Painted Pinecone Wreath for Simple Autumn Decor

Step 1: Supplies to Make a Painted Pinecone Wreath

Step 2: Gather Pinecones

The first step in this DIY project is to collect your pinecones. Using items that you find in nature is a great way to save money. And natural decorations give that extra cosy feel.

Gather the pinecones from nearby open spaces. If you don’t have easy access to some, you can buy bags of them online. The advantage is that they should be cleaned and ready to use indoors.

The best pinecones are the fuller, rounder ones. The thin, tight pinecones don’t give that floral shape when trimmed down.

If you collect them on a dry day then the pinecones will be open. On a wet day, they will be closed up and tight and you’ll want to wait for them to dry out before starting.

Aim for a variety of sizes, including some small pine cones to fill in gaps. You’ll mostly want medium pinecones and a few large ones for impact.

Step 3: Prepare the Pinecones

To create those lovely pinecone flowers, use floral snips to cut off about two-thirds of the tips of the pinecones. This will leave you with the bottom part that resembles a flower. 

The shape of the pinecone will naturally create layers, giving your wreath a beautiful, dimensional look.

The more pinecone petals you leave in place, the thicker the wreath will be. It will also be heavier and need more hot glue to attach securely. 

If you struggle to cut the stem with snips like this, you can get something more heavy-duty like garden shears to cut that off.

Step 4: Paint Your Pinecones

If you love autumnal colours as much as I do, painting your pinecones is a must. Or at least, painting some of them.

Use a small brush to paint the scales. You can either paint all the visible scales or just the top layer.

One coat of each colour creates quite a muted, earthy feel.

To build up the layers of interest, you can use different autumnal colours. For this, I used two reds, a dull yellow, and an orange. I also left some unpainted to add the colour of natural pine cones too.

Step 5: Check the Layout and Quantity of Pinecones

Naturally, you want to test the layout of your design before attaching the pinecones. This checks that you have enough pinecones to cover the whole thing, and if you like the layout.

For example, you could spread out the large pinecones to create balance. Or put them all at the bottom and the smaller ones at the top.

So that the pinecones fit well, it’s a good idea to start in one place and go around in a circle. This way you don’t end up with awkward gaps to fill in if you start with the largest pinecones first.

Step 6: Attach Pinecones to the Wreath

After your painted pinecones are dry, the next step is to assemble your wreath. Start by applying a little bit of hot glue to the bottom of each pinecone. If you don’t have a hot glue gun, super glue works too.

Make sure to pay attention to the angle you place the pinecone. You may need to glue the side rather than the bottom.

For a more natural look, space the pinecones apart, and remember to place some smaller cones among the larger ones for variation.

Where there are gaps, you can use parts of pinecones. For example, the leftover tip of a pinecone. Or if your pinecone breaks while trimming it down. These extra pieces make for great fillers around the inner ring.

Maker’s tip: While filling the wreath, it’s helpful to step back and check the balance of it. This can be tricky to see when you are close to the wreath. If you see any gaps, you can fill them in with extra pinecones. I also added more paint where too many natural pinecones were next to each other.

You can also add natural elements like pine needles, greenery or twigs for added texture at no extra cost. 

Beautiful Painted Pinecone Wreath for Autumn Decor

The best part about this project is that it’s both cost-effective and very satisfying.

You’ve taken nature and turned it into something that adds warmth and personality to your home. 

A DIY pinecone wreath is not only a lovely decoration but also a conversation starter for visitors.

Remember, just as this wreath base has been used before, you can use it again, which makes this an even more budget-friendly craft. 

By following this easy tutorial, you’ll have a beautiful pinecone wreath that brings nature right to your front door. 

If you like this idea, it would also work great for a winter wreath. Simply use white paint or some glitter to make a new wreath with a festive touch.