A handmade garland is the cheapest, most personal decoration in the whole house. For the price of a roll of twine and an afternoon at the kitchen table, you can make a diy christmas garland that looks better than anything in a store, because it carries your colors, your greenery, and your own two hands.
Garlands are also the hardest-working decoration you own. One length of greenery dresses the mantel, the staircase, the doorway, and the tree, and a handmade one can be made to fit each spot exactly. The 15 ideas below teach you how to make each garland, what you need, and how long it takes, so you can pick one for tonight and save the rest for the weekends before Christmas.
Why Handmade Garlands Beat Store-Bought Ones
A store-bought garland comes in one length, one style, and one shade of green. A handmade garland fits the exact spot you measured, matches the palette you already have, and costs a fraction of the price. You can make it as full or as sparse as you like, add the ornaments you already own, and fix it in minutes if a section goes flat.
Handmade garlands also age better. Fresh greenery smells wonderful for weeks, dried oranges and cinnamon keep their scent all season, and paper and felt garlands fold flat into an envelope and come back out next year good as new. When you make it yourself, you know exactly what it is made of, which matters if you have kids or pets in the house.
What You Need: The Basic Garland Kit
Most garlands in this list need only five things: twine or florist wire, scissors, a needle and thread for stringing, removable adhesive hooks for hanging, and the garland material itself. Add a hot glue gun for felt and ribbon work, and a roll of florist tape for fresh greenery. Keep a tape measure handy, because the single most common garland mistake is making it too short: measure the mantel or banister first, then add at least 12 inches of extra length so the ends can drape.
Work on a clear table, lay down newspaper for anything sticky or sappy, and keep little hands away from the glue gun. If you are hanging a garland near lights, use battery-operated fairy lights so there is no cord to hide and no plug to reach.
15 DIY Christmas Garland Ideas
Natural & Foraged
1. Fresh Evergreen Garland
The classic garland, made from real pine, cedar, or fir branches, is still the one everything else is measured against. Bundle small sprigs together with florist wire, overlap the bundles so no wire shows, and weave in a strand of warm fairy lights at the end. It smells like Christmas from the moment you start, and it looks generous on a mantel, a banister, or a doorway.
You need: fresh evergreen branches, florist wire, wire cutters, battery fairy lights. Time: about 1 hour for a 6-foot garland. It lasts 2 to 3 weeks indoors; mist it lightly every few days to keep it fresh.
2. Dried Orange and Cinnamon Garland
Dried orange slices threaded on twine with cinnamon sticks make a garland that smells like Christmas and costs almost nothing. Dry the orange slices in a low oven until they are firm and translucent, then string them with a needle, alternating each slice with a cinnamon stick tied on with a short piece of twine. It looks beautiful on a mantel, across a window, or on the tree itself.
You need: oranges, cinnamon sticks, twine, a large needle. Time: about 30 minutes of stringing, plus 2 to 3 hours of oven drying. The finished garland keeps all season and packs flat for next year.
3. Pinecone and Berry Garland
Gather pinecones on a walk, add red berry sprigs and a length of twine, and you have a woodland garland that costs nothing but time. Wire a pinecone to the twine every few inches, tuck a berry sprig beside each one, and finish with a wooden bead garland underneath for texture if you have one. This is the garland for rustic and farmhouse rooms, and it looks right at home on a mantel, a porch railing, or a staircase.
You need: pinecones, berry sprigs, twine, florist wire. Time: about 45 minutes for a 6-foot garland. Bake gathered pinecones at a low heat for 20 minutes first, to open them up and remove any sap.
4. Eucalyptus Garland
A garland of fresh eucalyptus is the modern answer to the classic pine garland: silvery green, softly scented, and calm enough for a minimalist room. Buy two or three bunches, strip the lower leaves from each stem, and wire the stems together in overlapping bundles so the leaves all point the same way. It drapes beautifully along a console table, a media unit, or a mantel, and it dries gracefully if you leave it up into January.
You need: fresh eucalyptus bunches, florist wire, wire cutters. Time: about 40 minutes for a 6-foot garland. It dries in place and keeps its shape, so you can reuse it as a dried garland next year.
5. Popcorn and Cranberry Garland
The oldest garland on this list is still one of the prettiest. Pop plain popcorn, let it go slightly stale overnight so it does not crumble, and thread it on a needle with fresh cranberries in a simple alternating pattern. Children love making it, it costs almost nothing, and it looks wonderfully old-fashioned looped around a tree or draped across a window. Keep it away from pets, and compost it after the holidays.
You need: popped popcorn, fresh cranberries, a needle, strong thread or fishing line. Time: about 1 hour for a 6-foot garland with a helper. Make it the week you decorate, since fresh cranberries last about a week once strung.
Paper, Felt & Fabric
6. Paper Star Garland
Cut stars from kraft paper or cream card, fold each one along its points for a three-dimensional shape, and string them on twine with a needle through the top point. The folded stars catch the light beautifully, and the garland is light enough to hang anywhere with a single adhesive hook at each end. It is a lovely project for a rainy afternoon, and it suits Scandinavian and minimalist rooms.
You need: kraft paper or card, star template, scissors, twine, a needle. Time: about 1 hour for 12 stars. Make the stars in two sizes for a more interesting line.
7. Felt Ball Garland
Felt balls strung on twine make the softest, most cheerful garland in the house, and there is nothing breakable in it, so it is perfect for homes with small children. Thread the balls with a long needle, spacing them evenly, and mix two or three colors from your palette — cream, burgundy, and forest green, for example. It looks wonderful on a mantel, across a bookshelf, or on the tree, and it folds into a small bag for storage.
You need: wool felt balls, a long doll needle, twine or thread. Time: about 30 minutes. Buy the felt balls ready-made and the whole garland is a ten-minute job.
8. Paper Snowflake Garland
Fold and cut paper snowflakes the way you did as a child, then string them on clear fishing line so they appear to float. No two snowflakes come out alike, which is the whole charm, and the garland is so light it can hang from a single hook across a window or a bedroom wall. Use plain white paper for a crisp look, or pale blue and silver for a frosty one.
You need: white paper, scissors, fishing line or clear thread. Time: about 1 hour for 10 snowflakes. Iron the finished snowflakes flat under a tea towel before stringing them, so they hang straight.
9. Fabric Scrap and Ribbon Garland
Tie short strips of leftover fabric and ribbon onto a length of twine, knotting each strip close to the last, and you have a garland that uses up the scrap box and looks like a country Christmas. Mix linen, gingham, and velvet in your palette, vary the strip lengths slightly, and fluff the knots once it is hung. It is wonderfully forgiving — there is no wrong way to tie a strip — and it is a great first project for a child learning to craft.
You need: fabric scraps and ribbon, twine, scissors. Time: about 1 hour for a 6-foot garland. Cut the strips 8 to 10 inches long and 1 inch wide for the fullest look.
Lights, Ribbon & Ornaments
10. Fairy Light Greenery Garland
Weave a strand of warm battery fairy lights through a plain faux greenery garland, tucking the wire deep inside the branches so the glow comes from within. This is the fastest garland on the list — ten minutes, no making required — and it transforms a flat-looking store-bought garland into something that looks lit from the inside out. Use it on the mantel, the banister, or the doorway, and put the lights on a timer so it glows every evening on its own.
You need: a plain faux greenery garland, battery fairy lights. Time: about 10 minutes. Two strands woven together give a fuller glow than one.
11. Velvet Ribbon Garland
A garland made from loops of wide velvet ribbon is pure luxury for very little money. Cut the ribbon into equal lengths, fold each piece into a loop, and thread the loops onto twine through their centers, pushing them close together so the garland looks full. Burgundy, forest green, and gold velvet all work beautifully, and the finished garland drapes like fabric over a mantel or around a tree.
You need: wide velvet ribbon, twine, scissors, a needle. Time: about 45 minutes for a 6-foot garland. Use wired ribbon if you want the loops to hold their shape.
12. Mini Ornament Garland
Thread small shatterproof ornaments onto twine or florist wire, alternating them with tiny pinecones or wooden beads, and you have a garland that sparkles without a single breakable piece. It is perfect for a mantel or a staircase where the garland hangs at child height, and it stores in a box with the ornaments still strung, ready to hang next year. Keep to one metal — all gold or all silver — for the most polished look.
You need: mini shatterproof ornaments, twine or florist wire, wooden beads. Time: about 30 minutes. Hang it with the ornaments facing outward, and check that none of them rest against a hot surface.
Where to Hang It: Room-by-Room Garlands
13. Layered Double Mantel Garland
One garland is pretty, but two garlands layered together look lush and expensive. Hang a full evergreen garland along the front edge of the mantel, then lay a sparser cedar or eucalyptus garland on the shelf behind it so the two textures overlap, and weave fairy lights through the front layer only. The depth catches the light beautifully, and you can use a cheaper garland for the back layer since only its tips show. Our Christmas mantel decor ideas show how to style the stockings and candles around it.
You need: two garlands of different textures, battery fairy lights, removable hooks. Time: about 20 minutes to hang. Secure the back garland first, then the front one, so the layers sit cleanly.
14. Staircase Banister Garland
A banister garland turns the staircase into the grand entrance of the house. Wrap a long evergreen garland loosely around the banister in a spiral, securing it with ribbon ties at every third spindle, and add a bow at the newel post and a few hanging ornaments along its length. Start at the top and work down, keeping the swag even, and weave fairy lights through the garland last so the wire stays hidden.
You need: a long evergreen garland, ribbon, battery fairy lights, ornaments. Time: about 1 hour. Measure the banister first and add a foot of extra length for the swag at the bottom.
15. Doorway and Mirror Garland
Frame a doorway or a mirror with a garland, and an ordinary opening becomes a Christmas feature. Drape the garland up one side, across the top, and down the other, securing it with removable hooks tucked behind the trim, and let the ends trail a few inches past the frame. A mirror framed this way doubles the greenery in its reflection, so a modest garland looks twice as full. This is also the best garland for renters, since it needs no nails at all.
You need: an evergreen or eucalyptus garland, removable adhesive hooks, battery fairy lights. Time: about 20 minutes. Keep the garland clear of the door swing so it never catches.
How to Hang a Garland Safely
- Measure first. Measure the mantel, banister, or doorway, then add 12 inches so the ends can drape. A garland that is too short looks stretched; one that is too long can simply swag a little deeper.
- Use removable hooks. Adhesive hooks rated for the garland’s weight hold well on painted wood and tile and come off cleanly in January. Never use nails in a rental, and never hang a heavy garland from a single hook.
- Keep lights battery-operated. Battery fairy lights mean no cords near the floor, no plugs behind furniture, and a timer that switches everything off on its own.
- Keep greenery away from heat. Never drape a garland over a burner, a radiator, or a working fireplace opening, and use LED candles near dry garlands instead of real flames.
- Check the weight. A fresh evergreen garland is heavy when wet. Hang it with a hook every 18 inches, and test the first hook overnight before you trust the rest.
- Store it flat. Coil a faux garland loosely into a storage bag, and fold paper and felt garlands into an envelope. Fresh and dried-natural garlands are composted or kept for one season only.
Christmas Garland FAQs
How long should a garland be for a mantel?
Measure the mantel shelf, then add 12 to 18 inches so the ends can drape over each side. For a standard 5-foot mantel, a 6 to 7-foot garland is about right. A banister garland needs the length of the banister plus about a foot for the swag at the bottom.
How do I keep a fresh garland from drying out?
Mist it lightly with water every few days, keep it away from heating vents and fireplaces, and choose cedar and pine, which hold their needles longer than fir. A fresh garland lasts 2 to 3 weeks indoors; if you want it up from late November, start with a faux garland and swap in fresh greenery in mid-December.
Can I hang a garland without nails or damage?
Yes. Removable adhesive hooks hold most garlands on painted wood, tile, and glass, and over-the-door hangers and ribbon looped over a door or mirror work with no hardware at all. Check the weight rating on the hook, and use one hook every 18 inches for a heavy fresh garland.
What is the cheapest garland I can make?
The pinecone and berry garland costs nothing if you gather the materials, and the popcorn and cranberry garland costs less than a dollar. The dried orange and cinnamon garland is nearly as cheap and lasts all season. For more budget projects, see our cheap DIY Christmas home decor guide.
Final Thoughts
A garland is the one decoration that goes everywhere in the house, and the handmade ones are the ones people ask about. Pick one idea from this list, make it tonight, and hang it where you will see it every day. When it is up and glowing, the whole room will feel like Christmas has properly arrived.
For the rest of the house, our Christmas home decor checklist plans every room around one palette, and our easy Christmas home decor ideas cover the rooms a garland cannot reach. If you are still choosing a tree, our Christmas tree ideas for small spaces show slim, tabletop, and wall options that leave room for garlands everywhere else.
Save this post to your Christmas board and make your first garland this weekend.
