Thanksgiving Wreath: 12 Easy Front Door Ideas That Look Like They Came From a Boutique

A Thanksgiving Wreath is the easiest way to make your front door say welcome before the first guest even rings the bell. Have you noticed more people talking about them this week? Searches for Thanksgiving wreath ideas climb every year from late October right up to the big day, and big sites like HGTV keep long lists such as 55 DIY Fall Wreath Ideas to Spruce Up Your Front Door. The good news is that a boutique looking wreath does not need a boutique price. Most of the ideas below use a dollar store frame, a few stems and a bit of ribbon. Each one comes with a supply list, simple steps and a trick to carry it into Christmas..

The Classic Harvest Thanksgiving Wreath

This is the Thanksgiving wreath most people picture first. It starts with a grapevine base, which already looks rustic and full before you add a thing. Tuck in bundles of faux wheat, a few mini pumpkins and a mix of maple and oak leaves in rust, gold and deep red. Work in a loose crescent shape, leaving part of the grapevine showing, so it looks natural and not crowded. A few sprigs of eucalyptus or a cream flower or two keep it soft. Finish with a big rust plaid bow and you have a wreath that looks like it came from a farm stand boutique. Would this one suit your front door..

You will need: An 18 inch grapevine wreath, faux wheat, mini faux pumpkins, fall leaf stems, eucalyptus, floral wire, plaid ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Wire bundles of wheat around the lower left curve of the grapevine. 2. Tuck in leaves and eucalyptus, then wire on the pumpkins in a cluster. 3. Add a big bow at the top or side and hang it.

A Dollar Tree Thanksgiving Wreath for About $10

You really can make a full, pretty Thanksgiving wreath for about $10. Dollar Tree carries wire wreath frames, fall leaf garlands, berry stems and ribbon, and that is all you need. The trick to making it look expensive is using more of fewer things. Pick two or three colors, like rust, cream and gold, and buy several of the same stem instead of one of everything. Cut the stems apart with wire cutters so you have lots of small pieces. Then work in one direction around the frame, overlapping each piece to hide the stems. A wide ribbon bow pulls it all together. Friends will never guess where you shopped. Ready to fill your cart?

You will need: A wire wreath frame, 2 fall leaf garlands, 4 to 6 fall stems, wired ribbon, wire cutters, floral wire.

How to make it: 1. Wrap the leaf garland around the frame and secure it with wire. 2. Cut stems into small pieces and tuck them in, all facing one way. 3. Tie a big bow and wire it to the top.

Magnolia and Wheat Wreath

Magnolia wreaths are a Southern classic, and the store bought ones can cost $80 or more. Making one at home costs a fraction of that. The glossy green tops and velvety brown undersides of the leaves look rich on any door color. Adding golden wheat gives it a harvest feel that is just right for Thanksgiving. Start with a grapevine base and wire on faux magnolia leaves all the way around, mixing the green and brown sides. Then tuck bundles of wheat in at an angle so they fan out from the leaves. Real magnolia works too if you have a tree nearby, and it dries beautifully. Do you like the shiny side or the brown side better?

You will need: A grapevine wreath, faux or fresh magnolia leaves, faux wheat bundles, floral wire, wire cutters.

How to make it: 1. Wire magnolia leaves around the base, overlapping and mixing the two sides. 2. Tuck wheat bundles in at an angle every few inches. 3. Fluff the leaves and hang it on a sturdy hook.

White Pumpkin Farmhouse Thanksgiving Wreath

If you love a soft, neutral farmhouse look, this one is for you. Cream and white pumpkins paired with silver green eucalyptus feel calm and fresh, and they look great on a black, gray or natural wood door. Small faux pumpkins are sold in bags at craft and dollar stores, and you can paint orange ones white with a little chalk paint. Use a low temperature glue gun to attach them in a cluster at the bottom of the wreath. Then tuck eucalyptus stems around the rest of the frame. A few cotton stems or dried white flowers add texture. Keep the ribbon simple, like cream linen or ticking stripe. How calm and pretty is that?

You will need: A grapevine or greenery wreath, small white faux pumpkins, eucalyptus, cotton stems, a low temperature glue gun, linen ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Paint any orange pumpkins white and let them dry. 2. Glue the pumpkins in a cluster at the bottom of the wreath. 3. Fill the rest with eucalyptus and cotton stems and add a linen bow.

The Big Plaid Bow Wreath

Sometimes the simplest Thanksgiving wreath is the prettiest one. Take a plain greenery wreath, the kind you may already have from last Christmas, and add one big plaid bow. That is it. A rust and cream plaid says Thanksgiving, and a buffalo check works for both fall and winter. The bow needs to be big to make a statement, so use wired ribbon at least 2.5 inches wide and make long tails. If your wreath looks a little flat, add a few fall leaves or a couple of small pinecones near the bow. This one takes about 15 minutes and costs only the price of the ribbon. Could your door use a fast refresh this weekend?

You will need: A plain greenery wreath, 3 yards of wide wired plaid ribbon, floral wire, scissors, a few fall leaves (optional).

How to make it: 1. Make a large bow with four loops and two long tails. 2. Wire it to the top or lower side of the wreath. 3. Cut the tails at an angle and fluff the loops.

Dried Orange and Cinnamon Thanksgiving Wreath

This wreath looks beautiful and smells even better. Dried orange slices glow like little stained glass windows when the light hits them, and they bridge fall and Christmas perfectly. Slice navel oranges thin, pat them dry and bake them on low heat for a few hours, flipping them now and then. Let them cool completely before using them. Then wire or glue them onto a grapevine base with small bundles of cinnamon sticks tied with twine. A few bay leaves or eucalyptus sprigs fill the gaps. Hang it on a covered porch or inside, since rain can soften the oranges. Your entryway will smell like the holidays every time you open the door. Who can resist that?

You will need: 4 to 6 navel oranges, a grapevine wreath, cinnamon sticks, jute twine, bay leaves or eucalyptus, floral wire.

How to make it: 1. Bake thin orange slices at 200 degrees for 3 to 4 hours, flipping often, then cool. 2. Tie cinnamon sticks into small bundles with twine. 3. Wire the oranges and bundles around the wreath and fill gaps with greens.

A Grateful Sign Wreath

A wood round in the middle of a wreath gives guests a warm hello. Write a simple word like Grateful, Give Thanks or your family name with a paint pen. Do not worry if your handwriting is not perfect. Tracing printed letters with a pencil first makes it easy, and a little wobble just looks handmade. Unfinished wood rounds are sold at craft stores, and you can stain or whitewash them first. Glue the round to the center of a small grapevine wreath, then add fall florals, wheat or leaves along the bottom edge. A thin coat of Mod Podge over the lettering helps protect it from the weather. What word would you put on your door?

You will need: A wood round, a paint pen, stain or white paint, a small grapevine wreath, fall florals, Mod Podge, hot glue.

How to make it: 1. Stain the wood round and let it dry, then trace and paint your word. 2. Seal it with a thin coat of Mod Podge. 3. Glue it to the wreath center and add florals along the bottom.

Rustic Burlap Wreath With Fall Picks

Burlap wreaths look fluffy and full, and they are much easier to make than they look. All you need is a wire frame and a few rolls of burlap ribbon. Push loops of burlap between the wires, twist the wires to hold them, and keep going around the frame. The loops do all the work. When the base is full, tuck in a few fall picks like berries, small pumpkins or sunflowers. A burlap Thanksgiving wreath holds up well outside and costs very little. You can even change the picks for each season and use the same base all year. Want a pop of color? Mix a roll of rust or plaid ribbon in with the natural burlap. Simple, right?

You will need: A wire wreath frame with twist ties, 2 to 3 rolls of burlap ribbon, fall picks, wire cutters.

How to make it: 1. Push a loop of burlap up between the frame wires and twist to lock it. 2. Keep making loops close together until the frame is full. 3. Tuck fall picks into the burlap and hang.

Modern Embroidery Hoop Thanksgiving Wreath

Not every Thanksgiving door needs a big, round wreath. This modern version uses a large wooden embroidery hoop with greenery covering just one side. It looks clean, fresh and very boutique. Pick up a 14 or 16 inch hoop from the craft store and use only the inner ring. Gather dried grasses, pampas, wheat and a few autumn leaves into a small bundle, then wire it to the lower left side of the hoop. Wrap the stems with twine to hide the wire. Hang it from a long ribbon so it floats on the door. It is light, cheap and perfect for apartment doors or small spaces. Do you lean modern or classic?

You will need: A large wooden embroidery hoop, dried grasses or pampas, wheat stems, a few fall leaves, floral wire, twine, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Separate the hoop and use the inner ring. 2. Bundle the dried stems and wire them to one side of the hoop. 3. Wrap with twine and hang from a long ribbon.

Free Pinecone and Acorn Wreath

This one might cost nothing at all. Grab a bag and go for a walk. Pinecones and acorns are everywhere this time of year, and they make a rich, textured wreath that lasts for years. Clean them first by soaking them in warm water with a little vinegar, then let them dry fully for a few days. Start with a foam or cardboard ring base. Glue the largest pinecones on first, turned sideways so they fit snugly, then fill the gaps with smaller cones and acorns. Use a low temperature glue gun to keep your fingers safe. A small velvet bow in rust or gold finishes it nicely. Who wants to go on a pinecone hunt?

You will need: Collected pinecones and acorns, a foam or cardboard wreath ring, a low temperature glue gun, a small ribbon bow.

How to make it: 1. Clean the pinecones and acorns and let them dry completely. 2. Glue large cones around the ring, then fill gaps with small cones and acorns. 3. Add a bow and a ribbon loop for hanging.

Make Over a Thrifted Wreath

Thrift stores are full of tired old wreaths, usually for a few dollars. Many of them have a great base hiding under dusty flowers. Pull off anything faded or broken and keep the grapevine or greenery underneath. Then add a few new stems in this year’s colors, like rust, mustard and cream. A fresh velvet bow makes it look brand new. You can also spray paint an old plastic grapevine base a soft brown to make it look more natural. This is the cheapest way to get a full, big wreath, since the base is the most expensive part. Have you ever passed one of these at the thrift store and walked right by?

You will need: A thrifted wreath, new fall stems, velvet ribbon, wire cutters, floral wire, brown spray paint (optional).

How to make it: 1. Strip off faded flowers and old ribbon. 2. Wire in new stems in two or three colors. 3. Add a fresh velvet bow and hang it.

One Thanksgiving Wreath, Two Holidays

Here is the smartest trick of all. Build your Thanksgiving wreath so it can turn into a Christmas wreath the weekend after Thanksgiving. Start with a neutral base, like grapevine with greenery, magnolia or eucalyptus. Attach the fall pieces, such as pumpkins, wheat and leaves, with floral wire instead of glue so they come off easily. After the turkey is gone, swap them for red berry picks, a few pinecones and a red velvet bow. In ten minutes your door is ready for December. Store the fall pieces in a bag so they are ready for next year. One base, two looks and very little money. Which version will you like more?

You will need: A neutral base wreath, fall pieces attached with wire, red berry picks, pinecones, a red velvet bow.

How to make it: 1. Wire all the fall pieces onto the base so nothing is glued. 2. After Thanksgiving, snip the wires and remove them. 3. Wire in red berries and pinecones and add a red velvet bow.