When it comes to getting in the spirit of Christmas, there's no better way to pay homage to the season than by giving your home's front entrance a holiday-inspired makeover. While many call it a day with a classic wreath, Martha Stewart has convinced me to try something a little different this year.
Don't get me wrong, a lush, round wreath will always be timeless, but after seeing Martha's Christmas wreath alternative, I'm rethinking my usual door decor. Combining a personal touch with festivity, Martha's monogram wreath is the perfect way to greet friends and family over the holidays.
In the video, Martha explains, 'I love making wreaths so much. The holidays are just not the holidays without wreaths on windows and on doors. Just look at this beautiful monogram wreath, in the shape of an S for Stuart. It's a simple process – let me show you how to make this.'
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Martha's monogram wreath is surprisingly easy to make at home. With some MDF, a good garland and plenty of festive ornaments, you can create your own personalized wreath. However, if DIY isn't your thing, you can skip to the easy part with the Modern Home 12" Real Preserved Boxwood Monogram Wreath from Amazon. Simply add some baubles and lights, and you've got a personalized welcome each time you arrive home.
Woven with winter berries, pinecones and lights, this Wintry Pine Christmas Garland is an undeniably festive choice for a wreath. Pair it with some red baubles for a cohesive, vibrant display.
Keep your wreath simple with this 6' Cedar Pre-Lit Faux Garland. Woven with fairy lights, it's the perfect backdrop for nostalgic decorations such as glass baubles and wintry foliage.
Thick and full, this 9ft Pre-Lit Christmas Garland is an enduringly festive choice. Wrap it around your initial of choice and pair it with metallic baubles for a timeless display that evokes a wintry feel.
Classic yet playful, these red shiny baubles will give your DIY wreath a vibrant and striking effect. Pair them with gold and green accents for the ultimate homage to Christmas.
For a touch of luxury, scatter these delicate gold and white ornaments along your monogram wreath. They'll catch the light and glow all season long, welcoming guests in from the cold.
For nostalgic charm, add these solid ball ornaments to your DIY wreath alongside some fairy lights for a welcoming display that nods to past holidays.
Martha's outdoor Christmas decor is traditional yet playful. No matter your style, the beauty of the DIY is that it can be personalized. Whether you want to pare it back or create a statement, it's up to you how you decorate your wreath.
Martha begins by creating the template for her wreath. She says, 'First, trace your initial of choice onto your quarter-inch MDF. Remember to 'be accurate and stay on the lines (if you possibly can!)' she says.
Once you've traced your initial onto your cardboard, remove your tracing paper template and then cut the MDF initial out with a jigsaw.
Using a 9ft sparkling pine garland, Martha twists it onto her letter (she opts for an S for Stewart) and holds it in place with some thin wire, using pliers and a 28 gauge wire (like this set of 28 AWG Stranded Wire Spool 25ft In 6 Colors from Amazon).
She says, 'Start with one end, the bottom of the S is good, and fix your wire (I would go around twice) and twist very tightly around the one end.' Martha adds, 'The electric cord on your wreath should be at the bottom of your letter, so just tightly fix the garland on top of the wire. Then start catching the garland all the way around. After you're finished, you can pull the flocking to cover all the MDF.'
Once the base of the wreath has been created, you can then start with your Christmas decorations. Martha explains, 'To further gild the lily or gild the wreath, take a 12-inch piece of the 28-gauge wire and utilize some of your fantastic ornaments.' She adds, 'This is an illuminated wreath, so it's going to look really pretty on your house.'
Martha recommends around seventeen ornaments to 'go along the whole curve of the S.' She adds, 'Take them around and twist them on the back of the letter.' She puts them 'very close together and nestles them in the pine needles so that they look really pretty.'
Martha's DIY wreath idea is surprisingly easy to recreate at home. Whether you're going all out and covering your initial in colorful ornaments or you're keeping it simple with wintry pinecones and berries, a monogram wreath is the ultimate festive welcome.
