For this very natural wreath, I was inspired by a medieval castle in the English countryside that I visited last autumn. A Tudor-style castle perched on top of a small hill, at the bottom of which a river meanders. A magical place, especially at this time of year, when you stroll along the shore in the morning mist. I chose a composition rich in elements, airy and almost wild, yet very simple and rustic. An authentic, natural Christmas wreath in shades of red and green – the colors of the season, after all that would look just as lovely hung on a sienna-colored wall or on the door of a log cabin.
Steps to make a natural Christmas wreath
What you need
Circular metal frame
Florist wire
Metal florist picks
Jute or linen twine
Pruning shears
Fir branches
Rose hips
Dried ferns
Cedar branches
Dried foliage stems
Dried garden flowers
Pine cones
Variegated jasmine
Small bare branches
Step 1
As you may have guessed, to make this wreath I begin by preparing several small bouquets of about 25 cm each, which will then be attached all around the metal ring.
This flat bouquet is made of fir twigs cut from larger branches found at garden centers. On top, add cedar branches, dried ferns, one or two stems of dried garden flowers, and rose hips.
Step 2
Secure the wire to the frame, as it will be used to hold each bouquet firmly in place. Once the bouquets have been positioned on the frame, you can cut the wire and reattach it to the metal base. This may seem like a small detail, but it’s an essential one: if the bouquets aren’t tight enough or if the elements aren’t secure, you risk the wreath collapsing.
Step 3
You will need around eight bouquets for a 30 cm ring. Always prepare a few extra, as it’s more difficult to make new ones once you’ve started attaching them to the wreath. For this wreath, I made around ten bouquets, as my frame was larger than the one I usually use.
Step 4
Place the first bouquet like this, then continue adding the others in succession, making sure to cover the stems of the previous one so they can’t be seen. Don’t hesitate to tighten everything firmly, but don’t worry if you notice a few “weak spots” or small gaps. They can easily be filled later with additional elements.
Step 5
The wreath is starting to take shape. If you prefer a more unstructured look, there is an alternative: choose a circular branch frame instead of a metal one. This allows you to arrange your bouquets on only two-thirds of the wreath, leaving the natural branches exposed.
Step 6
To finish your wreath, add the last bouquet in the same direction as the others, or in the opposite direction if you want to leave space to tie a beautiful ribbon. Add a few extra decorative elements, such as pine cones attached to metal picks and inserted vertically in a few places. You can also add small bare branches that “pop out” for a very graphic and natural effect.
This authentic-style wreath creates a sense of movement thanks to the airy, twisting nature of some branches. The rose hips bring a festive red accent, while the ferns and pine cones add texture and warm brown tones that punctuate the whole composition.
Find other Christmas wreaths with different themes here!
