How to Make A Wreath (Asymmetrical Design)

Wanna learn how to make a wreath that looks unique, but is also easy to recreate? This DIY wreath idea, with fresh florals and asymmetrical design is a modern take on a once traditional Christmas decoration.

How to make a wreath in under 30 minutes! It’s easy and the results are so cool, imo.

I’ve been making DIY holiday wreath for years now (ever since this holiday wreath workshop I hosted) and have been seeing them pop up more and more each year since.

Holiday wreaths are probably one of my fave things to make during Christmas time because they look amazing and smell good too.

So, today I’m sharing a tutorial for how to make a wreath with an asymmetrical design, using fresh flowers and greenery. I’ve also included a must-have material for keeping fresh flowers alive longer for your wreaths that you’ve probably never heard of. AND a diagram for hanging that will keep your asymmetrical design in place for the long haul.

Intrigued? Click through for the tutorial.

All of the wreaths in the photos have fresh flowers and greenery from Flower Muse (they sell fresh flowers and greens straight from flower farms around the world… I use ’em all the time for events and DIY projects).

I made the small little wreaths as examples for a wreath workshop I did with Malorie (who is incredibly talented with flowers).

AND the wreath with lots of pepperberries (at the very top of the post) was actually a student wreath – shout out to Ashley for killing it on her wreath design.

Here’s how to make asymmetrical holiday wreaths…

Materials

• 12 inch gold macrame hoops (or 18 inch if you want something larger)***
• thin gauge floral wire
• wire cutters or sharp scissors
• shears
• corsage stems (this is that secret material that will keep flowers fresh longer)
• greenery and fresh flowers (specific types mentioned below)

***Note about the brass geo shapes

I have had a lot of questions about where the thicker brass geometric shapes are from that you see in some of the photos.

I bought them in Austin years ago and I have tried (endlessly) to find a link to them online for everyone, but sadly there isn’t one. The brand is 340 and they’re actually meant to be towel holders – mentioned them in this post.

As an alternative, if you don’t want to use a macrame hoop, you can make your own similar shapes at home too, using a heavy gauge wire.

I shared a similar project right here on Instagram and also shared a video for it in my IG highlights (it’s the highlight labeled Christmas Stuff).

How to Make a Wreath

Step 1: Start with greenery.

Select your greenery. Choose a combo that works well together. Here are all of the floral greenery types I used, as a head start…

• variegated pittosporum
• olive branch
• green bush ivy
• olive branch
• pepperberry
• silver dollar eucalyptus

Step 2: Build up the greenery.

You can do this by starting in the outermost edges that you want to cover and working your way in, adding branches all in the same direction.

Use 3 inch long pieces of floral wire to secure each branch or stem, by wrapping it around the stem and hoop several times.

With each branch or stem you add, cover up the wire from the one before it.

Step 3: Move to the other side.

Then, when you’ve reached the middle, start fresh on the other side, again at the outermost edge you want to cover and repeat step 2 with that side.

Step 4: Add flowers.

Once you’ve added all of the greenery you’d like, it’s time for flowers. For the small wreaths, white anemones, white ranunculus, and cream garden roses – patience were used.

For the large wreaths, dusty pink garden roses – romantic antike and red ranunculus were used. 

For larger blooms with hearty stems, like garden roses, start by trimming off the stem completely. Then stick a corsage stem in through the bottom, as shown in the photo, after you’ve dipped the tip in water for 10 seconds.

For hollow stems, like ranunculus and anemones, you can either give the corsage stems a whirl OR insert floral wire through the stem (first cut the stem down to just a few inches), then twist around the hoop to secure.

Step 5: Attach florals to the wreath.

Wrap the wire end of the corsage stem around the hoop and attached branches.

Step 6: Repeat steps 4 and 5.

Continue step 4 and 5 until you’ve reached the desired look.

And it’s ready to hang, over a nail on the wall, your front door, etc.

One thing to note about fresh Christmas wreaths like this one is that the flowers will eventually wilt.

Usually within 2 to 5 days – sometimes longer.

But you can switch them out for new ones or leave your wreath as just greenery for the rest of the season (which lasts much longer than fresh flowers).

How do you hang an asymmetrical wreath?

Now that this tutorial is several years old (originally created in 2016), I’ve been asked many times how to keep an asymmetrical wreath like this hanging properly, so that the heavy side doesn’t swing down to the bottom.

Here’s how I did it…

I hang the wreath from a small nail and then situate the design asymmetrically how I would like it to be. Then I add two more small nails too the right and left sides so that the bottom of the wreath basically sits on those nails and doesn’t move.

If you use small ones like I do you won’t see them at all. And it works really well.

But if you have something super heavy, you may need a third nail to keep everything from shifting.

Additionally, nail placement might depend on how symmetrical your wreath is. 

Here’s a quick diagram of different wreaths and where I would typically put the nails when hanging…

More Holiday Projects to Try

I almost can’t even count the number of other holiday projects I’ve shared here over the years. So many Christmas DIYs to try. Here are a handful of my favorites that you might like, if you enjoyed this wreath project.

• Like wreaths? Check out the giant wreath I made last year (it’s over 3 ft tall).
• DIY tree skirt ideas – two different was to turn a canvas drop cloth, of all things, into something really cool for the holidays. Super affordable and I love how they both turned out.
• These mason jar lanterns are much cuter (and less cottage-y) than you might think. I love the polka dots and frosted glass with the twinkle lights and greenery mixed in. Very Christmasy vibes.
• This quilted Christmas stocking DIY is a modern twist on a classic crafting technique. Do you like the quilted trend in fashion and home popping up again this year?
• And last but not least, this one isn’t a holiday DIY, but it is wreath related, so I figured I should include it: my tutorial for a DIY fall wreath. I love the dried mushrooms in this one!

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DIY Wreath (An Asymmetrical Christmas Wreath Idea)

I've been making asymmetrical DIY wreaths for the holidays for the last few years (ever since this holiday wreath workshop I hosted) and have been seeing them pop up more and more each year since. So, today I'm sharing a tutorial for how to make asymmetrical holiday wreaths using fresh flowers and greenry. Including a must-have material for keeping fresh flowers alive longer for your wreaths that you've probably never heard of.

Total Time30 mins

Keyword: christmas wreath, christmas wreath ideas, diy wreath, wreath making

Cost: $15

Ingredients

• 12 inch gold macrame hoops  or 18 inch if you want something larger***
• thin gauge floral wire
• wire cutters or sharp scissors
• shears
• corsage stems this is that secret material that will keep flowers fresh longer
• greenery and fresh flowers specific types mentioned below

Instructions

• Start with greenery. In the example wreaths, there was a variety of greenery used...variegated pittosporum, olive branch, and green bush ivy in the small geometric wreaths // olive branch, pepperberry, and silver dollar eucalyptus in the larger wreaths.
• Build up the greenery, starting in the outermost edges that you want to cover and working your way in, adding branches all in the same direction.
• Use 3 inch long pieces of floral wire to secure each branch or stem, by wrapping it around the stem and hoop several times. With each branch or stem you add, cover up the wire from the one before it.
• Then, when you've reached the middle, start fresh on the other side, again at the outermost edge you want to cover and repeat step 2 with that side.
• Once you've added all of the greenery you'd like, it's time for flowers. For the small wreaths, white anemones, white ranunculus, and cream garden roses - patience were used.
• For the large wreaths, dusty pink garden roses - romantic antike and red ranunculus were used.
• For larger blooms with hearty stems, like garden roses, start by trimming off the stem completely and then sticking a corsage stem in through the bottom, as shown in the photo, after you've dipped the tip in water for 10 seconds.
• For hollow stems, like ranunculus and anemones, you can either give the corsage stems a whirl OR insert floral wire through the stem (first cut the stem down to just a few inches), then twist around the hoop to secure.
• Wrap the wire end of the corsage stem around the hoop and attached branches.
• Continue step 4 and 5 until you've reached the desired look. And it's ready to hang, over a nail on the wall, your front door, etc.

Notes

How do you hang an asymmetrical wreath?

Now that this tutorial is several years old (originally created in 2016), I've been asked many times how to keep an asymmetrical wreath like this hanging properly, so that the heavy side doesn't swing down to the bottom. Here's how I did it...

I hang the wreath from a small nail and then situate the design asymmetrically how I would like it to be and then I add two more small nails too the right and left sides so that the bottom of the wreath basically sits on those nails and doesn't move.

If you use small ones like I do you won't see them at all. And it works really well. But if you have something super heavy, you may need a third nail to keep everything from shifting.

Additionally, nail placement might depend on how symmetrical your wreath is. I included a quick photo diagram of different wreaths I made and where I would typically put the nails when hanging (scroll up a few images from the bottom to view).

Tried this recipe?Mention @paperandstitch or tag #paperandstitch!

Photography Amelia Tatnall Lawrence
Styling Brittni Mehlhoff

Are you making any wreaths for the holidays this year? Any fresh flowers in the mix?

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