Decorating your home is one of the joys of the festive season. And apart from a twinkling tree, there is no better Christmas decoration than a gorgeous floral wreath hanging from your front door.

Not only does it welcome visitors with a burst of festive cheer, but it tells Father Christmas that you’re all set for a visit on Christmas Eve.

Wreaths have been used as a sacred symbol since ancient times. Made from an assortment of flowers, leaves, fruits and twigs, and constructed into the shape of a ring, wreaths have been used to symbolise a person’s rank or achievements – think of those victorious athletes crowned with a wreath of laurel in ancient Greece; or as a protection from evil spirits. The harvest wreath, for example, woven from harvested crops such as wheat, was a sacred symbol, hung from a door for protection from plagues and crop failures.

The tradition of the Christmas wreath dates back to the 16th century, when Lutheran Christians hung advent wreaths, made from the boughs of evergreen trees, symbolising everlasting life, from their doors.

Today, wreaths can be made of anything from flowers and holly berries, to Christmas baubles and bows. The basic wreath shape can be as varied as a foam ring, made from MDF, card, wire or woven vines – these are all available from your local craft shop or Christmas decoration supplier.

Limited only by your imagination, a Christmas wreath is a fantastic way to bring a little Christmas spirit into your home, and can be designed to suit any style or budget. While the internet is a fabulous source of inspiration, these are a few of our favourites.

Pine cone wreath

If you have an abundance of pine cones available, this is a low cost charmer that looks a million dollars. You’ll need a wire coat hanger that has had its hook untwisted and the wire shaped into a circle; a hot glue gun; some pony beads (available from a craft store); and spray paint. Simply glue the beads onto the top of the pine cones. Then, when dry, thread the wire through these beads – the pine cones should nestle snuggly against each other. Continue threading the pine cones onto the wire, until it is full. Twist the end of the coat hanger back into place. Spray the wreath with paint – we recommend gold or silver for a traditional look, and then adorn with a large ribbon. Use the hook on the coat hanger to attach to the front door.

Bauble wreath

For this colourful and modern look, you’ll need a foam wreath, an array of Christmas baubles in different sizes, and a hot glue gun. Simply glue the baubles onto the foam wreath in a pattern of your choosing. The different sized baubles will help ensure there are no gaps between the baubles. Try using a medley of fashionable colours, such as silver, blue, green and pink; or stick with traditional shades of red, gold or green.

Ribbon wreath

This can be made from strips of fabric, burlap or ribbons, depending on how much you want to spend. We used left over craft cottons in coordinating colours. You’ll need an embroidery hoop from a craft shop, ribbon to decorate, and fabric. Cut the fabric into strips – about 3cm wide and at least 20cm long – longer if you want a fuller look. Simply tie the strips securely onto the hoop using a double knot. The frayed edges of the fabric gives a charming home-spun style. Bunch the knots up tightly, and continue until you have filled the entire hoop. Decorate with a coordinating ribbon, and hang.

Holly wreath

This sophisticated wreath of holly or pepper berries makes a real statement. Using a vine wreath and bunches of artificial berries, simply tuck bunches of holly into position, and use a hot glue gun to secure them into place. Keep adding more berries until the wreath is full. Tie with a ribbon, and hang.

Paper Straw wreath

Paper straws come in delightful colours, and a red and white striped straw is perfect for this Christmas wreath that looks like a sunburst when finished. You’ll need a 6 inch (about 15 cm) craft ring, paper, a hot glue gun, 144 paper straws, and a matching ribbon. First, trace the shape of the craft ring onto paper, cut it out, and glue it to the front of the craft ring. Next, trim the straws. You want 49 straws at 17 cm long, 49 straws at 14cm and 25 straws cut in half to get 50 straws at about 10cm each. Discard the remainders.

First, attach the long straws to the ring with a drop of glue, making sure that one end is flush with the inner ring, and they are evenly spaced. Next, attach the middle length straws to the ring between each set of long straws, again with the end flush with the centre ring. Finally attach the small straws, spacing them between the medium straws. Let it dry completely. Finish with a small loop of ribbon attached to the back, for hanging.

To find craft specialists, and Christmas decoration wholesalers near you, check out the Yellow Pages. There are more than 1500 craft supply stores, and over 250 Christmas specialists located right around Australia – let them help you stock up for all your Christmassy crafts.