The Glasshouse
How To Make a Christmas Wreath
By Tash, Head Gardener
Step one: Gather your materials
You will need
- One wire wreath ring, to your size preference. This can be bought online or at a craft shop.
- Floristry wire. A 45m roll will be plenty. This can also be bought online or at a craft shop.
- Moss. You’ll need enough to cover your wreath ring (see images below). You can buy hanging basket moss from a florist or collect it when renovating your lawn in the autumn months.
- Approximately five different types of foliage and decorations. This will depend on what you like and what you have in your garden. Examples include ivy, hydrangea heads, herbs, pine cones, twigs and rose hips.
Top tip – before you start making your wreath, cut all of your foliage to a similar length (between 20cm – 30cm) so that everything is prepared when you get to the assembly stage.
Step two: Attach the moss
This will form the base of your wreath. Attach the floristry wire by looping it around the wreath ring and twisting it until it’s secure. Take handfuls of moss, mould them into sausage shapes and place them on the ring one at a time, winding the wire around it in one direction as you go. Be generous with the moss – your ring should look nice and full by the time you’ve finished.
Once the ring is full, cut the wire and secure it by twisting it around the wreath ring.
Step three: Create a loop to hang the wreath
It is very important you do this before you add your foliage, otherwise it will be tricky.
Cut a section of wire and use this to create a loop. Attach it by feeding it through the ring and twisting it until it’s secure. You could also choose to use ribbon or string, depending on the look you are going for.
Step four: Add your foliage
Now your base is ready, it’s time to add the detail. Reattach your wire and begin adding the foliage. Take one piece at a time, and tightly wind the wire around it as you did with the moss. Alternating the foliage, continue to add pieces until you have filled out the whole ring.
Once you reach the end, you will have a section that looks a little bare. You can cover this up by filling it with a bow, pine cones or more foliage.
Top tip – if you are using stand-out focal items (e.g. pine cones or big flowers), I always suggest doing this in odd numbers to make it look as aesthetically pleasing as possible.
And there you have it! One beautiful handmade Christmas wreath, ready to be proudly placed on your front door.
As part of our Christmas in the Mansion with Jo Malone London, we’re hosting a range of wreath-making masterclasses throughout December, beginning with a delicious Christmas afternoon tea inspired by the brand’s signature scents. It’s the perfect way to get in the festive spirit, so gather your friends and join us!
Top Tips and ideas for bauble-decorating
Add a lovely personal touch to your Christmas tree this year by incorporating homemade baubles into your decorations. Not sure where to start? Here are our top tips:
- For a simple yet sophisticated look, tuck sprigs of dried flowers inside clear baubles. Or, go for a festive twist by adding pinecones, a few pine needles or soft feathers. In our bauble-decorating masterclass with Jo Malone London we’ll be incorporating dried flowers inspired by the brand’s signature scents.
- Our friends at Gilded Bee suggest personalising your baubles with family members’ names or key life events as a way to get the whole family involved in decorating the tree. Metallic markers, stickers, or paint pens make this easy and fun, and if you’re feeling fancy, try a hand-lettered style — it’s a beautiful way to show off your artistic side!
- Turn your bauble into a memory capsule by adding small mementos like a mini photo. This is a brilliant way to commemorate special moments or trips and give each bauble its own story. Just be sure your keepsakes are lightweight so they don’t weigh down the tree.
- Sometimes, simplicity is key, and a beautiful ribbon can do wonders. Choose satin or velvet ribbons in festive shades, then tie them around the top of your bauble for a sophisticated touch.
This festive season, we’ll also be running some bauble-decorating masterclasses with Jo Malone London and the craft experts at Gilded Bee. Indulge in our Christmas afternoon tea, before creating four of your own bespoke baubles to take home.
