And yet, there can exist a gap between ‘respectable effort’ and ‘elegant showstopper."

No problem. Once you understand three easy dos and their corresponding don’ts, you too can create a sophisticated holiday wreath, confidently yell "Nailed it!" and decorate your front door this year with a DIY project you can be proud of.

Tools & materials needed for your holiday wreath

Tools: gloves, lightweight florist’s wire, sharp pruners and a wire wreath frame.

Materials: Split into three categories – Assorted Greenery, Assorted Luxury and Assorted Bling.

Assorted greenery – Think in terms of one main actor and two to three supporting roles. Use your strongest greenery in the main role – such as spruce or fir – and use sprigs of pine, juniper and cedar to complete the cast. Don’t forget about the extras – accent greens that bring unusual color and texture: holly, boxwood, magnolia etc... Many of these you can find in your garden or the gardens of friends.

Assorted luxury – Everything from pinecones to pomegranates. Let your imagination run wild – raiding your fridge and cupboards just as much as your backyard. Tiny artichokes, wrapped bundles of cinnamon sticks, clove-studded clementines, holly berries and the seed heads of favorites such as teasel or grasses.

Assorted bling – Battery operated lights, ribbons, raffia, small ornaments, and if you can find a tasteful one – a garland.

Set out the materials you’ve gathered on a protected surface.

Nailed It! Making a Holiday Wreath Tip #1

Don’t: Bend individual straight branches and attach them.

Do: Create small ‘bouquets’ in your hand with greenery, then wire those to your wreath form, overlapping them as you go.

Attach the end of the florist’s wire to any part of the wreath form and set aside.

Use your pruners to cut five or six ten-inch tips from the greens and arrange them in one hand – start with one or two stems of the spruce or fir and back them with supporting greenery.

Fan the bunch in your hand and place it against the wreath form. Wire only the ends to the form, wrapping the wire around the form and bunch ends several times. Do not cut your wire.

Repeat the bouquet-making, and this time, overlap the display ends of the current bunch over the cut ends of the first one, making sure to overlap them generously.

Continue this process until you reach the beginning of the circle. With your last spray of foliage, tuck the cut ends under the display ends of your first one, wiring tightly in place. Twist the wire to secure it and cut.

Hang up your wreath and look for rogue branches that need trimming or areas that could use extra foliage. Don’t be too much of a perfectionist –messy bed head is endearing if the wreath is full enough. Tuck in accent greens to create yet another layer of wonderful.

If you’ve been generous with your bouquets and miserly with your spacing, you’re currently looking at a wreath ten times better than anything you’ve attempted before. And we’re not done.

Time to add a bit of luxury.

Nailed It! Making a Holiday Wreath Tip #2

Don’t: Empty the contents of your craft box onto your wreath.

Do: Pick a few luxury items in varying size for maximum impact.

It is very easy to gild the lily, taking your wreath from Kate Middleton-sophisticated to Clark Griswold-tacky in the space of five minutes.

Think about the theme you are working towards. Natural? Exciting? Minimalist? Pick out things that go together and that are in scale with the size of the wreath itself, and use an easy hand in applying them. If you’ve been drinking alcohol during any part of the process (no judgement here – I was), stop at once, have a cup of coffee, and apply your clearest head to the proceedings.

Nailed It! Making a Holiday Wreath Tip #3

Don’t: Add materials in circular patterns to create a big eyeball on your doorstep.

Do: Think in terms of grouping, triangles, odd numbers and a bit of asymmetry.

Objects grouped together create more impact than when they are separated and at regular intervals. For even better placement, think in terms of triangles superimposed on your circular wreath, and add objects at the apex of each angle. Odd amounts work best – 1, 3, 5, &c.

Now for a bow and other assorted bling. But resist the temptation to place them on the absolute bottom of the wreath. Instead, place them slightly off-center and group them with a few smaller objects.

As for a garland, the best ones are made of natural materials – and made by hand. Use an evening of binge-watching to string together cranberries, wooden beads or seed heads from the garden. Drape the garland on your holiday wreath like you were icing an elegant cake – in swirls and flourishes – allowing it to hang free of the wreath in places and give it an authentic sophistication.

It’s your holiday wreath – have a blast with it; but remember that less is often more.