Wreaths are a classic way to decorate for any season or holiday. The round shape represents unity and eternity. Displaying a wreath on your front door symbolizes welcoming guests into your home. During the holidays, wreaths spread cheer and merriment.
While you can purchase premade wreaths creating one yourself is affordable and fun. The secret is to use garland as the base. With a few simple steps, you can DIY a beautiful full wreath out of garland.
What You Need
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Garland – Look for a fresh, full garland about 20 feet long. Pine, cedar, magnolia, and artificial greenery all work great.
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Wreath frame – Get a round metal or grapevine frame 12-18 inches across
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Floral wire – To attach the garland to the frame.
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Wire cutters – To trim the garland.
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Decorations (optional) – Ribbons, pinecones, ornaments, berries, etc. to embellish.
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Hot glue gun (optional) – For added stability.
How to Make a Wreath Out of Garland
Making a wreath from garland is surprisingly easy. Follow these simple steps:
Prep the Materials
First, gather your materials. Inspect the garland for any loose or broken sections and cut those away. Prepare 10-12 inch pieces of floral wire to have ready. Plug in a hot glue gun if using.
Wrap the Garland
Start winding the garland around the wreath frame. Keep it full and slightly overlapping. Wrap until you have covered the frame entirely.
Secure with Wire
Use the floral wire to attach the garland to the frame every 4-5 inches. Twist the wire tightly around both the frame and garland greenery.
Fill Any Gaps
Look over your wreath and fill in any sparse spots by wiring in extra pieces of garland. Snip away any super long stems.
Decorating (Optional)
Embellish your garland wreath with ribbon, ornaments, pinecones, etc. Attach securely with hot glue, wire, or zip ties. Add a festive bow.
Hang and Enjoy
Add a hanging loop to the back and display your beautiful handmade wreath!
Tips and Tricks
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For an especially full wreath, use two lengths of garland wired together.
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Choose coordinating colors. For Christmas, go with red, green, gold, and natural hues.
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Incorporate picks of similar greenery into sparse areas for a seamless look.
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Hot glue on the underside provides extra stability and hold.
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For outdoor use, look for artificial garland that won’t fade or shed.
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Light it up with battery-operated string lights wired throughout the garland.
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Make mini wreaths by winding garland rounds into a freeform shape and wiring to secure.
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Use embellishments that fit your theme: Christmas balls, plaid ribbon, snowy pinecones, etc.
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Display your handmade wreath indoors or outdoors to bring joy and welcome guests.
More Creative Garland Ideas
A garland wreath is just one way to use garland creatively:
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Swag over a doorway, mantle, or stair railing
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Wrap around porch columns or a garden archway
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String along a fence or deck railing for festive flair
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Use to “upholster” flat surfaces like dressers, cabinets, and tables
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Make a garland tree by winding it around a small potted tree
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Hang it overhead for a festive party decoration
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Craft garland balls to use as ornaments or table decor
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Add garland accents to candle arrangements, centerpieces, and holiday trees
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Work into baskets, boxes, and other decorative containers
Quick and Cheap Holiday Decor
Making a wreath out of garland allows you to create a big, beautiful holiday decoration at a fraction of the cost of a premade wreath. And you can customize the size, colors, and embellishments to match your existing decor.
Follow the simple tutorial above and transform an inexpensive garland into a one-of-a-kind wreath for your holiday home. Display it proudly on your front door, in the hallway, or above the mantel to instantly infuse some festive spirit!
How To Make A Wreath From Garland
I had an idea while I was shopping at Hobby Lobby and I couldn’t wait to put everything in my cart! Those big, beautiful wreaths were too expensive for me, but the garland wasn’t.
I was sure I could make a big, full wreath for half the price of the others, so I did!
I began with a large piece of iced garland that I bought at Hobby Lobby when it was 20% off.
Next, I used a pair of needle nose pliers and removed all the icy bundles…
Then, after trial and error with the straw wreath form, I bought a green styrofoam wreath form…
I simply shoved the metal end of the greenery into the wreath form as far as it would go and then hot glued the heck of it with my portable hot glue gun! (Seriously, if you don’t have one of these, you need one! This one is like mine!)
I started on the top, then moved to the side…
It didn’t matter if the wreath form showed because it matched the color of my iced branches. Score!.
I just kept adding and gluing the branches until it was completely full…
Then I just wrapped a bit of my grapevine wire around the wreath and used that to hang the wreath over our cabinet door. I just covered the grapevine wire with the plaid ribbon. Simple!
I love how it looks in the kitchen!
And I love how full the wreath is… and it seriously looks real!
I also love that this was such an easy, affordable craft!
How to make 2 different greenery wreaths with garland! Easy wreath DIY tutorial
FAQ
Can I make a garland into a wreath?
How many feet of garland do I need for a wreath?
How do you make a wreath with a garland hoop?
All you need to transform a length of garland into a nice wreath are some wire cutters, floral wire, the garland (mine was 20 ft.), and something to use as a wreath frame. My Hobby Lobby was fresh out of the traditional green wreath frames by the time I got there, so I searched and found this gold hoop in the beads and cording department.
How much does a garland wreath cost?
You can make a nice large wreath from a piece of garland (or even a few smaller ones) and the price is usually surprisingly less for garland than for a wreath the same size. I got these 20 ft garlands at Lowes for $10.97 each.
How do you attach Garland to a grapevine wreath?
To attach garland to a grapevine wreath, wrap it around the wreath and secure with hot glue. This adds more depth and fills out the wreath. You can also secure it with florist wire, but hot glue will do the trick.
How do you make a wreath with ribbon?
Transform your garland into a wreath bursting with color and texture by incorporating ribbon. Start with a plain wire wreath form and your chosen garland. To add depth, intertwine ribbon in various colors and widths throughout the garland, securing it with floral wire.
How do you decorate a wreath?
Start with a wire frame and wrap it with garland featuring various greenery elements. Intertwine faux flowers like daisies, tulips, and roses throughout the garland, securing with floral wire. This wreath is perfect for spring and summer decor, bringing a touch of the outdoors indoors.
How do you decorate a wreath with faux flowers?
Combine the lushness of garland with the vibrancy of faux flowers to create a stunning and unique wreath. Start with a basic wire frame and layer the garland, allowing it to cascade. Intertwine artificial flowers, like roses, hydrangeas, or sunflowers, throughout the garland.