Wreath Making: A Neutral Fall Wreath Idea

Wreath making is easy with the right inspiration. See how to make a beautiful fall wreath from basic craft store supplies, and save a ton of money!

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved decorating with wreaths. They were part of my home from the very beginning, and that hasn’t changed through the years. A wreath on the front door is such a simple way to make an entrance feel warm and welcoming, while giving a little hint of what’s waiting inside. I’ve made and shared more wreaths on the blog than I can count, and I still enjoy creating them. No matter the season, a wreath is one of the easiest ways to refresh a space and add a personal touch.

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure statement.

Finding Inspiration

One of the hardest parts of making a wreath can be deciding where to begin. I often find ideas by looking at wreaths online or in stores, then figuring out how I can create a similar look myself. For this project, my inspiration came from a beautiful wreath I spotted at Pottery Barn. I loved the wispy stems, relaxed shape, and the fact that it could stay on the door from early fall through Thanksgiving. The $149 price tag was more than I wanted to spend on seasonal door decor, so I decided to make my own version. It isn’t an exact copy, and it doesn’t need to be. When using a wreath for inspiration, work with materials you like and make substitutions that fit your home and budget.

Supplies Needed

• grapevine wreath form
• faux leaves
• ivory spray paint
• pumpkin picks
• berries
• cotton boll stems
• glue gun and glue sticks
• I chose not to add any lights, but these fairy lights from Amazon would be a good choice

Assembly

• In a well-ventilated space, lay the faux leaves on a piece of cardboard. Apply the spray paint. Let dry.
• Place the grapevine wreath on a flat surface.
• Place some wispy sticks into the sides of the wreath. This adds dimension and depth, but is totally optional.
• Randomly insert the pumpkin picks into the bottom of the grapevine wreath. Make sure they are secure.
• Place the leaves on the wreath, under and around the pumpkins. Trail a few leaves up the right side of the wreath. This is a “dry fit,” so move them around until you like the placement. (Pictured above.)

• Once the leaves are in place, carefully glue them to the wreath with hot glue. Lift off each leaf, and using a hot glue gun, add a bit of glue to the back, and place it on the wreath. Use a spoon or popsicle stick to press the leaf onto the wreath. (Don’t use your fingers!)
• Once the leaves are in place, add the embellishments.
• Carefully insert the berries, cotton boll stems, or other faux elements in and around the leaves.
• Make a hanger from twine or floral wire, and attach it to the back of the wreath.
• Hang and enjoy!

Variations and Substitutions

• Make it for Christmas: Start with a real or faux pine wreath instead of a grapevine base.
• Change the foliage: Replace the fall leaves with spray-painted poinsettia blooms, magnolia leaves, or another type of seasonal greenery.
• Swap the pumpkins: Painted pine cones would work beautifully in their place.
• Adjust for a smaller wreath: The inspiration wreath is 24 inches wide, while mine measures 18 inches. I added wispy sticks and allowed some of the leaves to extend beyond the edge to give it a fuller appearance.
• Use what you have: Feel free to substitute stems, leaves, or other seasonal pieces that fit the look you want. The finished wreath does not need to match the inspiration exactly.

Keep in mind that you can basically use anything that can be spray painted. Some ideas are faux eucalyptus, faux rosemary, dried flowers, faux sunflowers, and different types of greenery.

Finishing the Space

After I placed this new wreath on our door, I decided our porch planters needed a small update. I replaced the mums from my fall front porch refresh with large off-white faux pumpkins. I simply placed the pumpkins on the potting soil, and then wrapped the existing ivy around the pumpkins to secure them in place. This look can also be achieved by using very large real pumpkins.

Use What You Have

Before starting a craft project, take a few minutes to look through the supplies you already have. When working from an inspiration photo, there is no need to match every detail exactly. Similar items can often be substituted with very good results. For this wreath, I reused a wreath base, cotton boll stems, ivory spray paint, and white berries I already had on hand. The only new supplies I purchased were the faux leaves and pumpkin picks, which kept the total cost at just $15.