How to make an autumn wreath

Making your own autumn wreath is a great cold-weather activity, and brings some welcome cheer to a doorway or internal wall as the season's change. It's also the perfect excuse for a long walk in the woods or across the fields to look for supplies – think pine cones, berries, fallen leaves, and dried grasses.

Our guide to the best autumn wreaths you can buy is a great place to look for inspiration on what you want to include in your own design. Pay attention to colour combinations you love, the use of contrasting shapes and textures, and arrangements; from 'naked' placement designs to full-on foliage.

Once you have an idea in mind, this quick tutorial will help you to handcraft your own unique decoration.

You will need:

• Wire wreath frame
• Florist wire
• Leaves, berries, pine cones and seasonal flowers
• Brown garden twine

Step 1) Separate the leaves and berries into small bunches. Lay in the middle of a 20cm length of florist wire. Twist the middle section around the stems, leaving the wire ends like a hairpin. Do the same with berry and flower clusters and pine cones.
Step 2) Starting with the foliage, secure the leaves to the frame with florist wire adding leaf bunches at intervals around the frame. Remember to check for gaps and spaces.
Step 3) Next add the clusters of berries, flowers and cones, spacing them at regular intervals.
Step 4) Finally add bows of garden twine around the wreath.

And, of course, if you don't have time or inclination to make your own wreath, you can always buy some autumn decor. Check out our top picks of this year's best autumn wreaths for inspi