DIY Winter Wreath {Non-Christmas}

See how to make a DIY winter wreath for your front door! Accented with pinecones, snowberries, and ice sickles, this handcrafted wreath is bursting with nature-inspired winter charm. The frosty winter door wreath is perfect for the time after Christmas!

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Non-Christmas winter wreath

If you’re an avid home decorator, you know the dilemma: The holiday season is filled with all sorts of fun and festive Christmas decor. Yet January and February are often overlooked when it comes to decorating.

Taking down the colorful holiday decorations can leave your home feeling a bit bare and lackluster.

And this is where my cozy DIY winter wreath comes into play! It’s a great piece to decorate post-Christmas and brings a fresh, wintery feel to any space.

This rustic winter wreath has a subdued, natural feel and features different woodland elements such as pinecones, snowberries, and evergreen. A light coat of snow spray provides a beautiful frost effect.

I created this wreath for my sweet auntie Christine who LOVES all things winter. Snow, ice, frozen lakes, and frosted forests.

While I prefer to cozy up inside (ideally near a fireplace and a warming drink in my hand), she loves being outdoors, taking in the splendor winter has to offer.

If you find that appealing too, stay awhile, and let me show you how to craft your own winter wreath!

Tips for making a non-Christmas winter wreath

Here are a few things to consider when making a not-Christmas DIY winter wreath:

• Skip glitter, holiday ornaments, and anything Christmas-y. Instead, focus on things the season has to offer.
• Embrace white and neutral colors. White is refreshing and neutral, muted colors are perfect for the winter season.
• Include a touch of nature: Cedar, dusty miller, and greenery are great decor for the winter months.

For more tips, have a look at these winter decorating ideas from Diane of In My Own Style.

Materials and supplies

What goes on a winter wreath? There’s a somewhat long cast of materials here, but don’t feel intimidated! My after-Christmas winter wreath is easy to make, and each element adds its own winter appeal. Here’s an overview:

• Wreath base: I used an artificial pine wreath base for this winter berry wreath because I want the wreath to last for years to come. Feel free to use a natural evergreen wreath if you are okay with a one-season wreath.
• Snow spray creates a snowed effect. You could flock the wreath with flocking powder to create the impression of a heavy snow blanket, but I prefer the look of light frost. White spray paint would be a good alternative if you can’t find snow spray.
• Pinecones: I love decorating with pinecones. They are easy to find, affordable, and perfect for any wintertime display.
• Snowberry picks add instant winter charm. I used classic snowberry sprigs and frosted white berry stems.
• Pinecone ornaments introduce another wintery element. You might be hesitant to include holiday decorations in a non-Christmas winter wreath, but I find these small pinecones subtle and not too festive.
• White mini pom poms appear like little snowballs and complement the snowberries.
• Ice sickles: I hung 3 faux ice sickles in the center of my homemade wreath for the ultimate touch of winter. A wood snowflake or one of these resin snowflake ornaments would look lovely, too.
• Fine wire for tying the ice sickles to the wreath.
• Ribbon or twine (optional) for hanging your winter door wreath. I used white lace.

Tools

• Cover: Applying snow spray can get a bit messy. Cover your work area with old newspaper or a drop sheet.
• Wire cutter: Artificial snowberry stems usually have wire running through the center. A pair of wire cutters is helpful to cut the stem into smaller sprigs.
• Hot glue gun: You want to securely attach your decorations to the wreath base, especially if you plan to create a front door winter wreath. Hot glue is perfect for this job!
• Scissors to cut ribbons.

How to make a DIY winter wreath

It’s all about the frosty accents with this white winter wreath! Let me walk you through each step:

Step 1: Snow spray wreath

• Holding the spray can 14 in / 35cm above the work surface, spray the wreath lightly with snow spray.
• Allow drying for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Then spritz on more snow in a few places around your wreath. Let dry again.

Step 2 Frost pinecones

• While the wreath dries, frost the pinecones. Lay them in an even layer and space them a few inches apart.
• Coat the edges with snow spray and let dry.

Step 3: Insert snowberries

• Using a pair of wire cutters, trim your snowberry branches into smaller segments.
• Once the wreath feels dry to the touch, apply a small dollop of hot glue to the end of each snowberry pick and insert them evenly throughout your wreath.
• Follow the direction of the pine and tuck the snowberries between the branches of the wreath.
• Be careful not to burn your fingers when handling the hot glue.

Step 4: Glue on embellishments

• Next, add the frosted pinecones, mini pom poms, and pinecone ornaments. Apply a small amount of hot glue to the back of each decoration and press it firmly onto the wreath base.
• I arranged the pinecones in groups of two to keep the design interesting.

Step 5: Add ice sickles

• Carefully turn the wreath around and lay it gently down.
• Apply six dots of glue to the wireframe of the wreath base. The hot glue dots will hold the ice sickles in place and ensure they don’t slide off to one side.
• Thread a short piece of thin wire through the hanging hole in each ice sickle.
• Placing the wire between the hot glue dots, twist it around the wireframe to secure the ice sickles to the wreath.

Step 6: Finish off your winter wreath

• To finish your wreath, remove any glue strings.
• Fluff out and rearrange the pine branches if necessary.
• Your DIY winter wreath is ready!

Frost a wreath without flocking

To make sure your snow-frosted wreath turns out just right, take a look at my helpful tips. You’ll love how easy it is to flock a wreath with snow spray!

• Shake the snow spray well and occasionally clean the sprayer opening as snow likes to accumulate there.
• Apply the spray in small bursts for an even application.
• Start with a light coat all around the wreath.
• Create texture and depth by spraying random sections a second time.
• Let dry. Snow spray takes a while to dry. Wait for 15 to 20 minutes before continuing to add your other embellishments.
• Wipe off any area where you applied too much product. Snow spray comes off easily with a paper towel.

DIY Winter wreath FAQ

Can I make this wreath with natural evergreen?

Of course! Many garden centers and supermarkets sell natural evergreen wreaths. The availability is seasonal, and evergreen wreaths are usually only offered before Christmas.

If you live near woodland, you also have the option to forage plant materials and create an evergreen wreath from scratch.

Can I use a flocked wreath base?

Absolutely! I like to control how much flocking goes on my wreath, but feel free to buy a pre-flocked wreath base to save time.

When should Christmas wreaths be taken down?

The best time to take down Christmas wreaths and other holiday decorations is a personal choice. You may remove them as early as the day after Christmas.

If you observe the religious tradition of Twelve Days of Christmas, holiday wreaths will stay on until January 6.

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Wreath storage tips

To protect the flocking and decorations, wrap your DIY winter wreath carefully in bubble wrap or tissue paper. Store your winter wreath craft in a sturdy box or wreath storage container.

And when your homemade winter wreath is stowed away, why not make this spring blossom wreath or Irena’s spring flower arrangement.