Making a wreath base yourself is a talent that can save you plenty of money on decoration. It gives you unique decor options in sizes and styles. Using foraged materials such as twigs and branches for your wreath creates your natural wreath a unique appearance and is completely free. Making the wreaths yourself is the best way to make your own home decor.

A woman holding an unfinished wreath base made out of birch twigs in her hands.

The source of inspiration for wreath DIYs

I tend to slip a spool of wire and pincers into my bag whenever I go for a walk in the forest. It’s easier to create a twig wreath base in the forest with all the materials available. You don’t need to carry anything home; any twig bits can simply be left there. Make it a habit to construct a few wreath bases in one go. It truly doesn’t take much time once you get the hang of it.

A woman smiling in the forest with twig wreaths on her shoulder.

A woman holding a wreath in her hand and showing in the forest her purse with wreath base equipment in it: pinchers and a spool of wire.

When you make wreaths in different sizes, thicknesses, and forms, you have the option to give them a more thoughtful appearance when decorating at home. The wreath frame is an easy project to start with and so versatile! I get my DIY wreath ideas on walks in the forest when looking at the beauty nature presents to us.

Tips for making your wreath base

The more you make the better you’ll become.
The rule of thumb: if you decorate the wreath base with leaves that cover the base completely, make sure you have at least 5cm (a few inches) smaller bases for your measurements.
If you want to create a boho-style wreath with long twigs or hay artistically emerging from it, make a sufficiently large base to ensure the inner circle doesn’t disappear completely.

Several wreath bases made out of birch twigs on the wooden floor.

Why make yourself a wreath frame?

The variety is the key reason to make your own wreath base or wreath frame. Making yourself you ensure that the size of the wreath base is what you want. You can play with the thickness and raw materials of the wreath to create your unique style of wreath.

Choosing the wreath base material

I used to do my wreaths with straw which is more pliable and slightly easier to form a wreath, but the access of twigs as a raw material is so easy! The twigs are also more neutral in style and scent (yes, if you have allergies choose twigs over straws every time!).

Straw wreath

If you don’t live next to the farm or have any kind of connection to get straws, you can of course buy some for your DIY. They tend to be a bit expensive when sold in small amounts. So better is to get friends with a farmer or make your wreath base with twigs that are lying all around for free. Any kind of hay would work as well.

How to make a wreath base. A woman showing her bag with wreath making materials in the forest.

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Twig wreath

Depending on the wanted look, the dark birch twigs for example give a dramatic and beautiful wreath frame that can be left visible in the finished wreath. Play with the ideas and how you want your wreath to look. Then choose the wreath base materials accordingly.

This tutorial is made with thin birch twigs. But the same basic principles go with any pliable twigs or branches.

Materials you need for your natural wreath base

For a natural wreath base, you need only a few basic materials, which are inexpensive or free when foraging from nature.

Birch twigs: My favorite wreath base comes together with the simple but versatile birch twigs. Choose the thin ones that are pliable to make a smooth-looking wreath base. As a style you can use the non-pliable ones when you want a more rough look to your wreath. If you are just starting out with wreath making, I recommend using the thin branches for they are so much easier to work with.
Wire: Choose the metallic wire over the florist wire when working with branches. Floral wire is more delicate and tends to break more easily. To make a tight wreath base you need to pull the wire tight so choose a wire that is in a spool to make this step easier.

Materials needed to make a natural wreath frame: Spool of wire, pinchers and birch twigs.

Tools you may need

Pinchers
Pruning shares (optional)

How to make a simple wreath form with natural materials

Step one: Gather a bunch of twigs

Start with collecting into your hands a bunch of twigs as thick as you want your final wreath base to be. Important is that you don’t match the ends of the twigs but you keep all branches different lengths as they are to be able to make the wreath looking smooth and same thickness when you proceed.

A woman making a bunch of twigs to create a start of a wreath base.

Step two: Attach the wire

When holding the bunch of branches with your other hand roll the wire once around the bunch and turn the ending around itself and the main wire to secure it and make a solid start.

A woman attaching the wire to make a solid start for the wreath base.

Step three: Roll the wire to attach the twigs

Once you have secured your wire and made it tight so that it doesn’t move you can start slightly rolling the wire around your bunch to form a long branch. At this point, your wreath looks like a branch broom with two ends.

A woman rotating the wire around the birch twigs to create a twig wreath.

Step four: Add more twigs as you go

Keep your bunch the same thickness by attaching more twigs as you go. Don’t mind the ends of the twigs pointing everywhere. You will make the wreath base neat once you have secured it into a loop.

Make your wreath branch turn slightly inwards while you make the wreath base to keep it elastic and adapt the loop form. Test once in a while what your wreath base looks like, is it big enough or you should still add more?

A woman adds a bunch of twigs to the wreath base to make it evenly thick to continue making the twig wreath.

A woman rotating the wire holding the spool of wire around the the twig bunch to attach the added twigs to the twig base.

|PRO TIP: Make smooth additions with uneven twigs to ensure the wreath base maintains consistent thickness. If the ends are even, you will create unattractive bumps in your loop, leading to an uneven and unsightly result. Depending on the style you’re aiming for, you can leave more or less space between the wire rounds wrapped around the bunch of branches. If you want a narrow wreath, the base will curve more beautifully with the wire rounds placed closer together. Conversely, with a thicker bunch, it’s easier to leave more space between the rounds.

Step five: Form the loop

When it seems that you have a good size of the wreath you can start matching the ends together. Play a bit with the twigs to find a perfect size for your wreath and start rolling the wire around as you have done already but this time to secure the ends to form the loop.

A woman matching the ends of the wreath base to make a perfect sized twig wreath.

A woman playing around with the twigs to make an evenly thick wreath base.

Step six: End the wreath and secure

Once it feels like you have secured the wreath well by wrapping the wire around it you can check which way you want the wreath to hang. Make a small loop or wire around your finger and turn it around to create a hanging loop for the wreath that will remain hidden on the back of the wreath. Cut the wire and attach the end of it between the wires and branches.

A woman makes a loop of the wire to make a hanging loop for the wreath base.

A woman turning a hanging loop made of wire with pinchers to secure it behind the wreath form.

Step seven: Finalising and cleanup

Use pruning shares or “mend” the ends of branches underneath the layers of branches and wire. For a more natural look, you can use the mending technique if you want the wreath base to be visible in the end. If you want to cover your base completely with spruce branches or leaves, for example, you can carelessly use the pruning shares to cut the excess twigs pointing out.

A woman holding in her hands a wreath form made with birch twigs that is unfinished.

How to tweak and decorate your natural wreath

A woman cutting with scissors the red silk ribbon attached to the Christmas wreath with spruce branches.

A natural wreath made with foraged grains and blueberry branches on a weathered wooden surface.

Add spruce branches, pine cones, and red ribbon to make a Nordic natural Christmas wreath.
Decorate your summer wreath with flowers and hay and a white or yellow silk ribbon.
Make your decor for different seasons using natural decorations according to the festive season on hand to have a fresh wreath for every occasion

How to undo and recycle your own wreath frames

After the season, you can use the pinchers to cut the wire to undo the frame, I have done it for so many times. I might just take of the decorations and leave the wreath base for the next season.

If the wreath base is too dry and doesn’t look usable anymore you can undo the frame completely to compost the branches and recycle the wire. I have used the wire messy clipped wire to make an iron-vinegar solution for a natural wood stain to stain the wooden wine boxes naturally. There is always a way to repurpose and reuse!

Show me your finished wreath base or wreath!

Have you made a wreath? Tag me on Instagram with @blue.tea.tile or let me know in the comments how did it go, I would love to know!

A woman finishing the twig wreath base on a wooden floor.

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DIY wreath base using birch twigs

Making a wreath base yourself is a talent that can save you plenty of money on decoration and give you unique options in sizes and styles. Using foraged materials such as twigs and branches for your wreath gives your natural wreath a unique style and is completely free. Making the wreaths yourself is the best way to make your own home decor. 

Materials

Birch twigs
Wire

Tools

Pinchers
Pruning shares

Instructions

Step one: Gather a bunch of twigs
Start with collecting into your hands a bunch of twigs as thick as you want your final wreath base to be. Important is that you don’t match the ends of the twigs but you keep all branches different lengths as they are to be able to make the wreath looking smooth and same thickness when you proceed.
Step two: Attach the wire
When holding the bunch of branches with your other hand roll the wire once around the bunch and turn the ending around itself and the main wire to secure it and make a solid start.
Step three: Roll the wire to attach the twigs
Once you have secured your wire and made it tight so that it doesn’t move you can start slightly rolling the wire around your bunch to form a long branch. At this point, your wreath looks like a branch broom with two ends.
Step four: Add more twigs as you go
Keep your bunch same thickness by attaching more twigs as you go. Don’t mind the ends of the twigs pointing everywhere, you will make the wreath base neat once you have secured it into a loop. Make your wreath branch turn slightly inwards while you make the wreath base to keep it elastic and adapt the loop form. Test once in a while what your wreath base looks like, is it big enough or you should still add more?

| PRO TIP: Make smooth additions with uneven twig bunches to ensure the wreath base maintains consistent thickness. If the ends are even, you will create unattractive bumps in your wreath, leading to an uneven and unsightly result. Depending on the style you're aiming for, you can leave more or less space between the wire rounds wrapped around the bunch of branches. If you want a narrow wreath, the base will curve more beautifully with the wire rounds placed closer together. Conversely, with a thicker bunch, it's easier to leave more space between the rounds.
Step five: Form the loop
When it seems that you have a good size of the wreath you can start matching the ends together. Play a bit with the twigs to find a perfect size for your wreath and start rolling the wire around as you have done already but this time to secure the ends to form the loop.
Step six: End the wreath and secure
Once it feels like you have secured the wreath well by wrapping the wire around it you can check which way you want the wreath to hang. Make a small loop or wire around your finger and turn it around to create a hanging loop for the wreath that will remain hidden on the back of the wreath. Cut the wire and attach the end of it between the wires and branches.
Step seven: Finalising and cleanup
Use pruning shares or "mend" the ends of branches underneath the layers of branches and wire. For a more natural look, you can use the mending technique if you want the wreath base to be visible in the end. If you want to cover your base completely with spruce branches or leaves, for example, you can carelessly use the pruning shares to cut the excess twigs pointing out.

Notes

Scroll up to the post to see step-by-step photos.
To know more about the materials check the header "Materials you need for your natural wreath base" in the post.
For more ideas on how to decorate your wreath frame see a post about Natural wreath ideas.