Starting a wreath project is easier when you understand which supplies are essential and which decorations are optional. The exact materials will depend on the type of wreath you want to make, but most designs begin with a sturdy base and build outward with ribbon, mesh, signs, greenery, picks, ornaments, or attachments.
You do not need to buy every wreath-making product before your first project. Begin with a specific design, color palette, or theme and purchase only the supplies that support that plan.
Quick Answer: To make a wreath, you generally need a wreath frame or base, materials such as deco mesh or greenery, wired ribbon, chenille stems or floral wire, scissors, wire cutters, and a focal piece or decorative accents. Signs, picks, ornaments, attachments, bows, glue, and zip ties are optional depending on the design.
Table of Contents
Basic Wreath-Making Supply Checklist
Most wreath projects use some combination of:
- Wreath frame or base
- Deco mesh, greenery, fabric, burlap, or ribbon
- Wired ribbon
- Chenille stems, floral wire, or zip ties
- Wreath sign or other focal piece
- Picks, sprays, flowers, or greenery
- Ornaments or attachments
- Scissors
- Wire cutters
- Ruler or measuring tape
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Optional wreath bow
Browse wreath supplies by product type when planning your project.
You may not need every item on this list. A simple grapevine wreath could use only ribbon, greenery, and a sign, while a full deco mesh wreath may require mesh, several ribbons, a frame, fasteners, and decorative accents.
1. Choose A Wreath Frame Or Base
The frame or base determines the shape, size, support, and overall style of the finished wreath.
Common options include:
- Round wire frames
- Mesh wire frames
- Frames with attached ties
- Grapevine wreaths
- Evergreen or pine wreaths
- Teardrop and swag forms
- Shaped wire frames
- Foam or straw bases
A plain wire frame is affordable and flexible, but you will normally need to add chenille stems, wire, or zip ties.
A frame with attached ties can make it easier to position mesh and ribbon evenly. Grapevine forms work well with greenery, flowers, ribbon, signs, and smaller accents.
Browse wreath frames and forms before choosing the remaining materials. Knowing the base size will help you estimate how much mesh, ribbon, and decoration the project requires.
Remember that the finished wreath will usually be larger than its bare frame once the decorations extend beyond the edges.
2. Select A Foundation Material
The foundation material adds color, fullness, and texture while helping cover the frame.
Possible foundation materials include:
- Deco mesh
- Evergreen greenery
- Artificial leaves
- Fabric strips
- Burlap
- Tulle
- Ribbon
- Floral stems
- Moss
- Grapevine left partially visible
Many sports, holiday, and seasonal wreaths use deco mesh because it creates volume and is available in many colors, patterns, finishes, and widths.
Mesh is optional, however. A grapevine or greenery wreath may look better when portions of the base remain visible.
Choose the foundation based on the design you want instead of assuming that every wreath must use the same material.
3. Choose Wired Ribbon
Wired ribbon is one of the most versatile wreath-making supplies.
It can be used for:
- Ribbon tails
- Loops
- Bows
- Streamers
- Color accents
- Covering attachment points
- Repeating a theme throughout the wreath
The wire along the edges helps the ribbon hold curves, loops, and tails better than soft unwired ribbon.
A coordinated wreath might use:
- One featured patterned ribbon
- One solid ribbon
- One stripe, check, or polka dot
- One optional metallic or neutral accent
Two or three ribbon patterns are enough for many designs. You can combine 2.5″ ribbon with 1.5″ ribbon to create contrast without using too many patterns.
Browse wreath ribbon by color, theme, pattern, or width. Coordinated ribbon bundles can also simplify the selection process.
Read how much ribbon you need for a wreath before purchasing several rolls or cutting all your ribbon pieces.
4. Add A Sign Or Focal Piece
A focal piece gives the eye a clear place to rest and helps establish the wreath’s theme.
Possible focal pieces include:
- Wreath sign
- Decorative license plate
- Large ornament
- Seasonal attachment
- Monogram
- Bow
- Floral cluster
- Team decoration
- Character or shaped accent
A sign can be placed in the center, above or below the center opening, or toward one side.
Before attaching it, compare the focal piece with the completed size of the wreath. A small sign can become hidden in full mesh, while a very large sign may cover too much ribbon and decoration.
Browse wreath signs for sports, teams, holidays, seasons, and everyday designs.
When making a wreath for a favorite team, choose a sign or focal piece first and use its colors to guide the mesh, ribbon, and accents.
5. Select Decorative Accents
Decorative accents add height, texture, movement, and smaller areas of detail.
Options include:
- Floral picks
- Glitter sprays
- Artificial flowers
- Greenery
- Berries
- Ornaments
- Foam shapes
- Sports decorations
- Seasonal attachments
- Small bows
- Decorative tubing
- Wired curls
Use floral picks and sprays to extend the design beyond the main wreath base or fill areas around the sign and bow.
Ornaments and wreath attachments can reinforce the theme, but they are not required in every available space.
Choose accents that repeat colors, shapes, or textures already used elsewhere. This makes the wreath look coordinated rather than crowded.
6. Gather Fasteners And Attachment Supplies
Fasteners connect the decorative materials to the wreath frame.
Useful options include:
- Chenille stems
- Floral wire
- Zip ties
- Built-in frame ties
- Floral pins
- Staples
- Cable-mounting squares
- Hot glue
Chenille stems work well for securing mesh and ribbon bundles. Floral wire and zip ties can provide more support for signs, bows, ornaments, and heavier attachments.
Hot glue can help stabilize smaller decorations, but heavier pieces should also be connected securely to the wreath frame whenever possible.
Choose fasteners that blend with the wreath colors and trim sharp ends after the decorations are secure.
7. Gather Basic Wreath-Making Tools
You do not need an entire craft room of specialty equipment to begin.
Basic tools include:
- Sharp fabric scissors
- Wire cutters
- Ruler or measuring tape
- Hot glue gun
- Glue sticks
- Needle-nose pliers
- Stapler
- Protective work surface
Optional tools include:
- Rotary cutter
- Self-healing cutting mat
- Bow maker
- Mesh roller
- Floral stem cutter
- Heat tool for certain synthetic materials
Use wire cutters instead of fabric scissors for floral wire and wired stems. This will help protect the scissors you use for ribbon.
Browse wreath-making tools for useful cutting, measuring, fastening, and assembly supplies.
Wreath Supplies For Different Types Of Projects
The supply list changes according to the wreath style.
Deco Mesh Wreath
A basic deco mesh wreath may use:
- Wire frame or work form
- One or two mesh colors
- Wired ribbon
- Chenille stems
- Sign
- Picks or ornaments
- Floral wire
- Scissors and wire cutters
Grapevine Wreath
A grapevine design may use:
- Grapevine base
- Greenery or flowers
- Wired ribbon
- Bow
- Sign or attachment
- Floral wire
- Hot glue
Evergreen Or Pine Wreath
An evergreen-style wreath may use:
- Pine or evergreen base
- Wired ribbon
- Bow
- Picks and sprays
- Ornaments
- Sign
- Floral wire
Sports Wreath
A sports wreath may include:
- Frame or work form
- Team-color mesh
- Coordinating ribbon
- Sports or team sign
- Football, baseball, or other sports accents
- Ornaments, picks, or attachments
- Floral wire and chenille stems
Browse sports wreath supplies for materials organized by sport, league, team, and product type.
A Simple Beginner Shopping Plan
Use this order to prevent unnecessary purchases:
- Choose the wreath theme.
- Decide where the wreath will be displayed.
- Select the base or frame.
- Choose the sign or main focal piece.
- Select two or three main colors.
- Choose mesh, greenery, or another foundation.
- Add two or three coordinating ribbons.
- Select a small number of accents.
- Confirm that you have the proper fasteners.
- Gather the necessary tools.
Place the main supplies together before cutting or attaching anything. Make sure the colors coordinate and that the sign will remain visible.
What Should A Beginner Avoid Buying?
New wreath makers sometimes buy large amounts of ribbon, mesh, signs, and decorative accents before deciding what they will make.
Try to avoid:
- Too many unrelated ribbon patterns
- Supplies for several seasons at once
- Multiple tools that perform the same job
- Oversized signs without checking the frame
- Accents that do not match a planned design
- Large quantities of an untested material
- Decorations simply because they are on sale
Begin with one or two complete projects. This will help you learn which tools, bases, materials, and techniques you actually enjoy using.
Are Wreath Kits Good For Beginners?
A coordinated kit can reduce the number of decisions required for a first project.
Some wreath kits include ribbon, mesh, signs, or decorative accents selected to work together. However, the frame, tools, wire, glue, and other basics may not always be included.
Review the complete contents before purchasing a kit and compare them with the supply checklist for your project.
Ready To Start Making Your Wreath?
Once you have gathered the supplies, follow our guide explaining how to make a deco mesh wreath for beginners for the basic assembly process.
You can use the same planning principles for sports wreaths, holiday wreaths, seasonal designs, grapevine wreaths, and evergreen bases.
Final Thoughts
The answer to “What supplies do I need to make a wreath?” depends on the wreath style, size, and level of detail.
Most projects begin with a frame or base, a foundation material, wired ribbon, fasteners, tools, and a focal piece. Picks, ornaments, attachments, bows, and additional decorations can be added when they strengthen the design.
Start with a plan instead of a large supply collection. Choosing the theme, frame, sign, and colors first will make it easier to purchase materials that work together.
Wreath-Making Supply FAQs
What are the most important wreath-making supplies for beginners?
Begin with a wreath frame or base, wired ribbon, fasteners, scissors, wire cutters, and the main material needed for your chosen wreath style. Deco mesh, greenery, signs, picks, and ornaments depend on the design.
Do all wreaths need deco mesh?
No. Wreaths can also be made with grapevine, greenery, fabric, burlap, flowers, ribbon, evergreen branches, or other bases. Deco mesh is one popular option for adding volume and color.
Do I need a wreath sign?
No. A bow, floral cluster, ornament, monogram, attachment, or other large decoration can serve as the focal piece.
Is wired ribbon better for wreaths?
Wired ribbon is usually easier to shape because the edges help loops and tails hold their position. Unwired ribbon can still be used when a softer or flatter appearance is desired.
What can I use to attach decorations to a wreath?
Common attachment supplies include chenille stems, floral wire, zip ties, built-in wreath ties, staples, floral pins, and hot glue. The best choice depends on the frame and the weight of the decoration.
How many ribbon patterns should I use?
Two or three coordinating ribbons are enough for many wreaths. Larger or more detailed designs may use additional patterns, but they should share a consistent color palette.
Do I need a bow maker?
No. Bows can be made by hand using wired ribbon and floral wire or a chenille stem. A bow maker is optional and may help with consistency.
Is a wreath kit easier for beginners?
A kit can simplify color and pattern selection. Check whether it includes the wreath frame, tools, fasteners, and glue, because some kits contain only the decorative materials.