The Fall Wreath Guide: Timing, Size, and Color

When to hang a fall wreath

The honest answer is early September. Retail runs ahead of the weather, and most people are ready for pumpkins and sunflowers well before the first cool morning arrives.

If you would rather follow the season than the calendar, the first week of September is a comfortable start, with the autumnal equinox around September 22 as the traditional marker. In the South, where September is still hot, a sunflower and greenery design bridges late summer and fall better than deep burgundy and burnt orange.

• Early September: sunflowers, greenery, soft harvest tones
• Late September through October: pumpkins, scarecrows, burlap, and plaid
• November: Thanksgiving and harvest designs, no Halloween motifs
• Take it down the weekend after Thanksgiving, when the winter wreath goes up

How big a fall wreath should be

A wreath should cover roughly half to two thirds of the visible width of your door. Measure the door panel, not the frame.

Most of our autumn designs run 22 to 28 inches, which suits a standard 36 inch door. Larger deco mesh builds photograph well and hold their presence on a deep covered porch, where a small wreath can look lost in shadow.

Choosing autumn colors for your door

Fall palettes are darker than spring ones, which makes door color matter more. A burnt orange and brown wreath on a dark brown door reads as one large shape from the street.

Look for a wreath with a light accent, cream ribbon, white pumpkins, buffalo check, or burlap, if your door is dark. On a light door, you can go as rich as you like.

• Red door: cream, burlap, sunflower yellow, and sage
• Black door: white pumpkins, buffalo check, gold, and bright orange
• White or gray door: deep burgundy, rust, and plum all work
• Brown or stained door: sunflower, cream, and soft green rather than brown on brown

Making it last through the season

Direct afternoon sun fades ribbon faster than anything else. A covered porch or a shaded doorway will keep colors true for several seasons.

Wind is the other enemy. Use a sturdy over-the-door hanger, and if your entry is exposed, a small piece of clear fishing line tying the wreath to the hanger keeps it from swinging into the frame.