How to make an artificial Christmas wreath look expensive – 7 tricks professional florists and stylists always use

Whether you have an artificial Christmas wreath at home that could use a little elevating or are looking to invest in one but don’t want to spend too much, there are several ways to make an artificial Christmas wreath look expensive, no matter how much you originally spent on it.

These top 7 Christmas wreath ideas are the perfect way to incorporate some budget Christmas decorating ideas into your home this festive season while also having some DIY fun, adding that much needed personalised finishing touch to your Christmas decorating scheme.

The best part is that you probably already have most of these optional add-ons in your home – and if not, you won’t have to spend too much money on them, whether it’s the best Christmas lights or some simple ribbons to recreate this year’s most popular Christmas decor trend.

How to make an artificial wreath look expensive

‘For me, the holidays are about connection – and what better way to celebrate that than with style?’ says Samantha Picard, the founder of Tablescapeluvr who’s partnered with Balsam Hill this year. ‘As someone who hosts frequently during the festive season, I believe a wreath should not only be visually beautiful, but also reflect your personal story and style.’

So whichever of these DIY Christmas decor ideas you end up going for, just remember to inject some of your personality and your home’s decor style into the finished product so that it looks and feels special and like it belongs.

1. Elevate it with a seasonal scent

Similarly to making your artificial Christmas tree appear more expensive, the addition of the appropriate scent will have just as much of an impact on a faux Christmas wreath. You can opt for a fragrance that will recreate the natural scent of the foliage or go for something very Christmassy and festive.

‘Don’t forget to mist with a scented spray like pine or cinnamon for that added festive atmosphere,’ says David Denyer, expert florist at Eflorist.

A room spray will, of course, do the trick. But if you want to go down a more natural route, you can simply incorporate the organic materials with the desired scent. ‘Try adding pine cones, cinnamon sticks or dried orange slices to create a gorgeous aroma,’ says Elise Harlock of Prestige Flowers.

2. Adorn it with bows and ribbons

Bows and Christmas tree ribbon ideas are everywhere this Christmas as this trend’s become even bigger than last year when we were all already obsessing over bows. But by bigger, we don’t just mean more popular. We also mean more oversized. But whether you attach a huge bow like the John Lewis Giant Velvet Bow to your wreath or go for something more understated, bows and ribbons are guaranteed to put an elevated spin on your artificial wreath.

‘For a more elevated look I would suggest opting for oversized elements such as large velvet ribbons in deep jewel tones – more is more so be sure to cover your base heavily for a luxury look,’ Samantha of @tablescapeluvr says.

David at Eflorist adds, ‘Elevate the wreath game with luxe materials. Replace the standard ribbons with plush velvet, brocade, or satin for a more refined look. Glitter mesh ribbons can add a whimsical, ethereal touch that shimmers under holiday lights.’

3. Add some fairy lights

Let’s be honest; you can never go wrong with adding more fairy lights to your Christmas decorations. Not only will these lights make your wreath stand out during the dark nights, but they’ll also work wonders to cover up any unsavoury aspects of an artificial wreath.

For example, if your wreath has become a little dusty or bent after years in the loft, these lights can help to draw the eye away from it.

Home decor expert Margaret Larson from Sustainable Furniture says, ‘The glimmers of light make an eye-catching and glamorous design, perfect for creating a cosy atmosphere during the dark winter months. We recommend using fine wire fairy lights for the ultimate boujee look, as the thin and subtle wire ensures they are barely noticeable, and they can be easily manipulated around branches.’

You have to be careful when adding fairy lights to a wreath, though, as many battery-powered lights come with huge battery packs that can stick out like a sore thumb and instantly cheapen the whole aesthetic. Instead, you should opt for lights that have smaller battery packs that can be hidden within the foliage - like these BXROIU Fairy Lights from Amazon.

4. Make it more natural

This year, ‘quiet luxury’ decorations are dominating the festive period. These decorations focus on neutral tones and natural themes, which is why one of the best ways to make your artificial wreath look more expensive is to add these natural accents to it.

‘Another great idea is adding a little fresh foliage to artificial wreaths - it doesn’t take much,’ says Nathalie Gibbins, Founder of Pow Pots. ‘A single decent branch or small bunch of eucalyptus or red berries can be transformative. Simply cut into smaller pieces and attach using thin rose wire or a glue gun.’

You could also grab some pine cones from your garden or use some real foliage from your bushes. However, it’s important to note that if you do choose to add real plants to your artificial wreath, you’ll need to give it a spritz with water every two or three days to keep it fresh. Alternatively, you can go down the dried flowers route and leave the foliage to dry out before adding to your wreath.

If you wanted to, you could even go down an edible route by drying oranges in your air fryer and attaching cinnamon sticks to your artificial wreath. This will add a beautiful fragrance, too.

5. Attach leftover decorations

No matter whether you’re on the side of the best artificial Christmas trees or you’re fond of the real deal, we can all agree that no Christmas tree would be complete without some decorations. But if you have some leftovers this year, why not add them to your wreath?

You could attach these spare baubles, ribbons, and other Christmas tree decorations with a hot glue gun or by the string that’s already attached to them, and this will instantly make your artificial wreath more striking and expensive. Alternatively, you could embrace the trend of re-using your autumnal decorations for Christmas and attach them to your artificial wreath.

Whatever you do, Annah Kelly, styling expert for Bridgman, suggests choosing your decorations carefully. ‘Add silk ribbons and velvet bows to complement the wreath's colours. Incorporate shades of gold and burgundy to create a sophisticated ambience, adding a personal touch to each layer by including a monogrammed ornament or a symbol that tells a unique story. Balance statement pieces with subtle elegance to create a captivating and eye-catching wreath.’

6. Make it skinny

This year, skinny Christmas wreaths are becoming more and more popular. But if you don’t have the cash to buy a whole new wreath, you’ll be happy to know that you can turn your old wreath into something that looks very similar to this for a fraction of the price.

To do this, you can either use some festive ribbon or some natural twine, depending on the aesthetic you’re after. Then, wrap your ribbon or twine around half of your wreath, pushing down the foliage and creating this open space.

The end result looks incredibly chic and won’t cost you a lot at all. In fact, you might already have some spare ribbon in the house, and you'll no doubt find some extra twine in your shed.

7. Start from scratch

If you have a rather plain-looking artificial wreath that needs jazzing up for Christmas, sometimes it could be worth your while to re-make your wreath from scratch. In doing this, you can keep the foliage and the main accents of your original wreath while adding your own personal and expensive-looking touches.

It’s easy to find new wreath frames, and these won’t cost you a lot at all. In fact, this Wire Wreath Frame from The Range is just £1.50! You can then re-attach the foliage and decorations from your old wreath onto this new frame with some wire or twine, and then add any accents from the tips above to create something beautiful and bespoke.

Alick Burnett, managing director at Blooming Artificial says, ‘Try to stick to a theme, and don’t overdo it if you want that ‘expensive-looking’ finish. The main thing is to be creative, go for decor which suits your own style, and is versatile enough to be re-used year after year - which is the best thing about artificial wreaths!’

FAQs

How do you fluff an artificial Christmas wreath?

Artificial wreaths can often lack the fluffiness of a real wreath, but this is easily rectified. All you need to do is lay your wreath on a flat surface and then carefully lift up each branch in a way that looks natural.

In general, you should try to ensure that the branches along the edges are pointing outwards, the ones in the centre should point forward, and the ones on the inner edge should point inward. By doing this, your artificial wreath should look fluffy and more like a real wreath.

Can you put a fake wreath outside?

Yes! In fact, artificial wreaths are perfect for outside use, as they can withstand all kinds of weather patterns and temperature changes.

However, it is important to check the specifications of the artificial wreath you buy, as some wreaths may need to be protected or kept undercover to stop them from going mouldy.

How do you attach ornaments to an artificial wreath?

There are many ways to attach ornaments to an artificial wreath. While some people have a huge amount of success with a hot glue gun, there are others who prefer the security of tying these ornaments and decorations on with twine, ribbons, or invisible wire.

If you want to make your artificial wreath look more expensive, then it’s time to get crafty!