Discover the Best Artificial Wreaths: Your Ultimate Buying Guide

In ancient times, wreaths often conveyed honor. Greek warriors and athletes sometimes were presented with olive leaf or laurel wreaths for their skill and bravery that they wore on their heads or around their arms. A crown is a wreath of precious metals and gems that signifies a ruler’s nobility.

At least since Victorian times, people have placed an evergreen wreath on their front door to welcome visitors during the holiday season.

Today, we use wreaths for both decoration and celebration. They are an easy way to add a decorative touch to your home.

Shoppers buying a wreath can be overwhelmed by the sheer variety. Should you choose an undecorated or decorated wreath, small or large, lighted or unlit? Do you want a wreath in a natural-looking green or one that’s colorful or flocked?

In addition, you may be weighing the differences between wreaths made of fresh botanicals and faux wreaths.

Before delving into wreath styles, let’s look at some common wreath characteristics.

As with Christmas trees, Christmas wreaths (and many wreaths used throughout the year) can be made from natural or artificial materials or a mix of both.

Fresh evergreen wreaths are beautiful and their piny aroma can enhance your holidays, but they have their drawbacks. Fresh wreaths tend to dry out quickly and drop their needles. If they’re on a sunny window or door, they may even turn brown.

On the other hand, faux wreaths stay fresh-looking all season long and will continue to provide enjoyment for years to come.

Plus, there are so many realistic wreaths to choose from, you’ll need to look very closely to notice a fake! In addition to spruce, balsam and other pine varieties, you’ll find boxwood wreaths, pinecone wreaths and floral wreaths, wreaths featuring berries or twigs, unlit and pre-lit wreaths and undecorated wreaths to add your personal touch.

There is another feature common to wreaths you may want to consider: lights.

For holiday decor that really shines, you can’t beat a Christmas wreath with lights. Pre-lit wreaths add an extra glimmer on dark winter nights, but lighted wreaths are also popular during other times of the year, like Halloween or the 4th of July.

Pre-lit wreaths offer incandescent, LED and even fiber optic lighting options. Incandescent lights provide a soft, traditional glow, while LED lights are festive and economical. Unique fiber optic lights may also offer color-changing options.

Lighting may be all-white or incorporate colors to support a holiday theme, such as green lights for St. Patrick’s Day or orange lights for Halloween.

Whether you choose a pre-lit or unlit wreath could depend on where you want it to hang. Pre-lit Christmas wreaths are often hung on a wall, over the fireplace or in the window.

Battery-operated pre-lit wreaths are an option when there isn’t an outlet nearby, like on your front door.

Read the package or product description to ensure your lighted Christmas wreath is safe for outdoor use.

This may seem obvious, but some wreaths come pre-decorated and others are undecorated.

Plain wreaths fit well into a natural or minimalist aesthetic. They are also popular with do-it-yourself crafters who want to add their own bows and ornaments. An undecorated wreath can be less expensive, although your savings may be offset by the cost of any decorations you might add.

On the other hand, decorated wreaths take the time and guesswork out of ornamentation. They are professionally designed and may reflect a particular color combination, theme or style.

Materials, lighting and decoration are common characteristics of a wreath. When you buy a wreath, you may not even realize how these elements combine to determine a wreath’s style.

However, “style” is usually the deciding factor when people consider what kind of wreath they want.

Wreaths are an easy way to add a festive holiday look to your home. However, when buying a new Christmas wreath, shoppers can be overwhelmed by the range of styles.

There are many types of wreaths, each with its own appeal.

Let’s take a closer look at some of our best-selling options to explore which wreath blends best with your holiday style.

The first Christmas wreaths were made from the boughs of Christmas trees. Pine wreaths may feature long or short-needled branches or a combination of both. Firs, spruces and pines lend wreaths their subtle shades from blue-green to deep green to warmer tones.

Many pine wreaths are decorated simply with a bright red bow, but they can also be decorated with pinecones, ribbons and Christmas ornaments. 

Pine boughs are not the only materials made into wreaths. Natural or artificial eucalyptus, holly, cedar and boxwood are among the greens that can be used in a wreath. You can also find wreaths designed with a mix of greenery, which may also include ribbons, florals and other decorations.

Wreaths made mostly of green foliage are perfect for summer, and non-pine evergreens, like cedar and boxwood, work well during the post-holiday winter season.

Flocked wreaths are a retro style that has become popular again. They are covered in a white coating that resembles snow. A heavily flocked wreath appears to have been “frozen in time” after a snowstorm. Frosted and iced wreaths feature lighter applications of flocking.

Flocking is often found on pine wreaths and other wreath styles featuring natural-looking elements like berries and pinecones. Flocked styles are generally limited to Christmas and winter-themed decorations.

Fall and winter are prime times for a delicate berry wreath. Colors reflect the shades you would find in nature, including reds, oranges and white or off-white. 

Berries are common on many wreaths, but a berry wreath puts the simple beauty of this natural material at the forefront. Foliage, twigs, flowers or pinecones may be used in a berry wreath for additional color and texture.

A berry wreath blends well with many design styles, including natural, country, Scandinavian and cottage core.

The ornament wreath was born from the mid-20th century trend toward bold and colorful holiday decorations. Clusters of Christmas ornaments provide the structure of this eye-catching and playful wreath style, while a variety of ornament shades and finishes add color and luster. Using shatterproof ornaments enhances the wreath’s durability and longevity.

A shatterproof ornament wreath might be most at home in settings with a modern or mid-century flair, or anywhere you want an audacious expression of holiday enthusiasm.

As mentioned earlier, wreaths aren’t just for Christmas! A wreath is such an easy decoration that hanging one instantly updates the space to reflect a holiday or time of year.

Floral wreaths are used extensively for Easter, spring and summer. You’ll find many playful styles for Halloween and St. Patrick’s Day, along with other colorful designs for autumn and Thanksgiving. Look for red heart wreaths for Valentine’s Day, and red, white and blue wreaths for Memorial Day, 4th of July and other patriotic occasions.

Tinsel wreaths are another mid-century style with retro appeal. While “tinsel wreath” typically suggests a silver or gold decoration, they come in all colors to add vibrancy and charisma to your decor.

Use a colorful tinsel wreath for drama against a white or dark background, to support a color scheme or a vintage theme. 

Twig wreaths are simple structures made from grapevine, willow and other materials that mimic tree branches. They often come undecorated but may contain a smattering of decoration.

Alternatively, grapevine wreaths and other twig wreath styles often are used as a base material for holiday and seasonal wreath designs. 

Before you buy a Christmas wreath, consider where it will hang. Front door wreaths are very popular, but wreaths also make attractive holiday accents in the entryway, over the fireplace and in windows.

Style, size and color considerations for your new wreath will be similar, regardless of where you hang it. Fortunately, there are artificial wreaths to suit all tastes, themes and color schemes.

Overall, a flocked, colorful or white wreath will stand out better against a dark background. Consider a green, dark-colored or even a black wreath if it will be placed against a lighter color.

Remember, too, that not all pines are the same shade of green. Some have warm undertones that enhance many natural woods and earthy colors. Others have muted tones that complement popular decorator colors like gray, blue and black.

You’ll also want to consider scale. Larger wreaths work well in large spaces or outdoors, where smaller wreaths would lack impact. On the other hand, smaller wreaths are a better choice when the scale is reduced or space is limited.

A Christmas wreath hanging on a front door is a timeless holiday decoration. Consider your home’s style and the size and color of the door as you make your selection. Battery-operated wreaths are an option if you want a front door decoration with lights.

When people imagine a fireplace decorated for Christmas, it typically brings to mind a pine garland on the mantel, accented by a wreath. Traditionally, a wreath hangs above the mantel. To complement a casual or modern style, try setting the wreath on the mantel, propped against the chimney.

A holiday wreath can replace a painting or photo collage to provide a festive touch on a wall. Any blank wall is fair game, including in an entryway, above your headboard or couch, or over a buffet or console table. Pay attention to proportion. If placing a small wreath on a large blank wall, create a gallery by surrounding it with other Christmas wall decor.

Window wreaths evoke the classical look of a Victorian Christmas. If you love this look, your first step is to decide whether the wreaths will hang inside or out. Depending on where you live, an outdoor wreath may need to withstand harsh winter weather. Check the packaging or product description to see if it is appropriate for outdoor use. Hang it securely, and consider backing your outdoor wreath with felt so it doesn’t scratch your windows, wood frames or siding.

Doors, walls, windows and fireplaces are classic places to hang a wreath, but don’t let tradition crimp your creativity – wreaths look lovely in many other locations. Hang small wreaths on the backs of your dining chairs or on your kitchen cupboard doors. Use weather-resistant wreaths on fences, lamp posts and roof peaks. Hang a wreath in the bathroom or over the headboard in your bedroom. Use one as a table centerpiece or a chandelier! It’s so easy to hang a wreath, you’ll have fun hanging them just about anywhere!

You’ve narrowed down your style and color preferences. Now, let’s get down to size. How do you choose the right size wreath?

Wreaths are measured by their diameter, or width. The full width includes anything that extends out from the wreath, like decorative picks or wispy floral tendrils. Depth is measured from the back frame to the front, including any decorations that protrude.

A great way to visualize wreath size is to cut out cardboard circles of different diameters and hang them where you plan to display your wreath. This simple trick helps you choose the perfect fit for your space.

Here are further guidelines experts use to determine what size wreath is best for a particular location.

Decorators typically recommend leaving four to six inches of undecorated space between the outside of the wreath and the outer edge of the door for a balanced and visually appealing look. That means buying a wreath eight to 12 inches smaller than your total door width. For instance, a 24 to 28-inch wreath will look best on a door 36 inches wide.

A pair of wreaths identical in size and style provide symmetry to a double-door entry. As with a single door, choose wreaths eight to 12 inches smaller than the width of one door.

If your entry door is protected by a storm door, measure the space between both doors. If you buy a very full wreath that’s too deep for the cavity, you risk crushing or breaking it – or not being able to close the storm door.

Whether the wall is expansive or narrow, scale the size of the wreath to the area you want to visually fill. As a general rule, the larger the wall, the larger the wreath. However, decorating rules were made to be broken. A small wreath can add understated elegance to a large wall or become the focal point of a gallery-style arrangement of Christmas wall decorations.

If you’re hanging the wreath over a couch or table, leave at least 10 inches between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the wreath.

Holiday wreaths (particularly evergreen wreaths) come tightly packaged and generally require “fluffing” to look their best.

To shape your wreath, place it on a flat surface. If you have a pre-lit wreath, plug it in and keep it lit while shaping it to ensure that you don’t obscure the lights or bunch them together.

One at a time, pull branches, upwards and outwards. Your wreath is three-dimensional, so don’t forget to bring some branches straight up. Continue adjusting branches, working your way all around the wreath. Be patient; it takes some time to properly fluff a wreath for it to reach its maximum potential.

With proper care, an artificial wreath will remain beautiful for many holidays to come. Wreath storage bags are a good investment to protect your Christmas wreath from dust and grime. Many have handles for easy carrying and some can be hung up and out of the way, freeing valuable shelf space.

Alternatively, store your wreath in a spacious box or large plastic bag, or wrap it in a sheet or bubble wrap. If hanging storage isn’t an option, lay your wreath flat and avoid laying other heavy items on top of it.

A wreath is one of the loveliest and most traditional decorations you can display in your home. Determining the size and style you need can help cut down the guesswork so you can focus on selecting a wreath that coordinates with your home decor and expresses your true holiday spirit – whatever the holiday or season!