substitute a wreath with chris olsen’s front door decor

Posted on 29 November 2011

It seems like just yesterday that Chris Olsen, of Botanica Gardens, was showing us his favorite outdoor projects for the summertime! But, alas, Christmas is nearly here, and we have holiday decorating to tend to. Today, Chris shows you an alternative to the traditional wreath. His creative front door decor packs a highly festive punch, don’t you agree?

Save the best for last, and give your guests a real treat by drawing their eyes directly to your door. Who needs a wreath when you can take silk branches, wire them together to create a type of ‘screen door,’ incorporate some of the same decorating details from inside, and spray it a glittering silver. It weighs almost nothing and can come down with ease. But its effect is immediate.

You will need:

6 two-inch blocks of wood, pre-drilled for dowel rods

Wood screws

6 dowel rods, two for each side of frame and one each for top and bottom

Enough silk branches to recreate the frame, and diagonal pieces for your ‘screen door.’ Our branches came from a local craft and hobby store. (Note: you can use branches from your own yard. Sweet gum, oak, birch, and pine are simple to use. They’re pliable enough to bend, yet can be wired to each other easily.) You’ll want branches not much larger than the dowel rods. Measure the area and cut to size.

Here’s how to create your door piece:

1. Attach the first two wood blocks in place to create frame base. You are creating a rectangle that follows the outline of your door.

2. Thread dowel rods into and through them. Screw remaining blocks and insert dowels.

3. Criss cross branches between the dowel rods, wiring in place as you go. Finish by wiring branches to the rods, hiding the dowels and blocks.

4. Attach decorative pieces (we added these awesome snowflakes).