread the ornaments evenly over the entire area of the wreath so you can focus more on the color of the decorations instead of what the decorations actually are.
This design uses various floral picks, ornaments and a single ribbon, all matched by color.
Tips for Styling
- Spreading the ornaments over the entire surface of the wreath results in an even and non-distracting appearance.
- Making sure any repeated motifs (stars, snowflakes, balls) are spread out evenly helps keep the eye moving.
- A large bow placed directly at the bottom of the circle accentuates the wreath’s symmetry.
Whimsical
This style is much less traditional than the previous versions. Focusing on a fun theme (in this case, “sweets”) tells a story instead of being purely decorative. Wreaths with very specific theme choices are best viewed from up close, so that viewers can make out the individual items in the design. Feature them on interior walls and mantels.
This design features faux glittered candy and a large, candy cane-colored ribbon and bow.
Tips for Styling
- Keeping the ornaments all on one side allows viewers to quickly take in and understand the theme.
- Matching the bow material to the other decorations reiterates the theme and unifies the design.
- Balance out the heaviness of the offset design with a simple wrap of ribbon along the rest of the wreath.
Rustic
Taking a cue from nature, a rustic wreath features muted earth tones and a much less polished design. This wreath is beautiful in its simplicity.
This design features real pine cones and a burlap and plaid bow, along with some realistic red berry picks.
Tips for Styling
- Cluster the pinecones the way they would grow naturally so that they are easier to see, since they have very little contrast against the greens.
- Layer the red plaid flannel ribbon on top of the plain burlap to add interest and mimic the red of the berries.
- Alternating burlap ribbon with pine cones and berries in a regular pattern emphasizes the simple symmetry of this design.
No matter what your design aesthetic, wreaths offer the opportunity to convey your personality and style. Following a few simple guidelines, you can create beautiful and original designs that will fit perfectly into any holiday decor.
With her three kids and a busy home life in the San Francisco area, Kim Six is a DIY home improvement blogger who keeps her eye on simple DIY projects for people to try at home. Kim writes her home lifestyle and design tips for Home Depot, including holiday decorations and simple decor ideas for your holiday festivities.
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