Five Wreath Bases That You Can Embellish for Every Season

Make no mistake about it: A beautiful wreath must have a proper wreath base as its foundation. "A wreath base is what gives your wreath its shape and strength, and is used for attaching flowers, greenery, or whatever elements or seasonal embellishments you have in mind for your design," says Peggy Stewart Breeland of Sweet Tea Makery. "Also known as a wreath frame, a wreath base is basically the bottom layer of a wreath, which provides the foundation needed to begin creating a finished decorative wreath."

Since the function of a base is to provide structural support for the wreath, Amanda Cleckler of Grace Monroe Home says it's important to pick one that is both seasonally appropriate and that can accommodate the type of materials you plan to use in the wreath design. "The base is what holds your flowers, greenery, ribbons, deco mesh, burlap, or other embellishments," she explains. "Without the proper wreath base, it can be very difficult to get the style and look that you are going for."

Curious about what kinds of wreath bases can be decorated and displayed all year long? From grapevine wreath bases to metal styles and more, three professional wreath makers share their favorites ahead.

Grapevine Wreath Base

Composed of natural dried grapevines woven together and formed into a variety of shapes and sizes, Cleckler says that a base like the Ashland Grapevine Wreath ($9.99, michaels.com) is perfect for year-round use. "A grapevine wreath base is the classic, go-to wreath base," she explains. "You can easily change out your flowers and accents depending on the season or holiday for which you are decorating, and since it provides such a sturdy base, it will likely last season after season for several years."

While grapevine wreath bases look great naturally, Breeland says that they can also be painted to add another design element to your finished wreath. "The beauty of this type of wreath base is that you can choose to completely cover them or leave them partly exposed, and the natural vine blends well with nearly every type of floral embellishment," she says.

Boxwood Wreath Base

Made of naturally dried boxwood materials, faux boxwood, or fresh greenery—as is the case with Pottery Barn's Fresh Boxwood Wreath ($79, potterybarn.com)—Breeland says that boxwood bases are durable and easy to embellish. "Boxwood wreath bases are pretty much maintenance-free, and are essentially fade-resistant, so they will stay green for years and years," she explains.

And since boxwood wreaths are most often designed with faux greenery, Breeland says dressing one up season after season is a breeze. "Designing with a boxwood wreath base can be as simple as adding a burlap bow, and changing out the bow to follow the seasonal décor themes," she says.

Wire Wreath Base

Long-lasting and versatile, Breeland says that wire wreath bases are constructed of lightweight metals and typically powder-coated to prevent flaking or rusting. "Wire or metal wreath bases can be used throughout the year because the base itself can survive extreme weather changes, especially when used in an outdoor setting like on your front door where the most exposure to the natural elements will likely occur," she explains. We like Terrain's Brass Wreath Base (from $26, shopterrain.com), which comes in various sizes.

However, due to their lightweight construction, Julie Siomacco of Southern Charm Wreaths says it's best to decorate a wire wreath base with daintier materials. "A crafter can use deco mesh, ribbon, or burlap to build up a wire metal base when designing," she explains.

Foam Wreath Bases

Lightweight and weatherproof, Siomacco says that Styrofoam wreath bases are perfect for beginners. "Inserting greenery and flowers into a Styrofoam base is simple and speeds up the making process," she explains. "They also produce a more compact wreath, so they look great when hung indoors."

When selecting a Styrofoam wreath base, Siomacco recommends purchasing one that is green in color—not bright white. "This will make it easier to hide the mechanics of the wreath base," she explains. For this, try FloraCraft's FloraFōM Wreath (from $6.89, amazon.com).

Straw Wreath Base

Soft but compact, Breeland says that straw wreath bases come in a variety of sizes and are usually wrapped with nylon string to provide a sturdier foundation for a wreath. "Straw wreath bases are good for outdoor use and usually come pre-wrapped in plastic which can be removed depending on the type of wreath you are making," she explains. "I recommend removing the plastic when possible as during months where there is a high rate of humidity the plastic can trap water and mold the straw under the plastic."

However, Breeland says that straw bases like FloraCraft's Straw Wreath Form (from $6.26, amazon.com) often have a bulkier shape, which should be kept in mind when choosing embellishments for your wreath. "Straw is softer than other wreath base materials, so you may need to add glue to strengthen and secure floral pins," she explains.