Christmas wreath guides

How to choose the perfect Christmas wreath for your front door

Choosing a wreath is easier when you work in the right order. Start with your door, then size, foliage and style, then check the practical things like sun, wind and who lives with it. Here is a simple way to decide, with a colour pairing table and a short checklist.

By Finnegan Christmas WreathsPublished 8 min read

Our Traditional wreath, handmade fresh on the farm

Quick answer

To choose a Christmas wreath, start with your door: note the colour, material and style of the house. Then pick a size that fits, choose fir for foliage that holds its needles, and match a traditional, natural or contemporary style to your home. Finally, check the sun, wind and who lives with it.

Start with
Your door
Sizes
34cm or 65cm
Foliage
Noble Fir

Where should you start when choosing a Christmas wreath?

Start with the door, not the wreath. Stand back on the path and look at what the wreath will sit against: the door colour, the material, the frame around it and the style of the house. A wreath is a small piece of colour and texture on a much bigger surface, so what it is hung on decides most of what will look right.

  • Colour. A dark door and a pale door ask for different things. More on that in the colour table below.
  • Material. Painted wood, uPVC, composite, glass panels and bare timber all show a wreath differently. A busy wreath on a door with lots of glass can look crowded, while a plain painted slab door can carry something fuller.
  • House style. A period cottage, a modern new build and a farmhouse each suit a different mood.
  • Anything already there. Door furniture, a knocker, a letterbox or house numbers on the door all take up space the wreath will need to avoid.

Size, briefly. Our wreaths come as a Regular 34cm and a Large 65cm. As a very general rule, a narrow door or one with a lot of glass sits happily with the smaller size, and a wide, solid door can take the larger one. Measure the clear space and read our full guide to what size Christmas wreath you need for your front door before you decide.

Small fir wreath with cinnamon sticks and a pine cone on a dark panelled front door
A small fir wreath with cinnamon sticks on a dark panelled door. Photo: Annie Spratt on Unsplash.

Which foliage should you choose?

The RHS suggests evergreens such as holly, ivy, spruce and pine for wreaths, and notes that evergreen wreaths last better outdoors. For a front door, the foliage itself is the first thing people see, so it is worth choosing it on purpose.

  • Fir. Noble Fir has firm branches and short blue-green needles that hold their shape and, in general, hold on well as the foliage dries. It is the base of all of our wreaths.
  • Holly and ivy. Both bring a classic, glossy look. Holly has sharp leaf edges, which matters if you have children or pets.
  • Other mixed foliage. Rosemary, eucalyptus and similar greenery add scent and variety but can look and last differently from fir.

If a wreath that looks good for as long as possible matters to you, choose fir and read our guide to how long a fresh Christmas wreath lasts before you buy.

Which style and decorations suit your home?

Most wreaths fall into three directions. Pick the one that feels like your house, not the one that looks best on a screen.

  • Traditional: holly, red berries, a red bow and cinnamon. Classic, warm and recognisably Christmas.
  • Natural: a softer palette of burlap, dried orange, cones and hazel. Relaxed and earthy.
  • Contemporary: restrained, mostly greenery with a few textured details. Clean and modern.

If you cannot decide between them, our side by side guide to traditional, natural and contemporary wreaths goes into each style in detail.

Bows and decorations

The bow is the part you will notice from the road, so treat it as a design choice. A red velvet bow gives a strong, traditional focal point. A burlap bow is quieter and sits comfortably against timber, stone and muted door colours. Decorations such as cones, dried orange slices or berries add texture and detail up close, but too many on a small wreath can look crowded. When in doubt, choose fewer, larger elements.

Decorations also affect handling. Cones, berries and wired items are small, so keep any wreath out of reach of small children and pets, particularly if it is hung low or inside.

Christmas wreath with pine cones, red berries and a red ribbon on a dark timber door
A wreath with pine cones, berries and a red ribbon on a dark timber door. Photo: Jez Timms on Unsplash.

Which wreath looks best on your door colour?

This is styling guidance, not a rule. It is based on one idea: a wreath tends to stand out when it contrasts with the door, and to blend in when it is close to the door in tone. Neither is wrong. It depends whether you want the wreath to be a feature or to sit quietly. For a door-by-door guide with photos, see the best Christmas wreaths for different front door colours.

Door colourWhat tends to stand outWorth trying
BlackPale and warm details, such as cream, dried orange and natural tones, show up clearly against black. A red bow gives a strong accent.Natural or Traditional
White or creamDeep green foliage and red read well against a pale door. A fuller wreath gives a bold focal point.Traditional
Grey or anthraciteGreenery and warm natural textures stand out against a cool grey. Clean, simple wreaths suit modern grey doors.Contemporary or Natural
NavyWarm orange tones, cream and burlap contrast well with deep blue. Red can look rich against navy.Natural or Traditional
GreenDeep greens can swallow green foliage. Warm accents such as orange, cinnamon or red help the wreath stand out.Traditional or Natural
RedGreen fir is the star here. A red bow can disappear against the door, so a neutral or natural bow tends to stand out more.Natural or Contemporary
Natural oak or timberFir, cones and warm tones belong with wood. Dark red and cinnamon add richness, and burlap keeps it earthy.Natural or Traditional
Pastel (sage, duck egg, blush)Soft doors suit simple, natural wreaths. Heavy red and dense decoration can overpower a gentle colour.Contemporary or Natural
Fir wreath with gold leaves, baubles and pine cones on a deep green painted door
A full fir wreath with gold leaves and baubles on a deep green door. Photo: Jez Timms on Unsplash.
fcw background
A handmade Finnegan wreath hanging on a teal front door.

Colours look different in daylight, so hold a photo of the wreath up to your door, or compare it with a paint swatch, before you order. Trust what looks right in your own light.

Where will it hang, and does that change your choice?

The position of the door changes how a wreath behaves, not just how it looks.

  • Bright sun. A south or west facing door gets the most sun, which warms and dries fresh foliage. A shaded or sheltered door is easier on it.
  • Porch or no porch. A porch gives shelter from wind and rain. A door that opens straight onto the weather needs a wreath that can cope, and a secure hanger.
  • Wind. On an exposed door, a firmly built, well anchored wreath is a safer choice than a loosely decorated one.
  • Glass and shadow. Glazed doors and deep porches can leave a wreath in shade. Lighter and brighter details help it show.

Once you have picked your wreath, see our guide to hanging a wreath without damaging your door.

Real or artificial? A real wreath has scent and natural variation, and an artificial one can be reused year after year. Our real vs artificial wreaths guide weighs up the differences.

Red berry wreath hanging on a white painted door beside a glass panel
A red berry wreath on a white painted door. Photo: K Adams on Unsplash.

What about scent, allergies, children and pets?

A real wreath is a natural product, so it is worth thinking about the people and animals who will live with it.

  • Scent. Fresh fir has a gentle woodland smell, and some people love it from the doorstep. Others find it too much, especially in a small porch.
  • Sensitivities. Some people react to fir sap or fragrance. If someone in your household does, think about where the wreath hangs and whether they will handle it.
  • Children and pets. Our wreaths include small decorations, including cones, berries and wires. Keep them out of reach of small children and pets.
  • Heat and flame. Dry foliage burns easily, so keep any wreath away from candles, fires and heaters.

A quick checklist, and which of our wreaths fits

Work through these in order. It only takes a couple of minutes, and it narrows the choice quickly.

Look at your door

Note the colour, the material, any glass and what is already on the door.

Choose a size

Regular 34cm for narrower or glazed doors, Large 65cm for wide, solid ones. Measure to be sure.

Pick a style

Traditional, natural or contemporary, whichever feels most like your home.

Check your position

Sun, wind and shelter decide how much care the wreath will need.

Check your household

Think about scent, sensitivities, children and pets.

If you wantLook at
A classic, red and green ChristmasTraditional: Noble Fir, variegated holly, a hand-tied red velvet bow, artificial red berry clusters, cinnamon stick bundles and pine cones.
A warm, relaxed, earthy feelNatural: Noble Fir, a hand-tied burlap bow, small pine cones, dried orange slices, twisted hazel and lotus heads.
A clean, modern lookContemporary: Noble Fir, glossy seasonal greenery, a hand-tied burlap bow, dried orange slices, twisted hazel, lotus heads, rosemary sprigs and acorns.

Each style comes in Regular 34cm from £45 and Large 65cm from £65, is handmade fresh on our farm and varies slightly because it is made from natural materials. Delivery is free across the UK, and you will find all three in the shop.

Sources and further reading

Choosing questions

Frequently asked questions

Short answers to the questions we hear most when people are choosing a wreath.

What colour wreath goes with a black front door?

A black door suits almost anything, but warm cream, dried orange and natural tones tend to stand out most, and a red bow gives a bold accent. Dense dark foliage can blend in, so add a lighter detail if you want it to show.

What wreath suits a grey door?

Green foliage and warm natural textures tend to stand out against grey or anthracite. A clean, simple wreath often looks right on a modern grey door, while heavy red decoration can feel busier.

Will a red bow show up on a red door?

It can disappear. Against a red door, green fir does most of the work, and a neutral or natural bow tends to stand out more than a red one. If you love red, try a deeper, darker shade than the door.

Is it better to match the wreath to the door or contrast with it?

It is a matter of taste. Contrast makes the wreath a feature, while matching tones feel calmer and more blended. Most people find a little contrast easiest to get right, especially on dark or very pale doors.

How do I choose between a Regular and a Large wreath?

Look at the clear space on your door. Our Regular is 34cm and our Large is 65cm. Narrow or glazed doors tend to suit the smaller size, and wide solid doors can take the larger one. Our size guide has more detail.

Can I order a wreath for a particular colour of door?

Our three styles are fixed designs, and each wreath varies slightly because it is handmade from natural materials. For custom or bulk orders, get in touch at info@finneganchristmaswreaths.com, as lead times apply.

Rows of fresh Christmas trees on the Finnegan farm
Christmas trees growing on the Finnegan family farm in Clogher, County Tyrone.

Our family farm

Fresh Noble Fir from our own fields.

Our wreaths are handmade fresh on the Finnegan family Christmas tree farm in Clogher, County Tyrone, using Noble Fir foliage grown on the farm. They are made to order in small batches, so each one is a little different.

  • Grown hereNoble Fir from our own fields
  • Made to orderSmall batches, handmade fresh
  • Free UK deliveryBoxed, ready to hang

Find your style

Three handmade wreaths, one fir base.

Traditional, natural or contemporary, each built on Noble Fir from our farm and available in Regular 34cm and Large 65cm.

Premium Handmade Door Wreath

Traditional

Noble fir and variegated holly with a red velvet bow, red berry clusters, cinnamon bundles and pine cones.

From £45Regular 34cm £45 or Large 65 cm £65

View this wreath

Premium Handmade Door Wreath

Natural

Noble fir and glossy stems with a burlap bow, dried orange, twisted hazel, lotus heads and small pine cones.

From £45Regular 34cm £45 or Large 65 cm £65

View this wreath

Premium Handmade Door Wreath

Contemporary

Noble fir and seasonal greenery with a burlap bow, dried orange, twisted hazel, lotus heads, rosemary and acorns.

From £45Regular 34cm £45 or Large 65 cm £65

View this wreath

Free UK delivery on every wreath. Boxed, ready to hang.

From our farm to your door

Bring the beauty of our Christmas tree farm to your front door.

Discover beautiful handmade Christmas wreaths, crafted fresh on our County Tyrone family farm and delivered across the UK.

Free UK delivery on every wreath

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