DIY Fabric-Ruffled Wreath for Entryway Decor

I love seeing all the creative wreaths people make throughout the year, but until recently I had never tried one myself. I once made a wreath from real greenery and, if I remember correctly, it wasn’t my best effort. When I was working on freshening our entryway, I realized I needed something to fill an empty spot. I was experimenting with a new color palette and didn’t want to reach for the usual items in my stash, so I decided to make a wreath with things I already had on hand.

Materials I Used

• Foam pipe insulation tube (used as a makeshift wreath form)
• Wire hanger to reinforce the shape
• Duct tape to hold the form together
• 2-inch canvas drop cloth strip to wrap the form
• Long strip of fabric for pleating (ruffle effect)
• Thumbtacks and a few stick pins
• Paper music-sheet ornaments (or fabric flowers as an alternative)
• Sparkly centers to hide pins
• Ribbon for hanging

How I Made the Wreath

The challenge was that I didn’t have a conventional wreath form and wasn’t planning a trip into town just to buy one. Instead I dug through what I had and found a foam tube used for insulating pipes. I straightened a wire hanger, threaded it through the tube, twisted the hanger ends together and tucked them in. Then I reinforced the shape with duct tape. The hanger provided structure, but the tube still had a few squashed spots.

To even out the shape, I wrapped the form with a strip of 2-inch canvas drop cloth. That simple base made the wreath look cleaner and gave me something to tack fabric into.

Next I laid a long strip of fabric across the covered form and pleated it into a ruffle. Where each pleat folded inward I secured it with a thumbtack. Once the pleats were tacked in place, I smoothed the outer edges so the tacks were hidden and the ruffles looked tidy. After checking the wreath from all angles, I added a few more tacks on the underside where ruffles wanted to flop down.

Adding Ornaments and Finishing Touches

My sister-in-law taught me how to make neat paper ornaments from old music sheets, and I used a few of those for this wreath. I pinned them on with stick pins and covered the pinheads with sparkly centers to give the wreath a little shine.

I added a ribbon at the top to serve as the hanger. The final result felt soft and balanced with the entryway color scheme I was trying for. If you don’t have paper ornaments, fabric flowers or other small decorations in silver, gray, white, or sparkly finishes would look lovely.

Variations and Tips

• If you don’t have a foam tube, try using a pool noodle cut and joined into a ring or a wire wreath frame wrapped with batting.
• Use heavier fabric or doubled layers for more dramatic ruffles; lightweight fabrics create a softer, airier look.
• Secure decorations with hot glue if pins aren’t holding on the covering material.
• For a winter or holiday look, choose metallic accents and neutral tones like silver, gray, and ivory.
• Test the hanger and balance before hanging: small adjustments with tacks or extra fabric can help the wreath hang straight.

This simple, budget-friendly project uses common household materials and lets you customize color, texture, and embellishments to suit your decor. Once you have a basic covered form, you can rework the surface with different fabrics or accents seasonally, making it a versatile piece for your entryway or any room in the house.