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Don’t have a lot of money but want a traditional holiday wreath? No problem! Here’s all you need to know about making a DIY budget Christmas wreath.
Wreaths are often considered an essential part of any holiday design, but they don’t come cheap. Fresh evergreen wreaths in particular, can set you back anywhere from $20-$60, depending on the size and contents.
Luckily, making and/or decorating your own wreath is a fairly simple task. You just need to know where to get the right supplies, as well as a few key techniques.
If you’re interested in making a budget wreath for Christmas, here’s what you need to know.
You can also check out our other seasonal wreath ideas:
Wreath Frames and Bases
Any good wreath starts with a good base. The base of the wreath is just the foliage, twigs or fabric that make up the majority of the structure. It also includes the frame those materials are attached too.
Luckily, wreath supplies and ready-made bases are easy to find for cheap. There are also a ton of easy ways to make decorations that are fit for outdoor use.
Fresh Evergreen Wreaths
To get a cheap fresh evergreen wreath base, go to your local florist or any tree lots. These places usually offer fair prices on a variety of styles.
Your other option is to go with a plain wreath. Plain wreaths are great because you’re not paying extra for any decorations. That means you’re getting a lower price, even on larger wreaths.
A small, plain wreath usually costs around ten dollars. Larger ones, (which are around twelve inches or more), cost closer to twenty dollars. That’s a pretty substantial difference, compared to options that are already decorated. And if you want to dress up your wreath, decorations are easy to purchase and apply.
Making an Evergreen Wreath
Another way to get a cheap fresh wreath is to make it yourself.
One issue with this option is that you will have to pay for supplies, and those can add up. However, if you’re shopping smart, it’s still cheaper to make a large wreath than it is to purchase one.
Big box stores as well as craft stores usually carry wreath making supplies. And craft stores often have coupons or sales, so you can get a good deal.
As for the fresh greens, those are a little trickier. You can purchase them at some grocery chains or at a floral shop, but it can get pricey. You’ll also need to purchase quite a bit in order to make a full wreath.
For cheaper options, check your local tree lot, or any other place that’s selling trees. They may be able to give you a discount on an ugly tree that you can prune. They may even give you any fallen branches for free!
To learn how to form your fresh materials into a wreath, here’s a great tutorial:
As you can see, the technique for making a wreath is surprisingly easy. After attaching a few bunches of greens to the frame, you should get the hang of it. It also doesn’t take too many supplies.
Artificial Wreath Bases
If you’re going artificial, you have a lot more options.
Artificial wreath bases can be purchased online or in stores. They come in a variety of sizes, and shapes, with tons of options for whatever foliage type you prefer. Some even come pre-lit, so you don’t have to fuss with purchasing and then wrapping your own lights.
Costs tend to range anywhere from $10-$30, however you can use the wreath for more than one season. In that sense, it’s a better deal than spending the same amount on a fresh wreath. And even if the one you want is pricier, you know you’ll get a lot of use from it.
And best of all, you can even get these options at the dollar store!
That’s right, you can purchase an artificial wreath at the dollar store. Just keep in mind that they will be small, and the quality won’t be that great either. But at that price, it’s hard to complain.
Budget Wreath Decorations
If you do end up purchasing a plain wreath or want to dress one up, consider decorating it yourself. Decorations are surprisingly cheap, and they’re also easy to attach. Even if you’ve never done it before, it’s easy to learn how.
Popular Wreath Decorations
Here are some of the many items you can use to decorate your wreath:
- Ornaments
- Miniature gift boxes
- Bells
- Bows
- Ribbon
- Lights
- Pine cones
- Twigs
- Fake snow
- Holly
- Cranberries (artificial)
Where to Purchase Wreath Decorations
If you’re looking for cheap decorations, the dollar store is the place to go. You can purchase most of the popular decorations at these stores, even lights. And everything is a dollar!
Plus, with some dollar stores, you can purchase their items online in bulk.
You can also purchase cheap decorations online or on eBay. The main thing with online shopping is that you’ll have to pay shipping. In some cases, you’ll also have a wait a while before your decorations arrive, so plan accordingly.
And for the ultimate budget option, just repurpose your current decorations! If you have any spare or old decorations and ornaments lying around, don’t throw them away! They’re perfect for adding to any wreath.
Attaching Decorations to Wreaths
If you’re wondering how to attach your decorations, it’s a simple process.
All you have to do is take a bit of string or wire, and tie your decorations to the wreath. As long as you’re picking a sturdy branch and tying tight, you should be fine. And this method works for both fresh and artificial wreaths!
One helpful tip: look for areas where the branches fork. Tie your string or wire to the main part of the branch, right behind the fork. This will help keep the decorations from slipping off inadvertently.
For artificial wreaths, you can also consider using hot glue. Just keep in mind that hot glue is not necessarily the strongest adhesive.
It’s also really obvious when done wrong, so you’ll want to be careful about where you’re putting it. If you’re hot glue is too visible, you can color it green with a marker to help disguise it a bit.
You’ll also want to avoid putting hot glue on any wires, if you have lights on your wreath.
Another great option for fresh or artificial wreaths is to use ornament hooks. Ornament hooks are usually made of small, easily malleable wires. They’re perfect for looping around decorations and tying them to wreaths. Plus, you’re likely to already have a ton of extra ones lying around the house.
And if you don’t have any, don’t worry! You can usually find them at the dollar store as well.
Styling Your Budget Wreath
When it comes to styling your wreath, the key is visual weight.
Visual weight refers to how decorated a part of the wreath looks. Lots of decorations make something look heavy, while sparser decorations make it look lighter.
No matter what type of design you do, you want to make sure that the visual weight is balanced. You can concentrate the weight to one area, so long as you leave the rest of the base plain. You can also disperse it evenly throughout the wreath.
In order to make a traditional wreath, you’ll want to make sure your decorations are symmetrical. That means whatever you do to one half of the wreath, you need to repeat on the other half. From there, put a focal point, such as a large bow, right at the top.
There are also a few tricks you can use to make a smaller wreath look fuller. Adding lights, pine cones, twigs, ribbons, and fake snow can make your wreath look larger than it is.
Just make sure you avoid using lights if you have a fresh wreath. It’s not the safest practice, since evergreen tends to dry out as the season progresses.
And if you’re using smaller wreaths, you can also string them together to make a three ring Christmas wreath. This is an especially good option if you’re working exclusively with dollar store materials.
Budget Wreath Tutorial
If you’re interested in making a budget wreath, here’s a great tutorial. This video shows you how to make a wreath for less than $25, using Dollar Tree products. It also shows you how to attach ornaments, bows, and ribbons.
As you can see, it’s not hard to make a good looking wreath for cheap. With the skills shown in the video, you can probably make one for even cheaper!
This is especially true if you have the patience enough to buy clearance items after Christmas. You can get items for pennies on the dollar, and then save them for the next season.
The Perfect Wreath for Your Christmas
If you want a great wreath for Christmas, don’t assume that you’ll have to pay a ton of money. While large, decorated, fresh evergreen wreaths can get expensive, they’re not your only option. There are a ton of ways to get something just as gorgeous for much less.
The easiest method is to get a plain base, fresh or artificial, and decorate it yourself. Decorations are easy to apply with a number of methods, and they’re even easier to buy.
You can get decorations super cheap at most dollar stores. In fact, you can even build a completed wreath using dollar store products.
And personalizing wreaths is a great way to ensure that you’re getting the right type. You can match decorations to your personal taste, as well as whatever aesthetic style you’re going for.
Overall, DIY budget Christmas Wreaths are a fun, accessible way to get the holiday wreath you want for less.
