Two young children wearing homemade robot costumes made from cardboard boxes stand smiling in a decorated room with balloons and a red "XOXO" balloon display in the background.

DIY Christmas Garland Ideas

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Turn Your Home Into a Winter Wonderland

Garlands are more than just decorations; they are a timeless creative expression. They can be placed on a cozy fireplace mantle, embellish a Christmas tree, or enhance a festive table setting; garlands are a merry addition to any space. What’s even better is that these easy DIY Christmas garland ideas can easily be crafted at home, making them an activity for the entire family to enjoy.

A young child in red patterned pajamas sits on a rug between small decorated Christmas trees, with festive holiday decorations around them.

Homemade garlands have endless possibilities, we have collected and made some DIY Christmas garlands that will add an extra touch of charm to your holiday decor. We have some holiday garland ideas that we think you will love!

What are DIY Christmas Garland Ideas?

Cranberry Garland

There’s an undeniable rustic charm in the vibrant pop of color that a cranberry garland provides. This classic garland adds a pop of rich red to any space, bringing all of the Christmas vibes to your space.

To make a cranberry garland, gather fresh cranberries, a needle, and a sturdy thread or twine. First, measure and cut the desired length of twine for your garland, leaving extra for tying ends. Thread the needle with the twine and knot one end to prevent the cranberries from sliding off. Start stringing the cranberries onto the twine, pushing the needle through the center of each cranberry. Continue stringing cranberries until you reach the desired length, leaving some space between each to prevent crowding. Once complete, tie a knot on the other end of the twine to secure the garland. You can hang the cranberry garland as festive decor, whether on the tree, mantel, or as a beautiful adornment around the house for a touch of natural holiday charm

 

DIY Christmas Garland Ideas Cranberry Garland Decoration

Popcorn Garland

Keep it simple, yet charming with a popcorn garland. This is an easy one for the kids to help string and it fits in the category of budget-friendly holiday crafts. There are so many possibilities with a popcorn garland! Add a pop of color with a few cranberries here and there and have your kids practice making patterns, or just leave it all popcorn. It is going to look great either way!

DIY Christmas Garland Ideas: Popcorn and Cranberry Garland

Dried Citrus Garland

Capture the essence of the sun-kissed season with a dried citrus garland. It isn’t just a pretty garland, it is also combined with a delicious smelling fragrance to add a little sweetness to your home for the season!

DIY Christmas Garland Ideas: Dried Orange and Cranberry Garland

To dry oranges for a garland, preheat the oven to its lowest setting (around 170°F or 75°C). Slice oranges into ¼ inch rounds and gently pat them dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Place the orange slices directly onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, ensuring they don't overlap. Bake for 3-4 hours, flipping the slices halfway through, until they're dehydrated and slightly translucent. Let the slices cool completely before threading them onto a string or twine.

Nutcracker Clothespin Garland

If you are looking for a more creative holiday craft, this garland is for you! Channel the whimsy and magic of the Nutcracker with this garland! Paint your clothespins to look like toy soldiers, glue a wood bead on top for a hat, and string your clothes pin nutcrackers together! 

A decorated Christmas tree with nutcracker ornaments and red ribbons. Soft white lights are woven through the branches, creating a warm holiday atmosphere.

Nutcracker Garland

Pom Pom Gingerbread Garland

Pom Pom garlands are all the rage! They are the perfect seasonal garland crafts for every holiday, why not make one yourself and let your family help? This garland is perfect practice with patterns and counting, but can also be easily modified to match your home’s Christmas decor. Want to add something special to it? How about gingerbread men? You can buy or make some little felt gingerbread men to add a little extra charm to your garland!

Gingerbread House Garland

Transform your space with a touch of whimsy by utilizing our gingerbread house printable to craft a timeless garland. Trace the intricate details with a white gel pen for a frosty, confectionery appearance, or infuse vibrant hues using colored pencils. Once adorned, carefully cut out and fold the houses, ready to string along twine. This delightful creation serves as a versatile addition—whether adorning an advent garland for a countdown or simply adding a festive touch to your décor.

Cardboard boxes shaped like gingerbread houses with white designs and red string, arranged on a surface sprinkled with artificial snow.

Printable Gingerbread House

Wood Bead Garland

Keep it classy and natural with a wood bead garland. It's the perfect touch of simple elegance that goes with everything. You can choose to leave it plain wood, or paint some of the beads to add a touch of color to it! We bought this set of different-sized beads and made a pattern! It was great counting and pattern practice for my helpful preschooler!

Three knit Christmas stockings, two white and one red, hang from a wooden branch with a garland of wooden beads and burlap triangles.
A wooden wall rack with a festive Christmas theme, featuring a small Santa mouse plush, star ornaments, and a string of lights with tree and gingerbread shapes. Natural and cozy holiday decorations.
A collection of natural wooden beads in varying sizes, gathered together. An image insert shows a bundle of twine. A row of beads displayed below highlights the different bead sizes.

Wooden Beads

Natural Jute Twine

A roll of burlap fabric partially unrolled, with a pine cone and bark placed on top. Another roll of burlap is seen below, neatly tied with twine. The fabric has a coarse texture and natural color.

Burlap Runner

For a fun twist on our wood bead garland, we decided to add some burlap-wrapped cardboard reindeer heads, and they turned out so cute! We used a free template from this DIY Christmas Reindeer Decor tutorial, printed it a bit smaller to fit with our beads, and strung everything together to make a festive garland. It was such a simple and budget-friendly way to add some holiday charm, and my preschooler loved helping with the project. If you want to try it too, check out the blog post for the step-by-step instructions!

A child stands in front of a decorated Christmas tree, holding a cardboard reindeer mask in front of their face.

DIY Christmas Reindeer

Embrace the Joy of Crafting with DIY Christmas Garland IDeas

Embrace the joy of crafting these DIY Christmas garland ideas that incorporate the spirit of the season into your home. From the vibrant hues of cranberries to the timeless simplicity of popcorn, each garland serves as proof of the enduring magic of the season and the cherished moments shared with loved ones. So, gather your materials, unleash your creativity, and let garland making become a DIY family bonding activity that is a cherished holiday tradition for years to come.

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