Turn a simple hula hoop and holiday garland into a large standing Christmas wreath with a sturdy wooden base-an easy way to create eye-catching seasonal décor.
Christmas decorating does not always have to mean hanging another wreath on the door. If you have a little floor or tabletop space to work with, this standing Christmas wreath gives you a different way to bring greenery into your holiday display. A basic hula hoop becomes the frame, while garland gives it a full, festive finish.
What makes this DIY Christmas decoration especially useful is the wooden base. Instead of trying to hang the large wreath, you can set it upright wherever you want a little extra holiday sparkle. The base can also be stained to suit your home, while the garland can be changed from one Christmas style to another.
Things that you need before crafting:
- Uses a simple hula hoop as the main frame
- Creates a large Christmas decoration without hanging hardware
- Garland gives the wreath a full holiday look
- The wooden base keeps the decoration standing
- Easy to customize for different Christmas themes
- Works well for entryways, mantels, parties, or seasonal displays
Materials and Tools
For the Wreath
- 1 hula hoop
- 1 length of Christmas garland
- String, if needed for securing the hoop
- Scissors
For the Wooden Base
- Three pieces of wood measuring 15 × 2½ × ½ inches
- Two pieces of wood measuring 3 inches
- Two pieces of wood measuring 1 inch
- Wood glue
- Drill, if you choose to make the optional holes
- Dark Walnut wood stain
Tip: The exact amount of garland will depend on the size and fullness you want. A thicker garland will cover the hoop more quickly, while a thinner one may need additional wrapping.
Before You Start
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Time: Allow extra time for the wood glue and stain to dry
Best for: Christmas home décor, entryways, parties, and seasonal displays
The wooden base needs to be completely dry before you place the decorated hoop into it. If you are making this with children, an adult should handle cutting the wood, drilling, staining, and any other power-tool work.
How To Make:
The base is what turns the decorated hula hoop into a standing Christmas wreath. Take your time with this part because a level, well-supported base will make the finished decoration much easier to display.
Cut the Wood Pieces
Prepare three main wooden pieces measuring 15 × 2½ × ½ inches.
You will also need:
- Two pieces measuring 3 inches
- Two pieces measuring 1 inch
Keep the pieces together as you prepare them so it is easy to identify which pieces belong to the base.
Test the Hoop Position
Before permanently gluing everything together, place the hula hoop where you expect it to sit.
This simple test is worth doing before the glue goes down. You want the hoop to sit centrally and have enough support underneath it.
The original method also included drilling holes in the wood and hula hoop and using string as a possible way to secure the pieces. However, the creator found that this extra step was not necessary.
Reader note: Don’t feel that you have to drill the hoop simply because you see holes mentioned in the preparation. Test the fit of your own materials first.
Assemble the Wooden Pieces
Place the smaller 1-inch pieces underneath the main 15-inch piece to create the lower support.
Then position the other 15-inch pieces around the area where the hula hoop will sit. Add the 3-inch pieces at the ends and use wood glue to join the pieces together.
Check that the base is sitting flat before leaving it to dry.
A quick check here can save you trouble later: if the base rocks from side to side while the glue is still wet, adjust the pieces before the adhesive sets.
Let the Base Dry and Add Stain
Allow the wood glue to dry completely.
Once the base is firm, apply Dark Walnut wood stain or another stain that works with your Christmas décor.
Let the stain dry fully before moving on to the garland. Working with a completely dry base will help prevent marks on the greenery and make assembly much easier.
Wrap the Hula Hoop
Now the simple frame starts looking like a Christmas wreath.
Wrap the Garland Around the Hoop
Take your Christmas garland and begin wrapping it around the hula hoop.
Work gradually around the circle rather than trying to cover the entire hoop at once. Keep the garland reasonably even as you go so there are no large bare areas.
You do not need to make every section identical. A little natural variation in the greenery can actually make the wreath look fuller and less rigid.
Leave the Bottom Uncovered
This is the part to watch carefully.
Leave the bottom section of the hula hoop free of garland.
That uncovered portion needs to fit into the slot in your wooden base. If you wrap greenery all the way around the bottom, the hoop may become too thick to sit properly.
Before finishing the wrap, look at the base and check how much of the hoop needs to remain exposed.
Secure the Garland
Once the hoop is covered, hook the end of the garland back onto itself to keep it in place.
Check the entire circle before moving on. If you see a thin section, gently pull and redistribute the branches rather than adding more material immediately.
Shape the Wreath
Fluff the Garland
Garland can become compressed while you are wrapping it, so gently spread out the branches around the hoop.
Work around the wreath and fill any obvious gaps.
Pay particular attention to the front-facing side because that is what people will see first when the wreath is displayed.
Place the Wreath in the Base
Set the Hoop Into the Wooden Base
Bring the decorated hoop to the finished wooden base.
Carefully lower the uncovered bottom section of the hula hoop into the slot.
The hoop should sit securely while the garland remains positioned in front of the base.
If the hoop feels loose, don’t immediately force it deeper into the slot. First check whether the opening is centered and whether excess garland has accidentally been left around the bottom section.
Make the Final Adjustments
Once the wreath is standing, step back and look at it from a few feet away.
Fluff the greenery again, rotate the hoop if necessary, and adjust any sections that look uneven.
This last check makes a noticeable difference because small gaps that are difficult to see while working become much easier to spot once the wreath is standing.
One Simple Troubleshooting Check
If the wreath does not sit straight, remove it from the base and check the bottom section of the hoop first. Make sure the part entering the wooden slot is free from bulky garland. Then check that the wooden base is sitting level on the surface.
If the hoop is still loose after those checks, the issue is more likely the fit of the slot than the garland itself.
Note: If you face any hurdles in creating this project, then you can watch the tutorial here.
Final Look
Your hula hoop has now become a full-size standing Christmas wreath, with the wooden base giving it the support it needs to stay upright.
The best part is that the basic frame can be reused. Change the greenery, add new decorations, or stain the wood differently next season, and you can give the same idea a completely different Christmas look.
Your standing Christmas wreath is ready to become part of your holiday décor!
More Christmas Craft Ideas
If you enjoy making your own seasonal decorations, you can build a collection around different materials and styles-from simple paper ornaments to natural Christmas décor and handmade wreath ideas.
