A plain wreath base is the perfect starting point for a beautiful front door design, and there are many options to make it feel full and finished.
Garland is a simple, inexpensive option for filling out a wreath base quickly. One garland can add greenery, texture, and shape all at once. It’s a great “one and done” way to create a fuller foundation before adding the decorative pieces that make the design your own.
For this project, we used a 6' Mountain Laurel Garland to turn a plain base into a full wreath, then finished the look with a sign, flowers, and butterflies in coordinating colors.
Watch The Garland-as-Greenery Tutorial
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Why Use Garland on a Wreath?
Garland is an easy way to add fullness fast, and a standard 6-foot-long garland is long enough for wreath bases up to 16" wide.
They are flexible, cuttable and entirely customizable, providing a different look than picks or sprays alone. One garland can make a big difference in the overall shape and volume of the design.
Start with a Plain Wreath Base
Begin with your wreath base and lay the garland around it to see how it fits. Once you like the placement, secure the garland to the base.
This step creates the foundation for the whole design. The wreath already starts to look fuller before any accents are added.
Add Ribbon, Florals, and Decorative Accents
Once the garland is in place, you can start adding the details that give the wreath personality. For this design, we added a sign, filler flowers, and butterflies.
The garland gives you a full base to build on, while the decorative pieces bring in color, movement, and seasonal style.
Final Thoughts
Using garland is an easy, budget-friendly way to turn a plain wreath base into a full front door design, but it doesn't end there. Try working it into a swag, or use it with novelty wreath forms like bicycle wheels and window frames. And consider using this technique all year long - a pine garland is an excellent addition to a swag or grapevine wreath for Christmas.
