Try A Clever Wine Cork Hack To Create Stunning Door Decor With A Simple DIY

If you love enjoying a glass of wine at the end of a long day or hosting friends and family for the holidays, there is a chance that you have access to some corks. While your initial instinct may be to throw your natural cork into the recycling or even compost bin, there are so many ways to repurpose wine corks around the house. One unique way to reuse these otherwise discarded items is to create a stunning door décor wreath with a simple DIY.

This budget-friendly hack begins with collecting old wine corks. If you don't drink any wine, take the time to ask your friends and family. When searching for these materials, you need to keep in mind that corks can be made two different ways. Synthetic corks are made of plastics and have a more uniform, rubber-like look. Natural corks, on the other hand, are made from the bark of cork oak trees. This has the textured, varied look you associate with cork. For this project, you will want to use natural corks. Save the synthetic corks for another project, or research an online company that will collect the synthetic corks for recycling as these cannot be placed in your standard recycling bin.

In addition to the corks, you will need a wooden frame to attach them to. Head to the craft store to find one; or, if you can safely use a saw, you could cut your own. You will also want to get some faux florals and foliage, and if you don't already own one, a hot glue gun to attach everything to the board.

When you have all of your supplies, you can begin crafting your wreath. Start by placing a pot of water on the stove until it reaches a boil. Once boiling, add your corks to the water and boil for ten to 20 minutes. Then, remove them from the water and let the corks cool slightly before cutting with a serrated kitchen knife. If the corks are too difficult to cut, soak them in the boiling water for a longer period of time. This process helps make cutting the corks easier.

After the corks have been cut, you can begin arranging them on the wooden frame. A circular frame would make a traditional wreath look, which is perfect for hanging on a door. However, you could also get creative and search for another shape. Create a pattern with the corks, such as placing two cork halves vertically and two corks horizontally and repeating, designing a more uniform look. Also, make sure you leave a space in your pattern to add the faux foliage. You can place these on one side of the frame, like in the video, or scatter them throughout the frame. If you find it necessary, you can also use your knife to trim the cork. Once you have determined how you would like to lay the corks and the flowers on the frame, you can begin gluing them down with some hot glue. Let the glue cool (which won't take long), and your project will be ready to display in your home!

Florals are not the only way to decorate your cork wreath. Check out what you already have in your craft closet or head to the craft store for some inspiration. For instance, you could use some ribbon to create a bow for your door décor. You could also use things that match your interests. Add yarn, buttons, and spools of thread to represent an interest in crafts, or add dried fruits and spices to show a love of cooking. Consider these gorgeous wreath alternatives that will bring modern charm to your front door for inspiration.

You could even take the time to dye your corks before gluing them to the wooden board. Simply fill a bucket with the number of corks you want for that color (no more than half way), add a quarter cup of salt, and a packet of fabric dye. Boil water and pour on the corks until they are submerged. Stir to dissolve the dye and salt, and then use an object to keep the corks submerged in the water for 45 minutes. Finally, remove the corks, and let them dry. Each cork will look slightly different, even if dyed with the same color. Use this to your advantage to create a unique design, or get super creative and make multiple batches of different color corks for a vibrant look. Love this project? You can reuse wine corks in the garden, too!