Colonial Williamsburg Christmas: 14 Fruit Wreath and Natural Decor Ideas That Never Go Out of Style

Colonial Williamsburg Christmas decor is the kind of look that feels just as right today as it did decades ago. Have you ever seen those red doors covered in apples, lemons and magnolia leaves and wondered how they do it? You are in good company. A video tour called The Christmas Wreaths of Colonial Williamsburg has pulled in more than 64,000 views, and people search for how to make these wreaths every single year. The best part is that most of the materials come from the grocery store, the backyard or a walk in the woods. Below are 14 ideas, each with a short supply list and simple steps..

Colonial Williamsburg Christmas Apple and Magnolia Door Wreath

This is the wreath everyone pictures first. Glossy magnolia leaves, tight boxwood and shiny red apples, with a few lemons and pinecones tucked in for color. Back in 1936, the first Colonial Williamsburg Christmas decor was just a few plain wreaths and running cedar. By 1939, a woman named Louise Fisher had studied old pictures at the Library of Congress and started adding fruit, and the famous look was born. Today you can make your own with a straw wreath form and a bag of apples from the store. Push the fruit onto wooden floral picks so it stays put. Red, green or blue, which color door would you hang it on..

You will need: A straw or foam wreath form, boxwood clippings, magnolia leaves, red apples, lemons, pinecones, wooden floral picks, floral pins.

How to make it: 1. Pin magnolia leaves around the form, then fill gaps with boxwood. 2. Push a floral pick into each apple and lemon and press it into the wreath. 3. Tuck in pinecones and hang it on a sturdy door hook.

The Apple Fan Above the Door

If a wreath is the star, the apple fan is the crown. You will see these half circle displays above doors all over Williamsburg, and they look complicated until you learn the trick. It all starts with a simple half moon board cut from plywood. Small finishing nails stick out from the board, and each apple gets pressed onto a nail. Magnolia leaves fan out behind the fruit, and a pineapple often sits right in the middle. Most hardware stores will cut the board for you. Once you have it, you can reuse it every year and just swap in fresh apples. Do you have a flat space above your front door? This is the year to fill it.

You will need: A half moon plywood board, finishing nails, a hammer, red apples, magnolia leaves, a small pineapple, picture hanging wire.

How to make it: 1. Tap nails partway into the board in curved rows. 2. Staple magnolia leaves around the edge so they fan out. 3. Press apples onto the nails, set a pineapple in the center and hang the board above the door.

Pineapple Welcome Centerpiece

The pineapple has stood for welcome and hospitality for a very long time, so it fits right in at a holiday table. Set a whole pineapple in the center of a low wreath of boxwood and magnolia, then circle it with apples, pears and a few limes. It looks like something from a historic dining room, and it costs less than a bunch of flowers. You can also use the same idea on a front door by wiring a small pineapple to the top of a wreath. Will your guests guess it took only twenty minutes? Keep it on a tray so the fruit stays off your table, and swap the pineapple out after a week or so.

You will need: A fresh pineapple, a small foam wreath form, boxwood, magnolia leaves, apples, pears, limes, floral picks, a round tray.

How to make it: 1. Cover the wreath form with magnolia and boxwood and set it on the tray. 2. Stand the pineapple in the center. 3. Pick apples, pears and limes into the ring around it.

Dried Orange and Cinnamon Swag for a Colonial Williamsburg Christmas

Fresh fruit looks beautiful but it does not last forever. That is why dried fruit is such a smart choice. Even in Williamsburg, decorators lean on dried items because they hold up far longer than fresh pears and lemons. A swag of pine roping with dried orange slices and little cinnamon bundles brings that same Colonial Williamsburg Christmas warmth to a banister, a mantel or a door frame. Dry the oranges in a low oven a day ahead, then tie everything on with twine. Your house will smell wonderful too. Have you ever dried orange slices before? It is easier than it sounds, and the slices can last for years if kept dry.

You will need: Fresh or faux pine roping, oranges, cinnamon sticks, jute twine, a baking sheet, parchment paper, zip ties.

How to make it: 1. Slice oranges thin and dry them on parchment in the oven at 200 degrees for about three hours. 2. Tie small bundles of cinnamon sticks with twine. 3. Zip tie the roping in place and tie on the oranges and cinnamon every few inches.

Lemon and Lime Della Robbia Wreath

Ever wonder why people call these fruit wreaths della Robbia wreaths? The name goes back to Luca della Robbia, an Italian sculptor from the 1400s whose family became famous for ceramic garlands of fruit and leaves. Louise Fisher borrowed that idea for Williamsburg, and it stuck. This version uses only citrus, so it looks fresh and bright on a dark door. Lemons, limes and tiny kumquats sit in a ring of boxwood with a few magnolia leaves. It is cheerful and a little unexpected. Hang it on a navy or dark green door and the yellow really pops. Would you go all citrus, or mix in a few red apples?

You will need: A wreath form, boxwood, magnolia leaves, lemons, limes, kumquats, wooden floral picks, floral pins.

How to make it: 1. Cover the form with boxwood and a few magnolia leaves. 2. Add lemons and limes on picks in an even pattern. 3. Fill the small gaps with kumquats.

Faux Fruit Colonial Williamsburg Christmas Wreath That Lasts

Here is a fun fact. In the Historic Area, fake fruit is not allowed on the doors at all. At home, though, there are no such rules, and a faux fruit wreath is a smart way to enjoy that Colonial Williamsburg Christmas look indoors without anything going soft. Good quality faux apples, pears and pomegranates look very real, especially from across a room. Hang this one over a mantel or in an entry, and pull it out again next year. Use a low temperature glue gun so the fruit stays put and the greenery does not melt. Mix in a few real dried orange slices to make it look fresh. Who will know the difference?

You will need: A faux greenery wreath, faux apples, pears and pomegranates, faux magnolia leaves, a low temperature glue gun, floral wire.

How to make it: 1. Wire the biggest pieces of fruit on first, spacing them around the wreath. 2. Glue in smaller fruit to fill gaps. 3. Tuck faux magnolia leaves behind the fruit for a full look.

Okra and Cotton Boll Ornaments

Some of the most charming decor in Williamsburg comes from things most of us would throw away. Dried okra pods, cotton bolls, peanut shells and dried peppers all show up on doors and trees there because they last so much longer than fresh fruit. You can turn dried okra into slim little ornaments with a brush of gold paint and a coat of Mod Podge. Cotton bolls look like tiny snowballs on the branches. Hang them on a small tree in the kitchen for a soft, natural Colonial Williamsburg Christmas look. Do you grow okra in the garden? Save a few pods this year and let them dry on the vine.

You will need: Dried okra pods, cotton bolls, gold acrylic paint, Mod Podge, a small brush, jute twine, a hot glue gun.

How to make it: 1. Brush a little gold paint on the okra pods and let them dry. 2. Seal with a thin coat of Mod Podge. 3. Glue a twine loop to the top of each pod and cotton boll.

Oyster Shell Wreath

Coastal Virginia has a long history with oysters, so it makes sense that shells end up in holiday decor. An oyster shell wreath has a pale, pretty look that works on a beach house door or a gray painted entry. Ask a seafood restaurant or a fish market for clean shells, or save them from your own oyster night. Scrub them, let them dry in the sun, then glue them in overlapping rows on a wreath form. A few magnolia leaves around the outside soften the edges. It is one of those projects people stop to ask about. Wouldn’t that make a lovely gift for someone who loves the coast?

You will need: About 40 clean oyster shells, a foam or straw wreath form, strong craft glue or E6000, magnolia leaves, ribbon or wire for hanging.

How to make it: 1. Scrub the shells, soak them in a little bleach water, rinse and dry fully. 2. Glue them in overlapping rows around the form. 3. Tuck magnolia leaves behind the outer edge.

Pinecone and Seed Pod Garland

Take a walk and you will probably find everything you need for this garland. Pinecones, sweetgum balls, acorn caps and lotus pods from the craft store all wire together into a rich, textured garland. It looks lovely on a mantel or draped along a staircase, and it costs almost nothing. Bake your pinecones first at a low temperature to clean them up and open them wide. Then wire each piece onto a long strand of heavy floral wire, mixing the sizes as you go. Lay a strand of fresh cedar underneath for a pop of green color. Isn’t it nice when a free walk in the woods turns into holiday decor?

You will need: Pinecones, sweetgum balls, lotus pods, heavy floral wire, thin paddle wire, wire cutters, fresh or faux cedar.

How to make it: 1. Bake pinecones at 200 degrees for about 30 minutes on a foil lined sheet. 2. Wrap thin wire around the base of each piece. 3. Twist each piece onto the long wire and lay the garland over a bed of cedar.

Magnolia Leaf Mantel Garland for a Colonial Williamsburg Christmas

Few things look as Southern and elegant as a full magnolia garland. The leaves are glossy green on top and a soft brown suede on the back, so mixing both sides gives you lovely depth. If you have a magnolia tree nearby, you can make this for free. If not, faux magnolia garlands look very real and last for years. Wire bunches of leaves onto a rope base and fill in with boxwood. Let the ends hang down the sides of the mantel for that grand Colonial Williamsburg Christmas feel. Add a few apples or dried oranges if you want a touch of color. Simple, rich and timeless, wouldn’t you agree?

You will need: Magnolia branches or a faux magnolia garland, boxwood, a rope or wire garland base, paddle wire, wire cutters, command hooks.

How to make it: 1. Cut magnolia into small bunches with a few leaves each. 2. Wire the bunches onto the rope, overlapping them so no rope shows. 3. Tuck in boxwood and hang the garland from command hooks.

Boxwood Kissing Ball

A boxwood kissing ball is a sweet old tradition that still looks fresh today. It is simply a round ball of tight green boxwood that hangs in a doorway, an entry or over a porch. You start with a wet floral foam ball and push in short clippings until it is completely round and full. A few red berries or a small apple at the bottom add a nice finish. Hang it with wire and a sturdy hook. At home you can add a plaid or velvet ribbon if you like, even though bows are not allowed in the Historic Area. Who will you catch standing under it this year?

You will need: A wet floral foam ball, boxwood clippings, floral wire, faux or real red berries, a sturdy ceiling hook, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Soak the foam ball and push a wire loop through the center. 2. Cut boxwood into 3 inch pieces and push them in until no foam shows. 3. Add berries and hang it from the hook.

Window Box Greens for a Colonial Williamsburg Christmas

Window boxes are the unsung heroes of a Colonial Williamsburg Christmas street. Once the summer flowers fade, fill the boxes with evergreens and a few bright apples and the whole house looks dressed for the holidays. Start with a block of floral foam or soil, then push in long pine branches so they spill over the front. Add holly, magnolia and some cedar for different textures. Finish with apples on picks and a few pinecones. It is easy to change the fruit as it ages, so the box looks fresh all season. Do your window boxes sit empty all winter? A Saturday morning and a pair of clippers is all you need to fill them.

You will need: Window boxes, floral foam or potting soil, pine branches, holly, magnolia, cedar, red apples, floral picks, pinecones.

How to make it: 1. Fill the box with damp foam or soil. 2. Push in long pine branches along the front, then fill the middle with holly and magnolia. 3. Add apples on picks and pinecones on top.

The Hidden Floral Foam Cage Trick

Here is a secret the Williamsburg residents use. To keep greens like ivy and boxwood fresh for weeks, they hide a floral foam cage inside the decoration. A foam cage is a small plastic frame that holds a block of wet floral foam. You hang it on the door or tuck it behind a fan, then push your fresh greens right into the foam. Every few days, just pour a little water over it. The greens drink it up and stay green much longer. You can find foam cages at most craft stores for a few dollars. Once you try this, you will never go back to greens that dry out in a week. Ready to give it a try?

You will need: A floral foam cage with a hanger, wet floral foam, ivy, boxwood, cedar or pine, a small watering can.

How to make it: 1. Soak the foam until it sinks, then snap it into the cage. 2. Hang the cage on the door and push greens in until it is hidden. 3. Water the foam every few days.

Host a Colonial Williamsburg Christmas Door Contest at Home

Williamsburg once held a door decorating contest, with blue ribbons for the winners, and it got so popular that a full Christmas Decorations Tour began in 1969. Why not bring that fun to your own street? Invite your neighbors to try a Colonial Williamsburg Christmas look on their front doors with fruit, greens and dried pieces. Set a date for judging and hand out homemade ribbon rosettes for categories like best fruit, best use of dried items and most creative. Print simple ballots on kraft card so everyone can vote. It is a great way to meet neighbors, and it makes the whole street look like a holiday card. Who on your block would join?

You will need: Blue and red ribbon for rosettes, cardboard circles, a hot glue gun, kraft card ballots, a box for votes, simple prizes.

How to make it: 1. Pick a date and send a friendly invite to your neighbors. 2. Make rosettes by pleating ribbon around a cardboard circle and gluing the ends. 3. Walk the street, collect ballots and hand out ribbons.