Do it yourself this November: How to Make an Autumn Wreath
Happy November! Halloween has come and gone, the evenings are drawing in and, while Christmas is beginning to appear in shop windows, there is still plenty of autumn left to enjoy. Before the festive decorations come out and thoughts turn towards Christmas trees, baubles and twinkling lights, why not embrace the final moments of the season with an autumn wreath?
Rich rusts, warm browns, muted greens and dried florals are perfectly suited to November. Better still, you may already have everything you need at home. A few pieces of leftover foliage, flowers that are beginning to fade and treasures collected during an autumn walk can all be transformed into something beautiful for your front door. And once you've mastered your autumn wreath, the same idea can easily be adapted for December. Simply replace the earthy autumnal tones with your favourite festive colours and add seasonal decorations for a Christmas wreath with a personal touch.
What you'll need:
- A pair of sharp scissors or floristry scissors
- Seasonal foliage and flower stems
- Floristry wire or a glue gun
- Ribbon or twine
- A wreath ring, either wire, vine or wicker
-
Moss, if using a wire wreath ring
Start by gathering your seasonal foilage
Take a look around your home and garden before buying anything new. Flowers that are beginning to lose their freshness can be particularly useful for an autumn wreath. Rather than throwing them away, remove any damaged leaves and hang the flowers upside down in a cool, dark and dry room to encourage them to dry naturally.
An autumn walk can also provide plenty of inspiration. Fallen leaves, grasses, seed heads and interesting branches can add texture and character to your design. Think about the colour palette as you collect. Deep rust, burnt orange, warm brown, sage green and golden yellow can create a beautifully understated November look.
Prepare your wreath base
Once you have gathered your materials, prepare your wreath ring. If you're using a wire wreath ring, moss can be wrapped around the frame to create a fuller, softer base. Secure it with floristry wire, keeping the loops roughly 4cm apart so the moss stays firmly in place. For a more rustic autumn wreath, a vine or wicker ring is an equally lovely option. These natural materials can be left partially visible, adding another layer of texture to the finished design.
Next, prepare your foliage. Trim the stems to approximately 8–15cm, depending on the size of your wreath. Group two or three stems together, staggering their lengths so that they sit naturally rather than forming one uniform line. This small detail can make a surprisingly big difference to the finished arrangement, and start attaching to the wreath's base with a hot glue gun or floristry wire.
Build your autumn wreath
Take your first little bundle of foliage and position it diagonally across the wreath ring. Secure the stems firmly with floristry wire or a hot glue gun, keeping the foliage pointing in the same general direction. Continue adding small bundles beneath the previous one, overlapping each section as you work your way around the ring. Working in the same direction helps the wreath feel cohesive and allows each new layer to cover the stems and wire beneath it.
Don't worry about making every section identical. In fact, a little variation will give your autumn wreath a more natural, abundant appearance. As you work, step back now and then to look at the overall shape. You may find that one side needs a little more foliage or that a particular colour needs repeating elsewhere. The beauty of making a wreath yourself is that there is no perfect arrangement.
Add the finishing touches
Once the main foliage is in place, it's time to add the details that make your wreath feel truly yours. Dried flowers are particularly beautiful at this stage. Dried hydrangeas, grasses, seed heads and delicate stems can add height and softness, while acorns, berries and fallen leaves can introduce smaller touches of seasonal texture. If you have any gaps, use smaller pieces of foliage or dried flowers to gently fill them rather than adding another large bundle. Add ribbon, lace or autumnal bows too; this will help maintain a balanced composition.
Add the attachment
Finally, don't forget about how to place your wreath. A narrow piece of ribbon or twine can be discreetly attached to the back of the wreath, keeping the focus firmly on the foliage. Alternatively, make more of a statement with a generous ribbon tied into a bow at the top. For a premium, understated look, natural linen, velvet, muted green or warm brown ribbon can complement the autumnal palette beautifully.
Give your November wreath pride of place
Once finished, your autumn wreath is ready to hang.
A front door is the obvious choice, but don't feel limited to it. An autumn wreath can look equally beautiful above a fireplace, on an interior door, against a hallway wall or as part of a seasonal table display.
So, put on your favourite pair of Gabor boots, head outside for a walk, gather a few seasonal treasures and turn them into something beautiful. After all, the best seasonal traditions are often the simplest ones, and an annual afternoon of wreath making could easily become one of yours.
