The Best Holiday Wreaths Are Festive Even If They’re Not Fresh

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? To help us narrow down the best of the best, 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. Read on for the 30 best holiday wreaths we landed on, plus a few of the pros’ hanging hacks.

Our Favorites

• Best minimalist: Afloral Real Touch 24-Inch Norfolk Pine Wreath
• Best classic: Balsam Hill Fresh Noble Fir Woodland Wreath 
• Best affordable: Target x Studio McGee Draping Cedar Holiday Artificial Wreath
• Best luxury: Saks Fifth Avenue CocoBella Ivy Holiday Wreath
• Best nontraditional: Creekside Farms Chili Pepper Eucalyptus 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 Luxury Wreaths 

To make a luxury wreath worth splurging on, you want overtly oversize, overflowing materials or something carefully crafted by hand.

Best Nontraditional Wreaths 

Instead of greenery, these wreaths star eclectic, unusual accents (hello, chili peppers!) and almost always stray outside the typical forest green color scheme.

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Design

“Ranging from simple to very ornate, wreaths are a great tool for holiday decorating,” says Goodman. While she 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 is a low-key option or can be an opportunity for creative play; multi-species wreaths will have a more textured, layered look, and natural flourishes like dried citrus and berries will read as traditional. Ross likes adding a strand of battery-powered white fairy lights for a warm glow on dark winter days. We’re of the opinion that holiday decor is a great opportunity to dabble in maximalism, since the transformation only lasts a few weeks. 

Materials and Size

Faux wreaths are looking more real than ever these days. A diversity of branches and a bit of asymmetry in the leaves will help fool the eye: “You don’t want it to look too perfect,” says Ross. He also likes to pull clippings from his yard and tuck them into faux wreaths. Pine cones, juniper berries, and appealing greenery can all work. Plus going the faux or dried route means you can hang it again and again, year after year. 

As for natural wreaths, Goodman recommends the traditional balsam fir for that Christmasy scent you know and love, but she’s also a fan of multi-species wreaths, particularly those with cedar and spruce. “They look good and last longer than a single-species wreath,” she says. 

So how to know which size to get? A typical front entry door is 36 inches wide; 22 to 24 inches is considered a standard diameter for wreaths. To keep proportions right, a narrower door will call for a smaller wreath, but if you have a larger door or like the look of a bigger wreath, try a 30-inch option. Oversize designs—36 inches or more—work well 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

“Outside, I always use fresh because it lasts longer,” says Goodman. Inside, with the heat on, real wreaths are prone to drying out and may not make it to season’s end. With faux wreaths, pay attention to product descriptions. Some options marked as outdoor-friendly can only be used in a covered space, and not every front door is protected in that way.

Ask Domino

Q: How should I hang a holiday wreath on my door?

Ross is a fan of a simple nail in the door: “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 marks or hammering nails: Here’s a statement bow wreath hanger and a simple cast-iron one. Goodman points out that they don’t work with all doors, however, including those that have a particularly tight seal or run thicker than standard, so make sure you try it out before hanging a wreath. 

Q: Is it possible to keep a real wreath looking fresh throughout the holiday season? 

To keep real wreaths fresh, fill a spray bottle with water and spritz the branches every few days. Dried-out greenery, including Christmas trees, can quickly become a fire hazard indoors, so make sure you don’t have candles near your wreath. When buying a wreath in person, Goodman suggests giving it a shake. If a bunch of needles fall off, it’s old. Look for something fresher. 

Q: What’s the best way to store my wreath beyond Christmas?

In the off-season, 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 option (but because it’s not hard-sided, don’t plan to put other boxes or bags on top) or something a bit more heavy-duty that’s larger and will facilitate storage for multiple wreaths. 

Q: Do you have some holiday styling ideas for an entryway?

Sure! Here are a few of our favorites: (1) Line up pillar candles in your entryway to instantly set the mood. (2) No room for a tree? Get creative with your wall and some greenery. (3) Whether it’s red and green, textural whites, or shades of blue, picking a color scheme will give your space a cohesive look.