Inspiration

We particularly like using thyme, dried heather and bleached ruscus in dried wreaths, so have used all three in both the Wisley and Norbury. On top of these, there are different species in each design such as locally-picked, fresh winter greens like pine and mixed cones to ensure they aren’t just different in their shape and size but their style and colouring too. Of course, the foliage is the hero of the wreath but the silk and velvet ribbon ties that we use to finish the designs really contribute to their character too.

The unifying character in our festive foliage is their delicate nature and soft tones. Such an ethereal spirit comes through and I find that especially timeless at Christmas. The subtle scenting is also important as it means the wreath isn’t just a visual experience. The fragrance needs to be strong enough to be detected but not too heady, nor too typical of the season. By selecting less-expected scents like thyme and heather, your wreath could even remain in use long after Christmastime.

Absolutely. We often use the same species in garlands for mantelpieces and staircases. Creating movement and texture is key as it softens the space and makes delicate shadows in the low winter light typical of December – and this is precisely what this foliage selection provides.

Handmaking wreaths is such a beautiful and meditative task, creating a continual circle of foliage piece by piece, layer by layer. After gathering the ingredients needed, we carefully and securely bind the foliage onto the frame – no part of it should be rushed. I would say each wreath takes generally upwards of an hour from start to finish.

Of course! The frame is your foundation, and you can purchase wire or wooden ones from your local florist. Ask them for some bind wire too, so that you can secure your sprigs into place as you go, and then the rest is up to your creativity.

These days, wreaths range from loose and wild to dense and full, so do some research first, be it on Pinterest or magazine mood boarding to see which style you like most. Collecting materials and perhaps laying them out around the base can be helpful in deciding your design direction. Also, look at which additions you might like to incorporate, such as rustic bells, dried seed heads, and ribbons. These help to personalise your wreath to your home.

They certainly can, but we generally advise that an indoor environment will suit them better where the dry conditions preserve them well. Try, if you can, to style them away from direct sunlight or areas where there might be moisture – they prefer stable conditions.

Both Wisley and Norbury suit any style of interior. How we design at Passion is by focussing on an everlasting, English aesthetic with simple, classic colours and a light contemporary touch through the slight asymmetry in each arrangement. We believe in giving our floral compositions freedom.

Right now, we’re in the midst of making some amazing wreaths for a few of London and Bath’s finest hotels. For them, we’re using a lot of dried bracken, thyme and statice. Inspired by hedgerows, we want to keep things natural, but with hints of gold and copper. Our biggest wreath to date is a 10ft-wide pine wreath, which will be amazing to see lit up and in place come December.

Maybe not the new Christmas tree – we can’t see those ever being replaced. But wreaths definitely seem more popular than ever. With boundless styles and variations, they’re perhaps the most accessible Christmas decoration to welcome people into your home. We’re expecting the demand for them to only grow and grow…