I like to decorate my home with wreaths and I have quite a few of them. But very few of my wreaths are purchased. Many of the wreaths that I display during the year are homemade. I might purchase the base of the wreath such as a wireframe or grapevine wreath but then I add my own materials to the top. My winter wreath from a thrift store find uses an evergreen base that I embellished.
A lot of thrift stores sell cast-off Christmas wreaths before and after the holiday. I picked my wreath up for two dollars. Even if there are no Christmas wreaths available, you can always find seasonal evergreen wreaths at your local thrift store. So spend an hour thrifting and you will find the perfect wreath to use. If you have no time for thrifting, you can pick up an evergreen wreath base at the craft store.
What to look for in a thrifted wreath…
- Look for wreaths with the most natural looking greens. There can be a big difference in quality so purchase a wreath with greenery that looks real.
- Don’t worry about how the wreath is decorated. You will be removing the top decorations. It’s the bones that count.
- Know what size you want before you head out. Have a general idea of how large you need your wreath to be. Otherwise, you might come home with a 12-inch wreath for a space that needs 24 inches.
- Make sure the wreath is in good shape. Broken and missing branches of evergreens are harder to replace than the decorations.
- If you find multiple good quality wreaths then buy the extras. They can be used for future wreaths or you can cut them apart and use the greens for decorating your home.
Once you have found a wreath to use, you’ll want to follow these basic steps to create your winter wreath.
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Supplies…
How to craft a new winter wreath from a thrift store find…
Step 1: Remove the old decorations
Carefully take off old ribbons and remove any decorations on the wreath. You might need to be cut off some items at the base. Some of the embellishments might be useable for the wreath or in other ways. The wreath I found actually has some good natural elements such as dusted berries and white painted branches. Feel free to reuse the wreath decorations if they make sense for your project.
Step 2: Clean your wreath
When you’re working with an older wreath you might want to clean it up a bit. I start by giving it a good shake outdoors. You could use a leaf blower to give it a good dusting or use a hand-held vacuum to get rid of any dust. If it’s still really dirty then I would give it a quick wash. Depending on your wreath size, fill a sink or tub with warm water and a small amount of dish detergent. Swish the wreath around in the sudsy water. Drain and rinse. Then place on an old towel and allow to dry completely.
Because I am reusing some of the glittery berries, white branches, and pinecones, I stuck with the dusting option. Rinsing my wreath could have damaged the berries and branches.
Step 3: Once clean, fluff up the evergreen branches
Straighten out the branches and the tips to make the wreath as full as possible. Many older wreaths have been smashed and flattened during storage so fluffing the branches will give you a lot of fullness. You will be amazed at how real your wreath will look.
Step 4: Add new decorations and ribbons
Finally, it’s time to begin decorating your new wreath. For my winter wreath, I am using branches and decorations that showcase winter colors. You can explore Pinterest to get wreath ideas for other color options. But I am just going for simple as we move full swing into the winter season. I’m paring down and creating clean lines but I still like to keep the sparkles and white lights of the holiday season. So I am using glittery berries and snow-dusted branches to add that touch of winter.
I picked my berries and branches up in the clearance section of several craft stores. After the holidays is a great time to find wreath decorations and embellishments on sale. I like to drop in on a variety of these stores to see if there are any great floral markdowns that I can use for my winter wreaths or even for my holiday wreaths for next year. My favorite resource, however, is to use natural branches and pinecones from my yard.
To add on your embellishments, cut pieces of floral wire about twelve inches. Twist the wire onto the base of your branch or pinecone. Tuck the wires through the evergreen branches and position your berries, cones, and branches. Now carefully twist the ends of the floral wire together to hold it in place on the wreath. Check for placement and adjust the branch as needed. Add in more decorative pieces until the wreath is full. For some branches, you might be able to just tuck the stems into the wreath without needing the floral wire. Simple is always better.
Add a ribbon to match your winter wreath. Adjust the ribbon and branches until they are a pleasing arrangement. Hang your wreath for a wonderful burst of winter decor. It can be so easy to make a winter wreath from a thrift store find.
Here are some other options for creating a winter wreath…
- Sweater Wreath
- Ice Skates with evergreen branches
- Twig Wreath
- Pinecone Wreath dusted with “snow”
- Dried Hydrangea Wreath
- Snowball Wreath
Related: How to Make a Simple Sweater Wreath
Making a wreath for your home and porch is such a relaxing way to spend an afternoon. And it’s a nice way to perk up your seasonal decor. Especially now that winter is here and the holiday decorations are gone.