Nothing says Christmas like a wreath brimming with fresh, fragrant greenery, but you don’t have to opt for the traditional look. If you prefer Scandinavian-style simplicity then this minimalist version is for you. It’s quick and easy to make, and it looks beautiful hung in a window, on a door or above a fireplace; you could even cluster several together to create a striking display. And for a particularly festive look, just add a flickering candle.
To make the wreath, you’ll need:
- A brass ring, with or without a candleholder. I used this one from Rose & Grey, which comes in two different sizes
- Seasonal foliage. I chose eucalyptus, lisianthus and white veronica flowers; you could also add berries, pine cones or branches
- Sharp scissors
- Thin wire that blends in with the foliage – green floristry wire is ideal
- String or cord
Start by cutting the foliage into short sprigs, with one or two branches per length. Try to choose bits with thin, pliable stems which can be bent to the shape of the ring.
Next, attach the first sprigs to the ring, positioning them so that the stems on each side point towards the middle and the leaves splay upwards. Secure each sprig in place with two short sections of wire, one at the bottom and one at the top.
Continue adding further layers of foliage, overlapping them so that the leaves hide the bare stems and wire. You can add the sprigs symmetrically, or opt for an asymmetric look with foliage up one side only. If you’re going to use a candle, just avoid having any greenery protruding inwards towards the centre of the ring, where it might come into contact with the flame.
If using flowers, cut them into short lengths and wire them into the foliage.
Add another couple of short sprigs of foliage at the bottom, to hide the messy area where the stems join.
Then just tie string or cord to the top of the wreath and hang it in place. Here’s my finished wreath:
And here’s another version without a candle, which I made at a wonderful Christmas workshop run by Mathilde of MK Design London and Scandinavian interiors emporium Skandium. For this one I used eucalyptus, fir, ruscus and a brass ring from Strups, and opted for an asymmetrical look. I also positioned pine cones over the bottom section rather than foliage – if you want to do the same, just twist a length of wire around the bottom of each cone and leave the ends protruding so that you can use them to attach it to the ring.
Give your finished wreath a regular spritzing of water to keep it fresh. Flowers will only survive for a few days, but you can easily pull them out and push replacements into the wire; foliage should last longer, as it will slowly dry out rather than drooping. If you’re using a wreath with a candle, make sure you don’t hang it too close to walls, curtains or anything flammable, and never leave it unattended when lit. It’s also important not to let the candle burn down too far and risk setting the foliage alight.
All photography by Abi Dare
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