Festive decor year-long: how to adorn your door with wreaths

Door wreaths are a unique and friendly way to welcome guests to your home. Here's your guide to choosing the perfect one.

Choose the basic components of a wreath according to the season and occasion — during the Christmas season, for example, decorate wreaths with pinecones and ribbons to spread yuletide cheer.

• A simple wreath made with willow twigs can be a lovely harbinger of spring.
• Decorative grasses and hay, as well as flowers, make nice components for a summertime wreath.
• In the fall, use tendrils of wild vine, ivy, or grape leaves. Berries, gourds, and Indian corn are heralds of Thanksgiving.
• In December, wreaths of entwined evergreen branches are a reminder that Christmas is coming.

• Use Santa Clauses and chubby-faced angels, and wooden toys, or colourful Easter eggs and bunnies, to herald Christmas and Easter.
• Explore the shape possibilities. Door wreathes don't have to be round; other basic shapes include hearts and ovals — or any other shape.
• Create unique designs with figurines, hearts, and twinkling lights. For example, for a wedding, weave a little bridal couple into the wreath.
• Dried flowers give wreaths a floral touch. But they tend to be fragile, so don't use them on doors that get opened and closed a lot.
• Ribbons, strings of pearls, and dried flowers add a wonderful romantic touch. To create a cheerful mood for a party, choose a variety of bright and colourful ribbons.
• If you intend to keep your wreath up for a long time, incorporate your address in the design. This way, it makes a good substitute for a door plate.
• Display the birthday boy or girl's age in the centre of the wreath using small brightly coloured flowers or dried corn kernels for an extra special birthday celebration.
• Make a clever wreath with little cars or traffic signs for a teen who has just passed his or her driver's license test.
• Fragrant decorations such as herbs and spices look lovely and smell even better when incorporated into a wreath.

• Deck a Styrofoam wreath with twigs, ivy tendrils, or other greenery. Wrap it in place with florist's wire.
• Add decorations such as flowers, fruit, and other embellishments. Attach items that lack a stem with florist's wire.
• As a final touch, decorate the wreath with colourful ribbons.

The proper wreath can set the right mood for any get-together — simply fasten decorations to suit the occasion. Every season brings with it a new collection of flora that would go well in a wreath.