An artificial Christmas wreath is the quickest way to make a house look ready for Christmas from the street. It goes up in minutes, looks the same on Twelfth Night as it did on the first day of December, and packs away for next year. This guide covers where to put one, how to choose a design that suits your door, how to keep it looking good through the holidays and how to store it so it comes out of the box in good shape next winter.
Why choose an artificial wreath over a fresh one
A fresh wreath of cut foliage is lovely for a week or two. Then the heating in the hallway and the wind on the step start to work on it. By the time the family arrives for Christmas lunch, the green has often turned dull, the berries have dropped onto the mat and the needles have found their way into the house on everyone's shoes.
An artificial wreath skips that curve. It is made from materials that hold their shape and colour, so the one you hang in early December is the one your guests see on the 25th. There is nothing to water or mist, and you can put it up as early as you like with no worry that it will be past its best by the big day.
The other difference is the second year. A fresh wreath goes in the garden waste bin in January. An artificial one goes back in its box and comes out again next December, so what you spend is spread over several Christmases instead of one. For many households that makes it an easy decision: buy once, choose well, and it becomes part of the family's decorations in the same way the tree topper and the favourite baubles are.
Where to put a Christmas wreath
The front door is the classic spot, and for good reason. It is the first thing a visitor, a neighbour or a delivery driver sees, and it tells everyone the house is ready for Christmas before they reach the bell. A wreath works well in plenty of other places too:
- A front window. If your front door is tucked down a side path or behind a porch, a wreath in a street-facing window does the same job. It also looks good from inside, framed against the evening sky once the lights come on.
- An inside wall. A hallway wall, the chimney breast above a fireplace or the wall at the top of the stairs all benefit from one strong seasonal piece.
- An inner door. Kitchen and living room doors get opened dozens of times a day over Christmas. A wreath there is seen by everyone in the house, not only by visitors.
- A flat's front door. If you live in a flat with a shared entrance, your own front door is your street frontage. A wreath makes the landing feel like yours and gives the neighbours something to smile at on the way past.
Before you settle on a spot, stand where your visitors will stand. A wreath is seen from a few steps away, so judge it from there, not from arm's length. Check it after dark too: a wreath beside a porch light or under a streetlamp will be seen far more than one in a dark corner.
How to choose a design
Start with the door or wall it will sit against. A dark door, such as navy, black or deep green, makes red, gold and white details stand out from across the road. A white or pale door suits a wreath with deeper greens and stronger colour, so it holds its own against the paint instead of fading into it. On brick, a bright bow helps the wreath read clearly from the pavement.
Next, think about the rest of your decorations. If your tree is dressed in red and gold, a wreath with a red bow ties the front of the house to the room inside, so the whole home feels planned. If your tree is all natural greens and wood, a quieter design will sit better alongside it.
Then think about who will see it most. A wreath on the front door is for the street and your guests. One on the kitchen door is for the family, and you can afford to be more playful there, with a message or a brighter bow.
Finally, look closely at the photos. Handmade wreaths vary from design to design, and the pictures are the best way to see the detail, the colours and the bow before you choose. Our handmade artificial Christmas wreath comes in several designs, including one with a red bow and a Merry Christmas message, and each design is shown in its own photo so you can compare them side by side.
What you get with our handmade wreath
Here are the facts, so you know what to expect when the parcel arrives:
| Detail | What it is |
|---|---|
| Made by | Hand |
| Material | Polyester |
| Weight | 361 g |
| Packed size | 340 x 320 x 110 mm |
| Designs | Several, each shown in the photos |
| In the box | 1 handmade artificial Christmas wreath in the design you choose |
At 361 g it is a light piece, which makes it easy to move between a door, a window and a wall if you change your mind about where it looks best. The packed size also gives you a good idea of the box you will need to keep it in come January.
Before you put it up
Every door and wall is different, so look at the photos of your chosen design and your own door before you decide how to put it up. A few general points help whatever you choose:
- If you rent, check your tenancy before drilling into a door or frame. Over-door hangers and removable hooks are made for exactly this situation.
- Check the door still closes easily once the wreath is in place, and that nothing catches on the letterbox or the handle.
- Hang it at eye height for an adult standing on the step, usually a little above the centre of the door. Too high and it looks lost, too low and it gets knocked by shopping bags.
- Keep it clear of heat and flame. Keep any wreath away from candles, open fires, heaters and hot bulbs, indoors or out.
Keeping it looking good all season
An artificial wreath asks for very little, but a few habits keep it at its best from December to Twelfth Night.
If your front door faces the weather, a porch or a canopy gives a wreath welcome shelter from driving rain and wind. Where there is none, a street-facing window is a good alternative: the wreath still faces the street and stays dry and still behind the glass.
Indoors, dust is the only thing to think about. A gentle shake outside or a soft, clean brush every couple of weeks keeps the colours bright. If the bow gets squashed when someone brushes past, a light tweak with your fingers puts its shape back.
How to store an artificial wreath for next year
How you pack a wreath away in January decides how it looks next December. Most wreaths that come out tired have spent eleven months squashed under something heavy in a damp loft. A little care avoids that:
- Take it down on a dry day, so no moisture goes into the box with it.
- Give it a gentle clean with a soft brush before it goes away.
- Wrap it loosely in tissue paper, with a little extra tucked into the bow to help it hold its shape.
- Use a box a little bigger than the wreath, so nothing presses on it. The packed size above is a good guide.
- Store it flat and on top, never under the box of lights or the tree stand.
- Keep it somewhere dry, such as a cupboard or a dry loft, away from a damp shed or garage.
- Label the box clearly, so it is the first one down next year.
Next December, lift it out, let it sit for a day so it relaxes into shape, fluff the bow and it is ready to go up again.
A wreath as a Christmas gift
A wreath is a thoughtful present for somebody setting up a home. Think of a friend in their first flat, a couple spending their first Christmas in a new house, or a parent who has downsized and misses dressing a big front door. It is useful from the day it arrives, it suits almost any taste once you pick the right design, and it comes back out every year as a small reminder of who gave it.
If you are sending one as a gift, choose the design with the recipient's door in mind. A red bow suits a dark door and a traditional home. A quieter design suits someone whose taste runs to natural greens.
Whether it is for your own front door or someone else's, a handmade artificial wreath is the first piece of Christmas people see, and one you only need to choose once.
Frequently asked questions
How heavy is the handmade artificial wreath?
It weighs 361 g, which makes it a light piece that is easy to move between a front door, a window and an inside wall.
What is the wreath made from?
It is handmade from polyester. Being artificial, there is nothing to water and it keeps its look through the season.
Can I use the same wreath every year?
Yes. Wrap it loosely in tissue in January, store it flat in a dry place with nothing heavy on top, and it is ready to go up again next December.
How big is the box it comes in?
It arrives in a package of 340 x 320 x 110 mm, which is also a useful guide to the storage box you will need for it.
Key details
| Packed size | 340 x 320 x 110 mm |
|---|---|
| Material | POLYESTER |
| Weight | 361 g |
Supplier-stated measurements.
Handmade Artificial Christmas Wreath for Door or Window - Polyester
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