From Ho-Hum to Holiday Wow: How to Pick the Perfect Christmas Wreath

We say this often, but it bears repeating: A wreath is one of the easiest ways to decorate.

It takes almost no time to hang a Christmas wreath on your front door, in a window or over the fireplace to add instant holiday appeal to your home.

A wreath can be part of your entryway decor or the focal point of a feature wall. Hang mini wreaths on the backs of your dining room chairs and on cupboard doors. Lean a small Christmas wreath on a mantel surrounded by garland, lights and decorations. Or, place one on your dining table and fill the center with flameless pillar candles to serve as your centerpiece.

With a little creativity, there’s really no end to the ways in which Christmas wreaths can enhance your holiday decor.

There’s also almost no end to the type of wreath you can buy. Evergreen wreaths are traditional, but berry wreaths, colorful wreaths and flocked wreaths have their niche in Christmas decor, too.

The fact that wreaths come in so many styles and sizes, however, can make buying a wreath confusing. How do you choose the best Christmas wreath for your home?

Let’s review some choices that could influence your Christmas wreath purchase.

Fresh Christmas wreaths made from real evergreen boughs are traditional decorations with a classic look. Their piney scent adds to the holiday atmosphere, especially if you display them indoors near an artificial Christmas tree.

However, fresh wreaths aren’t for everyone. If you like to decorate for Christmas even before the Thanksgiving leftovers are gone, a natural wreath might not last through the holiday season. In the warmth of your home, pine branches can quickly lose their luster, dry out and drop their needles.

Alternatively, artificial Christmas wreaths always look fresh. There’s no need to clean up after them and they last season after season. That benefit is also a budget consideration, as it can be hard to justify paying a premium for a fresh wreath you’ll only use for a few weeks.

Artificial wreaths can come decorated or undecorated, lighted or unlit. Plus, some are extremely lifelike – another reason to choose a faux wreath over fresh.

Once you’ve decided on an artificial wreath, the next question is how “dressed up” you want it to be. Do you prefer a wreath that’s already styled and ready to hang or something simple you can decorate yourself?

Whether you buy a decorated or undecorated wreath will depend on factors such as style, convenience and budget.

Undecorated Christmas wreaths are a beautiful choice for those who appreciate a woodsy, neutral or minimalist look. Left as is or simply dressed with a bow, a few pinecones or berry sprigs, a plain Christmas wreath needs little else to project a natural elegance.

In addition, plain wreaths are the perfect canvas for DIY crafters, who can channel their creativity and design something that precisely suits their taste and decor.

On the other hand, there’s a lot to be said for a Christmas wreath pre-decorated with ornaments, bows and other baubles to add color, support a theme and generate a fun and festive look.

Be aware that fully decorated Christmas wreaths are typically more expensive than similarly sized, undecorated wreaths. The added ornaments, ribbons and lights are part of that cost, along with the professional styling and the convenience of obtaining a decoration that’s ready to hang.

Both decorated and undecorated Christmas wreaths may come unlit or pre-lit with incandescent, LED lights or micro fairy lights. Each lighting style has its advantages. For instance, LED lights last longer and stay cool to the touch, while incandescent bulbs offer a warmer glow and tiny fairy lights set a magical mood.

Unlit Christmas wreaths are a practical choice when decorating windows, doors and other areas without an electrical outlet. By contrast, lighted wreaths beautifully extend the glittering splendor of the holidays throughout the home. If you love the look of a prelit Christmas wreath, consider a battery-operated style for hard-to-access locations or places where cords would cause a problem, like the front door.

A pre-lit wreath can cost more than the same size and style unlit wreath. In many cases, you can save money by buying an unlit wreath and adding the lights yourself.

Adding lights yourself also provides greater creative flexibility. Use more or fewer lights, customize colors and incorporate themed lights that aren’t available on most prelit Christmas wreaths.

The graphic below compares the features and prices of lighted and unlit versions of two popular Christmas Central wreaths. 

You should also consider how realistic you want your Christmas wreath to look.

Similar to artificial Christmas trees, wreaths can be made in the classic style, using thin strips of plastic woven closely together, or with plastic molded to resemble real pine needles.

You may also find wreaths that mix classic, less expensive branches and realistic, high-quality branches for a more lifelike look at a better price point.

Christmas Central’s Real Touch™ line of realistic wreaths, for instance, often blends both branch styles for a luxury look at a value.

As a general rule, when aiming for a minimalistic or natural look, opt for a more realistic Christmas wreath. Classic wreaths work well when your wreath will be decorated or seen only at a distance, when realism doesn’t matter as much.

Once you’ve decided on wreath style and lighting, it’s time to determine the best size wreath for your use.

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When hanging a wreath on a front door, decorators suggest leaving about six inches of space between the wreath and the door frame. A 24 to 30-inch wreath is an attractive size for a standard 36-inch front door. You’ll find the wreath’s diameter in the product description.

Note that not all holiday wreaths are weather-resistant. They could be ruined if exposed to the elements, so check the product description for usage recommendations. 

You can protect and prolong the life of your front door wreath by using it in a covered area that’s protected by a porch or overhang. You may also be able to sandwich your wreath between the front door and storm door, as long as the outer door doesn’t touch or crush the foliage and decorations. 

Consider proportion when choosing which size Christmas wreath to hang over your fireplace. Measure the overall width of the mantel or fireplace insert and divide that number in half to determine an approximate wreath size. A 24-inch wreath might look well over a 48-inch mantel, while a 60-inch mantel could support a larger wreath.

Remember, too, that design rules were made to be broken. For instance, it’s perfectly acceptable to set a small wreath on the fireplace ledge and make it part of your mantel display. Hang a large Christmas wreath, or several wreaths in various sizes, for dramatic effect.