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The Best Holiday Wreaths Are Festive—But Not Necessarily Fresh

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The wreath is a perfect symbol for the holiday season. Hung on a front door (or apartment entrance), it offers a dose of cheer to visitors and lends a festive, fragrant reminder of the holidays each time you come home. To find out whether to go fresh or faux and how to hang a wreath, we tapped two experts with different design expertise and one thing in common: an obsession with all things holiday decor.

Jan Goodman, the founder of Cityscapes, has a whole room in her basement devoted to Christmas decorations. Eddie Ross, an entertaining expert, design magazine alum, and chief content creator of Maximalist Studios, has been known to put a wreath on the front of his car. She transforms hotel lobbies and residential spaces into winter wonderlands; he knows how to make a picture- perfect holiday display. Here are the 10 best holiday wreaths plus insider tips from Ross and Goodman for a high-design winter.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

Design: “Ranging from simple to very ornate, wreaths are a great tool for holiday decorating,” says Goodman. While she works on a lot of hotels and building lobbies, she notes that wreaths are also ideal for small spaces because they don’t take up floor space. A single-species wreath is a low-key option or can be an opportunity for creative play; multispecies wreaths will have a more textured, layered look, and natural flourishes like dried citrus or berries will read as traditional. Ross likes adding a strand of battery-powered white fairy lights for a warm glow on dark winter days. We say holiday decor is a great opportunity to dabble in maximalism, since the transformation will only last a few weeks. 

Material: Faux wreaths are looking more real than ever these days. A diversity of branches and a bit of asymmetry in the leaves will help fool the eye: “You don’t want it to look too perfect,” says Ross. He also likes to pull clippings from the yard and tuck them into his faux wreaths. Pine cones, juniper berries, and appealing greenery can all work. The best part of a faux or dried wreath is that you can use it again year after year. As for real, natural wreaths, Goodman recommends the traditional balsam fir for that Christmasy smell you know and love, but she’s also a fan of multispecies wreaths, particularly those with cedar and spruce. “They look good and last longer than a single-species wreath,” she says. 

Size: A typical front entry door is 36 inches wide; 22 to 24 inches is considered a standard diameter for wreaths. To keep proportions right, a narrower door will call for a smaller wreath, but if you have a larger door or like the look of a bigger wreath, try a 30-inch option. Oversize designs—36 inches or more—work well above the mantel. Goodman has been known to take down a piece of art and hang a wreath on the existing hook for a high-impact swap that doesn’t damage the walls. 

Inside or outside use: “Outside, I always use fresh because it lasts longer,” says Goodman. Inside, with the heat on, real wreaths are prone to drying out and may not last through the season. With faux wreaths, pay attention to product descriptions. Some faux options marked as outdoor friendly can only be used in a covered space, and not every front door is protected in that way. 

Longevity: To keep real wreaths fresh, fill a spray bottle with water and spritz the branches every few days. Dried-out greenery, including Christmas trees, can quickly become a fire hazard indoors, so make sure you don’t have candles near your wreath. When buying a wreath in person, Goodman suggests giving it a shake. If a bunch of needles fall off, it’s old. Look for something fresher. 

Our Top Picks

Best Classic: Creekside Woodland Tallow Berry Wreath

Family owned and operated since the late 1980s, Creekside Farms makes beautiful fresh and dried wreaths. This one is a mix of fresh pine, fir, and eucalyptus with pine cones and white tallow berries tucked in. It will smell like a stroll in the forest and is shipped fresh. After the holidays you can dry it out and use it again next season. Size: 22 inches.

Best Faux: Afloral Real Touch Norfolk Pine Wreath

This Norfolk pine wreath looks so classic it’s hard to believe it isn’t real. It’s ideal for hassle-free holiday decorating: You can reuse it, and it’s a blank canvas for all kinds of decorating schemes, year after year. Afloral also sells faux berries and pine cones to change it up, plus a matching garland. “Wreaths and garlands go hand in hand,” says Ross, who likes to drape boughs around a doorframe. Size: 24 inches.

Best Value: Green Eucalyptus Wreath

This wreath is a steal, particularly as reviewers point out that it looks much more expensive than it is. “Lots of depth and looks super-full and not fake,” one buyer wrote. The eucalyptus leaves are made of silk, and since the flora is faux, it will last multiple years. The retailer does suggest avoiding direct sunlight, so if your front door is highly exposed, consider hanging it in a cozy indoor corner instead. Size: 20 inches. 

Best Nontraditional: Anthropologie Maison Wreath

The ’80s are back, and they’re coming for your Christmas decor. A contemporary update on the dried-flower trend, today’s wreaths are abundant with wildflowers and grasses. This one includes dried and preserved flax, wild oat, and bush clover, all artfully arranged by hand. Size: 21 inches. 

Best Minimalist: Fresh Eucalyptus Wreath

This willow eucalyptus wreath is suitable for indoor and outdoor use. It’s handcrafted in the United States, which means it will be fresher than something shipped from overseas, and the layered, wispy leaves give it a uniquely lush look. Size: 20 inches. 

Best Modern: Faux White Pampas Grass Wreath

Here’s a fun alternative to a snow-dusted wreath, perfect for indoor spaces and warmer climates where snow isn’t ever going to be in the forecast. This faux wreath is made up of plumes of white pampas grass for a simple, monochrome look. Who says your holiday decor needs to be all green and red? Size: 28 inches. 

Best Fragrant: Fresh Fragrant Bell Wreath

Another Creekside Farms find, this wreath is a mix of cedar, fir, and glossy magnolia leaves. It also does double duty for the holiday season, serving up Christmas looks and then finding purpose on December 31: The beautifully aged bells come with a metal striker to ring in the New Year. (Plus the bells are removable, so you can save them for future holiday decorating.) Size: 22 inches. 

Best Eco-Friendly: L.L. Bean Woodland Berry Wreath

Sustainably sourced noble fir and Western red cedar make up this wreath, which is decked out with pine cones and faux berries. L.L. Bean has a devoted following—and many repeat customers—when it comes to its wreaths. “Because they are so fresh, I keep mine up all winter,” one buyer wrote. “Every year I order a fresh wreath from L.L. Bean. I’ve never been disappointed!” This design also makes a great gift; you can ship directly instead of trying to cram it in your suitcase. To make things even easier, it also includes an over-the-door hanger. Size: 30 inches. 

Best Dried: Creekside Farm Citrus Wreath

A rare delicacy in Christmases past, citrus decor has stuck around, finding its way into stockings and onto wreaths and trees. It’s a fragrant and colorful way to celebrate the season. This wreath is decorated with an abundance of fruit: dried whole oranges and sliced lemons surrounded by willow eucalyptus. The citrus and soft greens lend a subtle California vibe. Size: 18 inches. 

Best Pet-Friendly: West Elm Faux Holly Berry Wreath

The holidays can be tricky for pets, and not just because ornaments sometimes look like toys and there’s lots of chocolate they can’t eat. Plants like holly and mistletoe are toxic to dogs and cats; since berries and leaves will naturally fall as the plants dry, it’s not a good idea to bring them into a home with an animal, unless you want to spend Christmas Eve with your vet. This faux holly berry wreath is a stress-free and design-forward option for pet owners. Size: 28 inches.

Styling Tips for a Design-Forward Holiday Entry

Ask Domino

Q: How should I hang a holiday wreath on my door?

Ross is a fan of a simple nail in the door: “It’s charming and adds character,” he says. Julie Vadnal, Domino‘s deputy editor, uses a Command hook. Over-the-door wreath holders are a great way to avoid making marks or hammering nails: Here’s a statement silver wreath hanger and a simple matte black one. Goodman points out that they don’t work with all doors, however, including those that have a particularly tight seal or run thicker than standard, so make sure you try it out before hanging a wreath. 

Q: How should I store my holiday wreath?

In the off-season you want your wreath to keep its shape and not accumulate dust, says Goodman. Pick up a bag specifically meant for wreath storage. Here’s an affordable option (but because it’s not hard-sided, don’t plan to put other boxes or bags on top). Here’s a heavy-duty version that’s larger and will facilitate storage for multiple wreaths. 

The Last Word

Whether a Christmas wreath is your singular nod to the holidays or something that appears on every window of your home, it’s a great way to get into the spirit.

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