How to Find an Amazing Halloween Wreath for Your Front Door

The kids are back in school and fall is just around the corner. That means it's time to decorate your home for Halloween. Everyone has a front door waiting for some holiday cheer so we're sharing the steps we took to find the perfect Halloween wreath for our house … with tips you can use for your wreath.

Most of you, myself included, think it's easy to buy a wreath for your front door. When I picked my spring wreath, it seemed easy although I did buy several before I found the perfect wreath for Easter and Mother's day.

My first Halloween wreath felt too small for my front door ... — My first Halloween wreath felt too small for my front door …

HomeGoods has so many Halloween wreaths that it's hard picking one and again I brought several home to audition on my front door. It also helps that I need to return them within 30 days, so there's no time to waste. Imagine my surprise when I found my favorite wreath that looked great in the store, shrunk and didn't seem big enough for my front door so …

For Easter, I added eggs to my wreath(left) ... then removed them for Mother's day (right)... — For Easter, I added eggs to my wreath(left) … then removed them for Mother's day (right)…

This article shares the do's and don'ts of buying and hanging a wreath on your front door, for Halloween or any holiday you celebrate. It's especially important for those who don't have time to make multiple trips to HomeGoods or worse, order and have to return a wreath purchased online.

Consider your door's color, style and whether there will be glass behind the wreath ... door on left has sidelites; door on right has glass — Consider your door's color, style and whether there will be glass behind the wreath …

How Big a Halloween Wreath?

The general rule of thumb is a 24 inch wreath works well with a 36 inch door, leaving 6 inches on either side of the wreath. That's fine for the door on the right but what about the door on the left that has sidelites which can add 10 to 12 inches on one/both sides (read: Front Door Styles & First Impressions).

Doors are also getting taller than the traditional 6 ft 8 in door … and my door is 8 ft tall which was probably part of my dilemma. So here are things to consider when looking for a Halloween wreath that's the perfect size for your front door.

Door width including sidelites or other trim extending the width of your door.
Door height including transom glass over the door, making the door appear taller.
Distance from the street and/or sidewalk that will shrink the size of the wreath visible to those walking/driving by your home.

Two Halloween wreaths both 20 inches wide, look very different in size ... learn why! — Two Halloween wreaths both 20 inches wide, look very different in size … learn why!

There's more to wreath size than the diameter of the wreath. Here are measurements you can use for a colorful Halloween wreath or really … for any holiday or seasonal wreath.

Measure the wreath's diameter at it's fullest but don't count the random leaves or other decor that sticks out randomly. or fall wreath. Too many wreaths like those above, claim to be 24 inches wide but they're really only 20 inches.
Subtract the width of background materials that won't be visible because they're too close to the color of your door. That's what happened to me with the wreath on the left – the dark brown twigs melted into the door, reducing the visual impact of my favorite Halloween wreath.
Measure the thickness of the wreath from the center to the outside. Thicker/fuller wreath materials will make the wreath appear bigger. This is illustrated by the two wreaths above which are the same width with more/less space inside the wreath.

Fall wreaths are similar in size but the colors are different ... one subdued, the other bright — Fall wreaths are similar in size but the colors are different … one subdued, the other bright

Wreath Colors: Halloween, Fall or Both?

Unless you have space to store 12/more wreaths, it makes sense to pick holiday wreaths you can use for several months. That's what I did with my Easter wreath (above) that stayed on my door through June. With spring colors, all I needed to do was add and then remove several bundles of Easter eggs.

Color is a personal taste and my preference is bright, bold colors so I struggled deciding between the colors of the wreath on the right versus the larger wreath on the left. Just like my Easter eggs, there are ways you can dress up a Halloween wreath …

Add color with similar materials like bright red leaves for the wreath on the left.
Add more color with ribbon, flowers and/or holiday/seasonal items like pinecones, berries, pumpkins, gourds, etc. … which I'll do once I find my green florist wire.
Spray paint a wreath you love when it's the wrong color, which I thought about for the wreath on the left … until I found one I liked even more.
Find or make a centerpiece for your wreath that adds the color you want … like a pumpkin or scarecrow with bright colored clothes.
Add LED lights, either white or you can now find them in almost any color. Check out the purple and orange lights on Amazon.

{quote]As you create your front door Halloween wreath, check materials to make sure they will hold up to weather common where you live. Even if your door is covered, strong winds can sometimes send outdoor decorations flying and you don't want to lose your hard work.[/quote]

Wondering what's on my front door?

Here's My Halloween Wreath!

Can you tell I'm not a fan of wreaths overflowing with branches, leaves, flowers and more. After much searching I found this lovely, wreath that fits me … and when I find my missing florist wire, I'll add a few pumpkins.