DIY Heart Topiary: Easy Budget-Friendly Valentine Decor Idea -

This DIY heart topiary is inexpensive to make, easy to create, and a great way to add charm to your Valentine’s Day decor.

This DIY topiary is a fun project for Valentine's Day using supplies from the craft store. — *As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains other affiliate links too for your convenience. You can read my privacy policy for more details.

I’ve been toying with the thought of making topiary in the shape of a heart for a few weeks now, and it seems other bloggers/creators have had the same idea!

I’ve seen so many heart topiary variations lately, but I couldn’t resist putting my own spin on this Valentine’s DIY.

Don’t you agree that there’s something so charming about a topiary? Any topiary really.

They add a touch of elegance and greenery anywhere you put them, indoors or out.

Lavender topiaries are my absolute favorite during the spring and summer months.

For Valentine’s Day, a heart-shaped topiary feels sweet, festive, and perfect for the season of love.

I wanted to create something simple, inexpensive, and versatile (because that’s my jam), so I came up with this easy heart topiary that you can customize to fit your style and decor.

Plus, it’s a great way to get creative with materials you might already have at home which means it’s budget-friendly too.

Talk about a win-win!

In this step-by-step tutorial, I’ll show you how to create a heart topiary that will bring a little Valentine’s charm into your home.

Let’s get crafting!

What is a topiary?

If you’re unfamiliar with topiaries, they are a form of horticulture where trees, shrubs, or plants are trimmed and trained into specific shapes (think animals, spirals, or in this case a heart).

Traditionally, topiaries are created using live plants like boxwood, ivy, or lavender.

However, modern topiaries aren’t limited to live plants.

They can also be made with faux greenery (great for someone who has a brown thumb like me), which is what we’ll be creating!

Use a heart-shaped topiary frame to create a faux topiary tree.

What you’ll love about this DIY:

EASY DIY PROJECT – No special crafting skills required here! If you can bend a wire hanger, you can literally make this easy project.
CUSTOMIZABLE – Switch up the plants (you can use real or faux), add ribbons or embellishments, and choose a vase or urn style that complements your home decor.
INEXPENSIVE – Most of the items to make this DIY can be found at your local Dollar Tree, craft stores like Hobby Lobby, or you might even have everything you need in your home already.

Materials You’ll Need to Make This DIY Heart Shaped Topiary

Gather these supplies to create your own festive and affordable Valentine’s Day topiary…

Metal Clothes Hanger (wire hanger): This will be the base for your heart frame and is a great way to use those metal hangers from the dry cleaners you probably have in your closet! However, if you don’t want to worry about bending a hanger, you could also use a heart wreath frame or purchase a heart topiary frame.
Linesman Pliers: For shaping the metal hanger into a heart shape.
Faux Ivy Garland: Greenery to wrap around the frame for that classic topiary look.
Foam Block or Floral Foam: Provides a stable foundation to secure the heart frame in the vase.
Vase or Flower Pot: Holds the foam and frame, adding style to the finished topiary.
Preserved Forest Moss: Covers the foam for a polished, natural look.
Floral Wire or Twist Ties (optional): I did not use any wire for my heart topiary, but it’s a great option if you need extra security to keep the ivy garland in place, especially if it’s slipping or not staying wrapped tightly around the frame.
Ribbon (optional): Adds a decorative touch to the finished topiary.

SUPPLIES YOU’LL NEED

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Step-by-Step Instructions to Make a Heart Topiary

Follow these easy steps to craft a decoration that says Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Want more inspiration to make your home feel cozy and inviting?

Check out our collection of home decor ideas for creative tips and stylish touches you’ll love!

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Step One. Shape the Frame

The first step is to take your metal clothes hanger and untwist the hook.

Carefully bend the wire into a heart shape, adjusting it until you’re happy with how it looks.

Leave a few inches of straight wire at the bottom to act as the “legs” that will anchor the frame into the foam.

pro Tip

You can skip this step if bending a hanger feels tricky and use a dollar store heart wreath form or heart topiary frame for a ready-made option.

Step Two. Wrap the Heart Frame With Ivy

Start wrapping your faux ivy garland around the wire heart shape.

Twist the ivy around the entire wire frame, spacing the vine evenly as you go.

Don’t worry about perfection! Since you’re using fake ivy, you want it to look natural and slightly wild, just like real vines would grow.

If the garland isn’t staying secure as you wrap it, feel free to use floral wire to keep it in place.

Then, trim any excess garland if needed.

For my topiary, I trimmed about 2 feet off of the 6′ garland which you can then use in the next step.

Wrap the faux green garland all around the heart topiary frame for a full, realistic look.

Note: If using a real ivy plant, gently wind the ivy tendrils around the frame and secure with wire. Over time, the plant will naturally grow into the heart topiary shape.

Step Three. Prepare the Base

Cut your floral foam to fit snugly inside your vase.

Once the ivy is fully wrapped around the heart frame, insert the frame’s “legs” into the foam.

Push down until the frame feels stable and stands upright.

This is where you can cut small sections of the leftover garland and tuck those pieces into the foam around the base of the heart.

Let the extra vines drape or cascade slightly over the edge of the vase for a natural look.

Step Four. Add Moss to the Base

Tuck the green moss around the base of the topiary, making sure it hides any exposed foam or the wire legs.

You can use hot glue to secure the moss if you’re worried about it moving or shifting.

Step Five. Tie a Ribbon on It

Add the finishing touch by tying a ribbon in a bow either on the heart topiary itself or around the center of the vase.

You know I like to keep my bows floppy for a softer, more natural look so I cut the wire edge off the ribbon I used, which allows it to drape a little more beautifully.

The ceramic vase is the base of the heart topiary and finished with a flower ribbon.

Step Six. Display Your Heart Topiary DIY

Place your finished heart topiary on a mantel, dining room table, desk, living room coffee table, or entryway for the perfect Valentine’s Day decoration!

Heart topiary made with faux ivy, clothes hanger, green moss, and ribbon displayed in living room.

Tips

Don’t stress if your heart frame isn’t perfectly symmetrical. Imperfections will add to the handmade charm of the project.
Feel free to use a pre-made heart shaped wreath form and simply wrap the ivy garland around it.
Faux ivy leaves can sometimes arrive folded or creased from the packaging, so try my secret tip! Use a hair straightener on a low heat setting to gently flatten the leaves for a more realistic appearance. Just make sure to move quickly and avoid holding the heat on too long to prevent damage to the plastic leaves.
If the frame feels unsteady in the foam, reinforce it by adding a dab of hot glue where the wire legs meet the foam.
Use an ivy garland with dense leaves for a fuller, more realistic look.
Make smaller heart topiaries to group with this larger version for a beautiful Valentine’s Day vignette.

Can I use a real ivy plant for this DIY?

You sure can!

Just pot the plant in soil and insert the heart-shaped frame into the soil.

Wrap the ivy vines gently around the frame, and they’ll grow into the heart shape over time.

Can I use other types of artificial plants besides ivy to make this topiary?

Absolutely!

I like ivy for this DIY project because of its vining, natural look, but you can use other types of faux plants to customize your topiary.

Here are a few ideas…

Faux Eucalyptus
Boxwood Garland
Faux Ferns
Faux Rosemary
Faux Lavender

What can I use as the frame if I don’t have a wire hanger?

If you don’t have a metal clothes hanger to create the heart frame, you can use a Dollar Tree heart wreath form, heart topiary frame, floral wire, or any sturdy, bendable wire to create the heart shape.

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Is it easy to make this heart topiary larger or smaller?

Yes!

You can adjust the size of the topiary by using a larger wire frame or creating a smaller heart frame.

For a bigger topiary, just know that you might need additional garland or ivy to cover the frame completely.

How do I prevent the ivy garland from slipping off the heart frame?

You can use floral wire, floral tape, twist ties, or a bit of hot glue to easily secure the ivy garland to the wire frame.

Can I style this topiary for other seasons?

This heart topiary can 100% be used in your decor for other seasons and holidays besides Valentine’s Day.

I plan on keeping our topiary out past February 14th!

Simply switch out the ribbon (if you used a Valentine specific one), add seasonal embellishments, or adjust the colors to match your seasonal decorations.