Have You Ever Decorated With a Christmas Wreath This Way?

When I shared my Christmas decorating this year, I mentioned how I’ve been leaning into the joy of simpler décor—pieces that carry a little nostalgia, a little sparkle, and absolutely no pressure to overhaul the entire house. That shift has felt wonderful, but as I walked through the foyer the other day, one lonely corner kept whispering that it needed just a little something. Not a shopping trip… just a spark of creativity.

So I did what any determined “use-what-you-have” decorator does: I headed straight for my attic stash and let inspiration take the lead. What came together was one of those delightfully easy, semi-homemade Christmas ideas that looks charmingly intentional but takes almost no time—or tools—at all.

I always like to keep a basket by the side of the sideboard in the foyer filled with seasonal flowers or foliage. I change the baskets I use in the spot every so often also.

For some reason I just wasn’t feeling just greenery in the basket this year.

I switched out the rectangular basket with one of my round floor baskets, a wreath, my collection of silver ornaments and red velvet ribbon.

I created a nestled Christmas wreath planter. It took 10 minutes. First I crumpled up brown bags I had to fill the basket all the way to the top. You could use lots of plastic bags, bubble wrap, foam, old towels… whatever you have. I used both paper and plastic bags. You just want to make sure to fill it to the top.

Next I placed a wreath on top.

Then added my silver ornaments to fill the center of the wreath.

A few of the ornaments are heavy, so I made sure that the fill bags were packed into the basket so these ornaments wouldn’t sink.

A red velvet bow finished it off.

10 minutes and done, plus it was made with items I already had which always makes me feel good.

More Semi-Homemade Christmas Decorations

On the sideboard in the foyer is where Ed adds his decorating touch to our decor.

If you have been reading my blog for a long time, you may remember the piece of modern art I made after finding a large piece of driftwood in the lake.

A few years ago Ed put a Santa hat on it and his sunglasses. Since then it has become part of our Christmas decor every year.

In front of it I placed a white ceramic platter, filled it with sugared cranberries, a small wreath from Hobby Lobby, a candle and red bow. Simple and done!

There’s something so satisfying about stepping back and realizing that a few familiar pieces, rearranged with fresh eyes, can bring a new look to them. My nestled ornaments in a wreath basket, paired with Ed’s annual Santa-hat moment on the driftwood art, proves again how Christmas decorating doesn’t need to be elaborate to feel magical.

A handful of ornaments, a ribbon, a candle… and suddenly the foyer glows as warmly as any childhood memory. And that’s really the heart of it this year, letting simple touches tell the story. If you try a semi-homemade idea of your own, I hope it brings the same easy cheer to your home, too.