Holiday decorating can get expensive fast, especially when everything in the stores seems shiny, new, and priced higher each year. However, do you want your home and decorations to feel festive without overspending or relying on decorations that end up being thrown away after one season?
Then, we have a solution: DIY holiday garlands, which make the perfect project. With leftover fabrics, spare ribbon, or natural elements like pinecones and citrus slices, you can make something beautiful without spending a lot of money. These homemade decorations are intimate, help to minimize waste, and bring a cozy feeling that a store-bought decoration is incapable of.
Why are DIY Garlands Perfect for the Holiday Season?
Handmade decorations allow you to create decoration pieces that feel one-of-a-kind. You can tailor the colors, textures, and materials to match your style and create garlands with intention. Then, you can use a mix-and-match holiday décor strategy and repurpose what you own to tie everything together.
Making DIY holiday garlands with family or friends turns decorating into a shared moment. You get to create something together, and you spend less in the process. These projects also fix a few common decorating issues:
- High prices on store-bought décor
- Waste from single-use decorations
- A lack of personal style
- Pieces that don’t blend with what you already own
Simple festive décor ideas like these make the season feel more personal and creative.
Easy DIY Holiday Garland Ideas
These garlands are one of the simple ways to refresh your home for the holidays without spending hundreds of dollars, using easy-to-find materials.
1. Fabric Scrap Garland
Materials Needed: Vibrant fabric scraps, scissors, twine
How to Make?
Tie each strip to a measured length of twine and keep the colors in the order you prefer. Add a few beads or bells if you want extra detail. This is a great way to give your leftover fabric a new purpose.
2. Ribbon Garland
Materials Needed: Wired ribbon, pinecones or holly berries, scissors, faux pine garland
How to Make?
Form loops from the wired ribbon and lay them along the artificial pine. Space the loops so that the design stays balanced. Slip pinecones or holly berries between the ribbon to give extra texture plus color. Shift the loops and the greenery until the garland appears fuller but even. This holiday craft idea will instantly brighten up your space.
3. Dried Citrus Garland
Materials Needed: Dried orange slices, a needle, and twine
How to Make?
Thread the orange slices one by one along the twine, spacing them properly. You can also add rosemary or pine to give it a fresh touch. This garland helps bring a cozy, seasonal scent into your house.
4. Paper Garland
Materials Needed: Colored paper, scissors, a hole punch, and string
How to Make?
Cut the paper into the shapes of Christmas trees and stockings. After that, punch a small hole in each one. Thread them onto the string in a pattern that suits your style. Hang it up for a fun pop of handmade holiday color.
5. Pom Pom Garland
Materials Needed: Store-bought or handmade pom poms, twine, and scissors
How to Make?
Slide the pom poms onto the twine or knot them in place to keep them from moving. Mix sizes to add texture. This easy yarn project brings a bold, festive accent packed with personality.
To make a pom pom, select your favorite colour yarn and start wrapping it around your fingers or a small piece of cardboard several times (like 30-60), until it looks thick and fluffy. Carefully slide the bundle off and tie a small piece of yarn tightly around the center to hold everything together. Once it is secure, cut through the loops on both sides and spread the strands out. Trim the edges to shape it into a neat ball and then fluff it with your hands to finish.
6. Christmas Ornaments Garland
Materials Needed: Christmas decorations, twine, ornament hooks, wire, or faux pine (optional)
How to Make?
Attach the decorations to the twine with hooks or wire, spreading out the colors and textures as you go. Add faux pine to give more volume and texture. This ornament garland is one of the best ways to repurpose last year’s holiday décor.
7. Pinecone and Eucalyptus Garland
Materials Needed: Pinecones, fresh or faux eucalyptus, twine, scissors
How to Make?
Tie the pinecones along the twine and tuck small pieces of eucalyptus between them to add greenery and texture. The natural elements in this garland give a rustic appearance with clear contrast.
8. Felt Garland
Materials Needed: Felt sheets, scissors, a needle and thread, or twine
How to Make?
Cut the felt into shapes like stars, candy canes, gingerbread people, or Christmas trees. Add details with fabric paint or marker. Thread the shapes onto twine or stitch them together. Adjust the spacing as you require. The result is a garland with soft texture and bright color that creates a cheerful holiday effect.
Creative Ways to Style DIY Holiday Garlands
You can hang homemade garlands anywhere in your home. This includes:
1. Across Mantels
Place a garland across a mantel. Decorate with flameless candles or ornaments for a dramatic focal point.
2. As Table Centerpieces
Lay citrus or eucalyptus garlands flat along the center of the table as a simple, beautiful runner for holiday meals. Pair it with Nature Inspired Place Mat Set to keep the look cohesive.
3. On Stair Rails
Tie garlands to each rail post with ribbons to bring a classic holiday look up the staircase.
4. Around Windows and Door Frames
Ribbon or paper garlands sit well in these spots and bring a cheerful pop of color to the room.
5. In Bedrooms
Hang soft fabric garlands over the bed for a simple, inviting holiday touch. The Safari Mosaic Sherpa Blanket at the foot of the bed brings in a holiday feel without overwhelming the space.
A Simple And Creative Touch To Your Home
DIY holiday garlands make decorating feel creative, meaningful, and budget-friendly. They let you mix colors, textures, and shapes you enjoy while turning simple materials into something festive. Whether bold and colorful or soft and natural, each garland brings warmth and charm to your home during the holidays.
These garlands pair well with other holiday craft ideas and help elevate the rest of your home. Try mixing them with handmade ornaments, upcycled centerpieces, or small custom accents in different rooms. The combination gives your space a Christmas style that feels warm, intentional, and neatly pulled together without extra effort.
FAQs
1. What materials can I use for DIY holiday garlands?
DIY holiday garlands work well with felt, paper, fabric scraps, natural elements like pinecones or citrus, and even spare ornaments. They offer a straightforward way to turn everyday items into festive décor.
2. Are holiday garland projects suitable for beginners?
Most DIY holiday garland projects work well for beginners and only require simple materials and basic tools.
3. How long do DIY home décor garlands usually take to make?
A simple garland using store-bought pom poms or a paper chain needs 30 minutes, while more elaborate ones need about one hour or more.
4. Can I reuse my handmade decorations next year?
Yes. Handmade decorations can be reused in the next holiday season if you store them properly.
