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Reading up on Domino’s shopping guides is like having your own personal product concierge. We do the tedious part—deep-dive research, hands-on testing, and tapping experts for advice—so all you have to do is hit “add to cart.” That’s why we call them Simply the Best.
What makes a good holiday wreath? It doesn’t get more classic (or better-smelling) than freshly-cut pine, cedar, or fir, but faux wreaths are looking more real than ever these days. Plus, you get real bang for buck—it’s a single purchase you can hang again and again, year after year. Of course, your holiday wreath doesn’t have to mimic nature at all. This is a great opportunity to dabble in the wild and weird: tinsel, light-up baubles, and even LEGOs. After all, your display is only up for a few weeks. Read on for the 30 best holiday wreaths we landed on, plus the pros’ hanging hacks.
Our Favorites
- Best minimalist: Afloral Real Touch Norfolk Pine Wreath
- Best classic: Balsam Hill Fresh Noble Fir Woodland Wreath
- Best affordable: Holiday Time Cedar and Pinecones Christmas Wreath
- Best nontraditional: Williams-Sonoma Silver Jingle Bell Wreath
Best Minimalist Wreaths
Sometimes all a front door needs is the addition of elegant Norfolk pine branches, fresh magnolia leaves for a natural pop of golden bronze, or braided bunches of holly berries.
Best Classic Wreaths
If you’re a stickler for tradition, and your holiday decorating style tends to skew the L.L.Bean catalog, this is your category.
Best Affordable Wreaths
While a lower budget may limit size and fullness, these under-$45 finds are equally sophisticated.
Best Nontraditional Wreaths
Instead of greenery, these wreaths star eclectic, unusual accents (hello, paper fans!) and almost always stray outside the typical forest green color scheme.
Our Shopping Checklist
We tapped a couple of design experts with one thing in common: an obsession with all things Christmas. Jan Goodman, the founder of Cityscapes, has a whole room in her basement devoted to decorations for the season. Eddie Ross, an entertaining expert, magazine alum, and chief content creator at Maximalist Studios, has been known to put a wreath on the front of his car. She transforms hotel lobbies and residential spaces into winter wonderlands; he knows how to make a picture-perfect holiday display.
Design
While Goodman works on a lot of hotels and building lobbies, she notes that wreaths are also ideal for small spaces because they don’t take up floor space. A single-species wreath can be lovely on its own or an opportunity for DIYing some decorations; multi-species wreaths will have a more textured, layered look. Ross likes adding a strand of battery-powered white fairy lights for a warm glow on dark winter days.
Materials and Size
For fresh wreaths, Goodman recommends the traditional balsam fir for that Christmasy scent you know and love, but she’s also a fan of both cedar and spruce in the mix. “They look good and last longer than a single-species wreath,” she says.
A diversity of branches and a bit of asymmetry in the leaves helps a faux wreath fool the eye, too: “You don’t want it to look too perfect,” says Ross. He also likes to tuck in live greenery clippings from his yard; pine cones and juniper berries can also all work.
How to know which size to get? Given a typical front entry door is 36 inches wide, 22 to 24 inches is considered a standard diameter for wreaths. Oversize designs—36 inches or more—work best above a mantel. (Goodman has been known to take down a piece of art and hang a wreath on the existing hook for a high-impact swap that won’t damage the walls.)
Inside vs. Outside Use
Fresh wreaths will last longer outside, says Goodman; the heat indoors can dry them out and they may not make it to season’s end. With faux wreaths, pay close attention to product descriptions. Some options marked as outdoor-friendly can only be used in a covered space.
Ask Domino
Ross is a fan of a simple nail: “It’s charming and adds character,” he says. Or you can go with a Command hook. Over-the-door wreath holders are a great way to avoid making a single mark: Here’s a statement bow and a simple matte black one. Goodman points out that they won’t work with every doors, though. Beware if yours has a particularly tight seal or runs thicker than standard.
Before you even buy the wreath, Goodman suggests doing a shake test. If a bunch of needles fall off, it’s old. Look for something fresher. Once it’s hung, hydration is key. Fill a spray bottle with water and spritz the branches every few days.
You want your wreath to keep its shape and not accumulate dust, says Goodman. Pick up a bag specifically meant for wreath storage. Our recommendations: this affordable bag (but because it’s not hard-sided, don’t plan to put anything on top) or a heavy-duty, cushioned option.