The Charming Kitchen Wreath You Can Make With A Common Spice

Who doesn't love a gorgeous wreath? It's a classic decoration that brings life to a front door, mantel, or window. The circular shape itself represents eternity and unity, which is perhaps why a wreath is such a lovely gesture to make guests feel welcome. Many people hang artificial wreaths because, let's face it — they can be an expensive piece of home decor. Luckily, an alternative might be growing in your own backyard! If you have a bay leaf plant (Laurus nobilis), you can create a fresh version for your kitchen. All you need are bay leaves and wire for this relaxing activity.

Start by gathering a basket full of branches (you'll need a large amount of bay leaves). Then, snip off the leaves and create a pile. You can either trim their stems or keep them on. Place the leaves in a large container and rinse them off to get them all cleaned up. Next, take a piece of wire and form a circular shape out of it — twisting the end into a loop. One by one, begin threading the bay leaves onto the wire from their bottoms, keeping them tightly together. It's up to you if you want them to face the same direction or alternate them. After the wire is completely full (it might take a little while), curve the end so that it can hook onto the loop and close the wreath shut.

Bay leaf is a flavorful spice used to enhance all kinds of dishes. It's also enjoyed for its various health benefits and can be utilized outside of the kitchen, too. For example, you can even use bay leaves to ward off unwanted stink bugs. By creating a DIY wreath out of the leaves, it puts them at your fingertips whenever you want to pluck one off. Or, hang the wreath up solely for its natural beauty and herbal scent. The plant grows as either a shrub or tree, and the leaves are oval-shaped with a smooth surface. When you crush them, their fragrance only increases.

The wreath will start out fresh but eventually dry out. You can add extra touches like a red bow, and it'll be a spin on a traditional Christmas wreath. Make a hanger for it out of material like twine, raffia, or ribbon. Hang it up in the heart of your home as both a beautiful decoration and to use when cooking. You can even switch up your bow to match the seasons. Keep the wreath out of a spot that gets a lot of sunlight so that it'll last as long as possible. You should be able to get approximately six months to a full year out of it — but make a new one if the leaves seem to be losing their flavor or if the wreath is looking a little thin from using too many leaves.