SIt’s that time of year again – when Halloween, Day of the Dead, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and a general “harvest” theme decoration items hit the shelves at all your favorite shops. With all that stuff out there, though, I’ve personally found it difficult to find the right décor for my front patio space. I have to weed through aisles and aisles of stuff, looking for something – anything – that works, and usually wind up disappointed.
That’s why I’m a huge advocate for DIY holiday décor. And a simple (or complex) wreath is a great way to show my holiday spirit without having to invest a lot of time and money into it. So, if you’re like me, you’ll appreciate this collection of ideas for the new Halloween wreath.
Incorporate a Cute Halloween-Themed Sign with Straw
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Using cute signs can do a lot of “work” for you without putting in much effort. Find a cute sign at Hobby Lobby, Amazon, or even Dollar Tree. Then, find a straw or vine wreath. Connect with hot glue sticks or a ribbon, and with one fell sweep, you’ve got a cute Halloween wreath that took you less than 5 minutes to make.
Kid-Friendly Scarecrow
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For a kid-friendly Halloween wreath, consider decorating with a plush scarecrow or similar autumn-related “critter” from the harvest world. They’re cute, they’re cozy, and little kids won’t find them too creepy.
Day of the Dead Double-Duty
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If skulls don’t creep you out the way they do me, you might appreciate this décor piece. Day of the Dead hits on November 1, the day after Halloween. October 31 already has a dead, spooky, creepy, magical feeling to it – and the décor to match. So, why not add some Day of the Dead décor pieces to a simple wreath and let the piece pull double-duty? Grab some painted skulls from your favorite shop and place them, along with colorful ribbons or feathers, on a wreath of your choosing.
Simple Ribbon-Wrapped Wreath
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If you’re looking for a simple project, something flexible enough for harvest, or just something to make quickly, you can use the concept of this simple ribbon-wrapped wreath. Just grab the wreath form, some colorful ribbons in orange, black, or other shades, and a hot glue gun. You’ll have the wreath ready in under 10 minutes.
Miniature Pumpkin Wreath
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If you like your décor to pull double-duty, you can grab some miniature pumpkins from the grocery store along with a vine wreath and build yourself a mini pumpkin wreath for Halloween and the harvest. It is a particular favorite of mine. I tend to add green and orange and brown ribbons, place a multi-colored assortment of tiny pumpkins in the wreath, then attach some dark berries and leaves to bring out the double themed look.
Black Cat Stuffy Wreath
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Cat fanatic here! So, of course, another favorite wreath choice of mine at this time of year is the black cat. If you’ve got a reasonably sheltered spot where you’re hanging the wreath, you can find a black cat stuffy and attach it to the wreath for some cuddly – yet creepy – Halloween fun. I like to add balls of black yarn, orange ribbons, and fake fish skeletons for some cat-themed Halloween touches.
Edgar Allen Poe Wreath
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Perhaps most famous for his poem The Raven, Edgar Allen Poe has become synonymous with dark, creepy, and weird, making a Poe-themed wreath the perfect choice for this season. You can add some stuffed ravens or black crows, some black ribbon, and, if you can find one, a quill pen and inkwell for a unique DIY Halloween wreath project your fellow bibliophiles can appreciate.
Gobs of Webs
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Grab some wire (an old coat hanger will do!) and some white sticky cobwebs from the store to make a fun, spidery wreath for the door. Grab some plastic spiders to attach, and if you really want to get authentic, see if you can find some fake insects for your spiders’ dinner.
Harvest Fruit Wreath
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Who says pumpkins are all there is to Halloween garden offerings? Why not toss in some lovely dark figs or even Indian Corn for a unique complement for those orange squash? Combine with some berries, dark leaves, or anything else you fancy for a lovely dual-purpose wreath.
Glowing Pumpkin String Light Wreath
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Grab some pumpkin string lights, a vine wreath, a little wire, and some orange, black, purple, or brown ribbon. Put them together, and what have you got? A glowing, Halloween-y wreath anyone can make!
Painted Pumpkin Wreath
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If you’ve got some artistic talent (or interest) in the family, put it to use with some acrylic paint and mini or medium pumpkins. You can then attach these decorated squashes to the wreath of your choosing. Add in some glittery ribbon or autumn leaves, and voila – a beautiful wreath no one else in the neighborhood will have.
Skull or Skeleton Wreath
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For those with a penchant towards all things macabre, you can grab a plastic skeleton or skull (or several, if they’re small enough), some black, red, or purple ribbon to create a simple yet distinct Halloween wreath for displaying this season.
Halloween Toy Wreath
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Another super kid-friendly idea is grabbing some fun Halloween-themed toys (ghosts, spiders, vampires, even toy snakes) and attaching them to a wreath of your choosing. Add some glitter ribbon and maybe some glowing string lights, and you’ve got the perfect kid-friendly wreath that the kids can help make.
Halloween Ornament Wreath
Image credits: Forsake Fotos via Flickr
Similar to the Christmas ornament wreath you can find on so many houses in December, the Halloween ornament wreath is a great idea. You can collect several styles of ornaments together and use them in combination with a vine wreath, wireframe, or other wreath styles to create a wreath like this one. I like using twist ties for this style of wreath construction. Much easier than pipe cleaners. Always use black or another color that will blend into the background seamlessly.
Ribbon and Ornament Wreath – with a Mini Skeleton
Image credits: Forsaken Fotos via Flickr
Another fun idea is this combination wreath which uses ornaments in Halloween-themed shades, a miniature skeleton, and a ribbon-wrapped wreath. Go with oranges and blacks, greens and purples – or any combination of the above to create a unique, all-your-own look for the holiday.
Halloween Bat Wreath
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Another popular symbol of the season is the fruit bat – typically tied to the concept of a vampire. You can have a lot of fun with this theme, especially as it's gotten more and more creative with its approach to bats. I love the sparkly black and purple bats. You could combine these with some purple or black ribbon (ideally, with more glitter!), some artificial plums, and berries for a harvest-y themed Halloween wreath.
Glowing Jack-o-Lantern Wreath
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Whether you want to go authentic with some carved mini pumpkins and solar lights or know where to grab some mini artificial pumpkins with glowing inserts, the flowing jack-o-lantern wreath is a super fun addition for all those trick-or-treaters coming by. The warm glow adds an inviting bit to the door and a little safety, if bright enough.
Yarn and Felt Wreath
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Another one for sheltered spaces is this fun yarn and felt wreath. If you have some crocheting skills, you can make some little ghosts like these. If not, you’ve got plenty of room for creativity with the felt. Make bats, ghosts, skulls, and all sorts of things with a few snips of the scissors.
A Thematic Pumpkin Wreath
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If you’re fond of a particular fandom or destination, you can carve a small pumpkin to reflect that. Then, insert that pumpkin into a lovely wreath of leaves, flowers, or other harvest touches for the perfect Halloween décor piece.
Burlap Ribbon Wreath with Giant Spider Centerpiece
Image credits: Forsaken Fotos via Flickr
Another fairly easy DIY wreath is this burlap ribbon type. Grab some of the wide ribbon and a metal frame, then your décor pieces, some hot glue sticks, and some twist ties. Put them all together, and you’ve got a unique ribbon wreath with a giant spider centerpiece.
Accented Fall Leaves Wreath
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For a bright yet still “haunted” wreath, consider making one up with some colorful autumn leaves. Then, accent the wreath with some special Halloween touches, like spiders, ghosts, skulls, or even a bat or two.
Feather Boa Wreath
Image credits: MabelAmber via Pixabay
Finally, for an uber-simple Halloween wreath, locate three things: a wire wreath frame, a black and orange feather boa, and some black twist ties. Combine these items, and you’ll have a fluffy, eye-catching Halloween wreath perfect for a sheltered location.
Above All – Have Fun!
Halloween is no longer about the celebrations of ancient rituals and calling forth the spirit world. Instead, it’s all about candy, costumes, and fun. So, take these ideas and do as you will – just have fun as you create and decorate for the spookiest holiday of the year.