Fresh wreaths are lovely for a week or two, then they drop needles and turn brown. A dried flower wreath is different. Made with good dried stems and kept out of direct sun and rain, it can look soft and pretty for many months, often a full year or more.
The modern version is lighter than the full, round wreaths you might picture. Flowers cluster on one part of a slim metal hoop and the rest of the hoop stays bare. It looks airy and current, and it uses fewer flowers, which keeps the cost down.
What You Need
- A metal or brass wreath hoop, 10 to 16 inches across (a few dollars at craft stores)
- Dried flowers and grasses (see the list below), usually $15 to $35 total
- Green or gold floral wire, 24 to 26 gauge, or paper covered floral wire
- Floral tape
- Small floral snips or sharp scissors
- A wire cutter
- A ribbon, about 1 yard of silk, linen or velvet
- A hot glue gun and glue sticks (optional, for small blooms)
- Clear matte floral spray or unscented hairspray (optional)
Safety note: hot glue and the nozzle get hot enough to burn. Use a low temperature glue gun if you have one, keep a small bowl of cold water nearby, and rest the gun on its stand, never on its side.
The Best Dried Flowers for Wreaths
A good wreath mixes three types of material.
Fillers (the base and shape):
- Eucalyptus
- Ruscus or dried ferns
- Wheat and oat stems
Soft texture:
- Bunny tail grass
- Pampas plumes
- Broom bloom or feather grass
Focal flowers:
- Strawflowers
- Statice
- Lavender
- Craspedia (small yellow balls)
- Dried roses or globe amaranth
Pick a small color story so it looks calm and intentional. Cream, blush and sage is soft and works in most rooms. Golds and rust tones suit autumn. Lavender and gray look fresh in a bathroom or bedroom.
Tip: if you have a garden, lavender, hydrangea and strawflowers are easy to dry yourself. Hang small bunches upside down in a dark, dry spot for two to three weeks.
How to Make the Wreath Step by Step
- Plan the shape. Decide where the flowers will sit. A crescent across the bottom third of the hoop or a cluster on one side are both easy and look balanced.
- Trim the stems. Cut stems to 4 to 7 inches. Remove leaves from the lower part of each stem.
- Make small bundles. Gather two or three filler stems, add a texture piece, then one or two focal flowers in front. Wrap the stems tightly with floral tape. Make 8 to 12 bundles for a medium hoop.
- Start at one end. Lay the first bundle along the hoop with the flowers pointing toward the outer end of your planned cluster. Wrap floral wire around the stems and hoop several times, pulling snug.
- Overlap the next bundle. Place the second bundle so its flowers cover the stems of the first. Wire it on. Keep going, always overlapping to hide the wire.
- Meet in the middle (optional). For a balanced crescent, work from both ends toward the center, then finish with a single bundle facing outward to hide the last stems.
- Fill gaps. Tuck or glue in single blooms where you see holes or wire.
- Add the ribbon. Tie a long loop at the top for hanging, or a simple bow beside the flowers.
- Set it. Lightly mist with clear floral spray or unscented hairspray from about 12 inches away to reduce shedding.
Where to Hang It (and Where Not To)
Dried flowers last longest out of strong sun and moisture.
- Great spots: interior walls, bedroom doors, above a bed or console, a covered front door
- Avoid: bathrooms with steamy showers, south facing windows with direct sun, uncovered front doors that get rain
Direct sun fades color within weeks. Moisture can cause mold and droop.
Pet note: some dried plants, including eucalyptus and lavender, can upset cats and dogs if they chew them. Hang wreaths out of reach of curious pets.
Easy Variations
- Mini hoops: 6 inch hoops with a single bundle make sweet gifts or place settings.
- Seasonal swaps: wire bundles on loosely so you can swap them for each season.
- Full round wreath: use a grapevine or straw base and cover it entirely with bundles for a classic look.
- Monochrome: an all cream wreath of pampas, bunny tails and white statice looks calm and modern.
How to Care for a Dried Flower Wreath
- Dust gently with a hair dryer on the cool, low setting.
- Refresh with a light mist of hairspray every few months.
- Store off season wreaths in a box with tissue paper in a cool, dry closet.
- Replace a faded bundle instead of the whole wreath.
A dried flower wreath is a simple craft with a big payoff. It brings a little nature indoors, it lasts for months, and once you have made one, it is easy to make another for every season.
Which dried flowers would you pick for your first wreath? Tell us in the comments.
Quick Questions
How long does a dried flower wreath last?
Kept indoors and out of direct sun, often a year or more. Colors slowly soften over time, which many people find pretty.
How do I stop dried flowers from shedding?
Handle them gently, use a light coat of clear floral spray or unscented hairspray, and keep the wreath away from drafts and doors that slam.
Can I hang a dried flower wreath outside?
Only under a covered porch, away from rain and direct sun. Even then it will fade faster than one hung indoors.
What size hoop should I use?
For a front door, 14 to 18 inches looks right. For a wall or bedroom door, 10 to 14 inches is usually plenty.
