Adorn Your Windows For The Holidays With Dashing Outdoor Wreaths

When the holiday season rolls around, adorning your home's exterior with festive decor is a joyful tradition. Hanging elegant wreaths on windows is a timeless way to instantly infuse your home with yuletide cheer. The sight of lush, vibrant wreaths on display brings smiles to both residents and passersby. If you want to dramatically enhance your home's curb appeal this winter, consider embellishing your windows with dazzling outdoor wreaths.

Outdoor wreaths allow you to customize your home's exterior to match your personal winter style. Delicate snowflake wreaths evoke icy elegance, while bold cardinal wreaths radiate natural vibrancy. For traditionalists, full evergreen wreaths dotted with crimson bows epitomize classic holiday decor. When adorned with ornate outdoor wreaths, your home emanates seasonal spirit.

Types of Outdoor Wreaths

When selecting an outdoor wreath, you first must decide whether you prefer natural or artificial materials. The right choice depends on your aesthetic preferences, budget, and effort you want to put into maintenance.

Fresh Evergreen Wreaths

For many, nothing captures the essence of the holidays quite like fresh evergreen wreaths. The authentic aroma and lush greenery make fresh wreaths a quintessential symbol of the season. Constructed out of Noble or Fraser fir, pine, cedar, and spruce, fresh-cut wreaths mirror the look of winter forest settings.

While undeniably beautiful, fresh wreaths require more maintenance. Exposure to sun and moisture can cause needles to dry out and drop prematurely. To retain their vibrancy, you'll need to frequently spritz wreaths with water. Fresh wreaths also don't last beyond one season, so you'll need to purchase new ones annually.

Artificial Wreaths

On the other hand, artificial wreaths crafted from plastic, silk, or other synthetic materials offer increased durability for outdoor use. Mimicking genuine pine, leafy, or berry-filled greenery, today's high-quality artificial wreaths look impressively realistic. Silk and plastic won't shrivel or fade when subjected to sun, wind, rain, and snow.

While artificial wreaths don't exude that delightful pine scent, their longevity offsets this drawback. Since they're weather resistant, you can display the same wreath for many seasons or even leave wreaths up year-round. Artificial wreaths are also often significantly cheaper than fresh varieties.

Pre-Lit Wreaths

For added nighttime drama, adorn your outdoor space with pre-lit wreaths. These wreaths have strings of lights incorporated into their design to create a warm, festive glow after dark. You'll find options ranging from soft white lights to multicolored LEDs. Pre-lit wreaths illuminate pathways with cheer and make your home feel more welcoming in the evening.

While wreaths pre-strung with lights eliminate the hassle of manually wrapping lights, take care when handling and hanging them. Any breaks or snags in the light strings will prevent the entire wreath from lighting up. Look for wreaths with cables and bulbs rated for outdoor use to withstand the elements.

Ideal Placement for Exterior Wreaths

When displaying outdoor wreaths, traditional locations like front doors and windows spotlight them beautifully. But you can also get creative with wreath placement to make your entire exterior shimmer.

Front Doors

Your front door naturally provides the perfect blank slate for a gleaming wreath. Circular door wreaths can range in size from small 20-inch accents to dramatic 48-inch showstoppers. For standard size doors, 22 to 28-inch wreaths complement the scale without overwhelming the space.

To highlight your front door wreath, flank it with decorative holiday pillars or lantern posts. You can also adorn the door itself with coordinating linings, garlands, and bows. This frames your wreath beautifully within the overall entryway display.

Windows

Hanging wreaths on exterior windows infuses additional facets of your home with festive beauty. Tailor wreath sizes to match the span of each window. For porch or bay windows, group multiple matching wreaths for a cohesive look. Aside from standard windows, also consider displaying wreaths on garage windows or storm doors.

Don't limit yourself to just doors and windows either. Place complementary wreaths on shutters, stair railings, and front columns for a fully festooned exterior. You can even adorn backyard features like patios, fences, and landscaping.

Hanging Methods for Outdoor Wreaths

Outdoor wreaths require secure attachment methods that can withstand the elements. The right hanging techniques keep them properly displayed throughout the season.

Hanging on Doors

Standard over-the-door wreath hangers provide a convenient method for securing wreaths on exterior doors. The hook extends from the back of the wreath over the top of the door. These hangers grip both sides of the door through pressure to keep wreaths firmly in place.

For added support, also drive decorative hooks or nails into the door around the wreath. Tie ribbons attached to the wreath onto the hooks to reinforce the wreath hanger. Or affix small command strip hooks around the door's exterior to tie wreath ribbons onto.

Hanging on Windows

To display wreaths on exterior windows, first thread ribbons or hanging wires through the loops on the back of the wreath. Tie the ribbons into decorative bows that will be visible from the front to conceal the hanging method.

Next, fully open the window and place the wreath. Allow enough slack so the ribbons or wires can be pulled all the way through and securely tied inside the home. Knot the ends several times or wrap them around screws, nails, or hooks. This discreetly anchors them in place out of sight.

If available, utilize pre-installed hanging hardware on storm doors and garage doors. Command strip hooks offer another unobtrusive adhesive mounting option. Place them at intervals around the window and attach wreath wires using clear plastic ties.

Cost Breakdown for Exterior Wreaths

Outdoor wreaths come in a broad range of prices to suit every budget and taste. Small basic wreath forms begin around $10 to $15. For fresh wreaths handcrafted from fragrant evergreen boughs, expect to invest anywhere from $50 to $100 based on size.

Artificial wreaths strikingly mimic the texture of real leaves, pinecones, and berries. Well-made silk and plastic wreaths range from $25 for mini wreaths to $75 or more for dramatic oversized options. For designer name-brand wreaths with added ornamentation, prices often exceed $100.

While fresh wreaths hold unparalleled natural appeal, their shorter lifespan often makes artificial wreaths a better value. But for some, a fresh evergreen wreath is essential to capture the nostalgia and magic of the holidays.

Adorning your home's exterior with beautiful wreaths is a hallmark of the winter holidays. Eye-catching outdoor wreaths lend an aura of warmth and welcome to any home. With an array of styles and materials to choose from, you can achieve any decorative vibe you desire.

Hanging lush wreaths on your front door and windows signals to neighbors and guests that your home embraces the spirit of the season. When decked out in magnificent wreaths, your home emanates the beauty and joy of the holidays for all to admire.