Here’s something most people don’t realize until they try it: garland is one of the cheapest, easiest DIY projects in all of Christmas decorating, and it usually takes far less time than people expect.
You don’t need a craft room full of supplies or a Pinterest-level skill set — plenty of these projects come together with things you probably already have in a junk drawer, a bag of oranges, or a stack of old holiday cards. From five-minute ornament strands to slow-baked citrus slices, these fifteen DIY Christmas garland ideas cover every skill level and style, so you can pick whichever one fits your time, budget, and decor this year.
1. Vintage Card and Greenery Combo
Mixing balsam fir and cedar branches with wired LED lights, a strand of red ball garland, and a few vintage Christmas cards clipped in creates a layered, staircase-worthy garland that looks far more complex than it actually is. Build each element separately first, then twist them together loosely instead of trying to weave everything at once. Save your prettiest old cards for the most visible spots near eye level, since that’s where people will actually stop to look.
2. Dried Orange Slice Garland
Slow-baking orange slices at a low oven temperature until they’re dry and slightly translucent gives you a garland that looks vintage and smells like the holidays at the same time. Poke two small holes near the top of each dried slice with a skewer before threading them onto twine, spacing them evenly so the garland doesn’t clump on one side. Save a few extra slices to tie onto gift ribbons later, since one batch usually makes more than you need for just the garland.
3. Felt Holiday Light Garland
Cutting simple bulb and light-string shapes out of colorful felt turns a flat craft material into something that genuinely reads as festive and glowing, even without real lights. A cutting machine speeds things up if you have one, but hand-cut shapes actually look more charming with their slightly uneven edges. Sew or glue the pieces onto a length of ribbon or twine, spacing the “bulbs” close enough together that the strand feels full rather than sparse.
4. Paper Christmas Tree Chain
Cutting simple triangle tree shapes from colorful cardstock and gluing them into a long chain is a project kids can genuinely help with from start to finish. Add a few small glittery star stickers to random trees in the chain instead of every single one, since that restraint actually makes the sparkle stand out more. This garland works especially well strung across a kid’s bedroom doorway or window, where the paper’s lightness and movement catch the eye.
5. Five-Minute Ornament Garland
If you’re short on time, this is the fastest DIY on the list: thread a package of your favorite ball ornaments onto a length of sturdy twine, knotting it on either side of each ornament to keep them from sliding around. Choose ornaments in a mix of two or three sizes rather than all one size, since that variation is what keeps the finished garland from looking flat. It’s an easy way to repurpose ornaments that never quite made it onto the tree.
6. Gold Spray-Painted Wreath Garland
Grabbing a can of gold spray paint and coating a plain garland or a cluster of faux leaves transforms an ordinary base material into something that looks glamorous with almost no effort. Work in thin, even coats outside or in a well-ventilated space, letting each layer dry before adding the next so the gold doesn’t pool or drip. Pairing it with a matching gold wreath on the same door or wall ties the whole look together without much extra work.
7. Natural Birch Bark Garland
Rolling sheets of birch bark into small connected links and securing each one with glue creates a rustic, natural-looking garland without needing to forage anything yourself. Vary the tightness of each roll slightly so the links aren’t perfectly uniform, which keeps the texture feeling organic rather than manufactured. This style pairs beautifully with a neutral, Scandinavian-inspired tree or mantel where you want texture without adding more color.
8. Mini Stocking Garland
Stitching together a row of tiny felt stockings, each one just a few inches tall, gives you a garland that feels personal and a little nostalgic once it’s strung along a mantel or shelf. Mix a few different felt colors or patterns across the stockings instead of making them all identical, since that variety adds visual interest without extra effort. Leave a small loop at the top of each stocking so you can easily clip it onto an existing garland or string of twine.
9. Paper Star Garland
Punching or cutting star shapes from old book pages and shiny gold paper, then stringing them together, creates a garland with a soft, layered look that feels both literary and festive. Alternate the paper types as you go — a few book-page stars, then a gold one, then back again — so the pattern doesn’t feel too repetitive. Hanging this one near a window lets the gold stars catch whatever light comes through, which adds a subtle shimmer without any actual lighting.
10. Staircase Banister Garland
Wrapping a banister in garland uses roughly two feet of material for every foot of handrail, so measuring first saves you from running short halfway up the stairs. Layer in a few glamorous touches like ribbon or small ornaments as you wrap, rather than adding them all at the very end, so they sit naturally within the greenery instead of looking stuck on top. Secure the garland at intervals with floral wire or zip ties hidden underneath for a cleaner finish.
11. Felt Letter Garland
Cutting bold block letters out of felt to spell out a simple holiday word gives a garland a clear focal point instead of relying purely on texture or color. Punctuate the letters with a strand of dried citrus garland running alongside them for extra seasonal charm and a bit of natural contrast. Keep the letter spacing even and the font simple and blocky, since intricate shapes get harder to read once the felt is hung and slightly moving.
12. Pom-Pom Garland
Rolling a big batch of yarn pom-poms and stringing them together creates a soft, playful garland that works just as well for a kid’s room as it does for a festive mantel. Mix pom-pom sizes and two or three coordinating colors rather than sticking to one uniform look, since the variation is what makes it feel handmade instead of mass-produced. This is also a great project to make in batches ahead of time while watching a movie, since each pom-pom only takes a minute or two.
13. Knitted Tree Garland
For anyone comfortable with knitting needles, a garland of small woven tree shapes strung together becomes the kind of heirloom decoration that gets pulled out every single year. Use a simple, repeatable pattern so each tree comes out roughly the same size, then vary the yarn color slightly between trees for a hand-dyed, collected-over-time look. This project takes longer than most on this list, but it’s worth setting aside a weekend for if you want something that lasts for decades.
14. Bandana Garland
Folding a handful of classic bandanas into triangles and clipping them along a length of twine creates a garland with a country, ranch-inspired feel that’s a fun departure from typical greenery. Alternate a couple of different bandana colors or patterns so the strand doesn’t look too matchy, and space them with small gaps in between rather than overlapping edges. This one works especially well strung along a wooden mantel or a rustic front porch railing.
15. Wool Felt Leaf Garland
Cutting simple leaf shapes from soft white wool felt and stringing them together gives you a garland that feels warm and tactile without leaning on traditional Christmas colors at all. Vary the leaf sizes slightly as you cut, since a mix of small and larger leaves reads as more natural than a uniform row. This style looks especially fresh layered over a plain evergreen garland, where the white felt adds texture without competing with the green underneath.
Final Thoughts
The best way to start any of these projects is to pick just one that matches the amount of time you actually have this week, rather than trying to tackle three at once and running out of steam. A rainy afternoon is honestly perfect for stringing pom-poms or ornaments while half-watching a holiday movie in the background. Bookmark this list before you head out for supplies, and don’t be surprised if the simplest projects — like the five-minute ornament garland — end up becoming your favorite one to make every year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What’s the easiest DIY Christmas garland to make?
The five-minute ornament garland is the simplest option, since it only requires threading ball ornaments onto twine with no cutting, gluing, or drying time involved.
Q: Can kids help make DIY Christmas garlands?
Yes, projects like the paper Christmas tree chain or pom-pom garland are especially kid-friendly since they use simple materials and don’t require sharp tools or long drying times.
Q: How do you keep a DIY garland from looking too uniform or store-bought?
Vary the size, color, or spacing of your materials slightly as you go, since small imperfections and irregular placement are what give handmade garlands their natural, personal look.