Creative autumn wreath ideas

By Nancy Baldwin

Autumn wreaths are no longer limited to artificial leaves and traditional round shapes — consider unusual materials like corks or even pastries! After all, there’s no rule that says a wreath must be round or floral! An uncommon shape, size, or component will create a distinctive ambience and give visual interest.

• Pastry Wreath. Farozan Jivraj, pastry chef and owner of Cupcake Novelties in Winchester, Virginia, uses cake pops frosted in fall colors to reflect her culinary passion. Starting with a base of floral foam (found at a craft store), the wreath also includes colorful sprinkles and “chocolate leaves dusted with edible gold dust,” Jivraj says.

• Cork Wreath. “I had been collecting corks for quite some time,” says Nikki McGonigal, owner of Nikki, In Stitches in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. “After a few hours of work and a few hot glue sticks, my quirky cork wreath now greets us at the front door.”

• Star Wreath. “We love making wreaths that aren’t wreaths at all,” states Gina Samarotto, president and principal designer at The Samarotto Design Group in Poughkeepsie, New York. “A mirrored, wall-mounted, Monrovian-style star embellished with sprigs of fresh evergreen makes a glitzy, glamorous alternative to a traditional wreath.”

• Diamond Wreath. Consider wrapping 1-inch fabric around a trio of diamond-shaped wreath forms in graduated sizes. “We chose a hunter-green silk ribbon to sleekly cover the form,” Samarotto notes. A simple cluster of burgundy faux berries and a preserved Ginkgo leaf finishes the elegant pieces, which can be suspended by invisible filament.

Let these ideas be inspiration for decorating with striking autumn wreaths!