61 DIY Christmas Garland Ideas That Are Unique and Festive

Whether you plan to make a garland from scratch or to customize an existing garland with extra embellishments, there are plenty of simple and striking Christmas garland ideas to suit any decor style.

Christmas garlands are versatile decorations that can work anywhere, from a banister to a fireplace mantel, tree, door frame, window, holiday table, headboard, bathroom mirror, or any other corner of the house (or outdoor space).

You can make a DIY garland from fresh or faux evergreen branches, yarn, twine, paper, craft supplies, felt, and a host of other materials. Or you can refresh a store-bought garland by adorning it with ribbon, adding lights or ornaments, or layering in natural elements such as pine cones or dehydrated orange slices.

Let these Christmas garland ideas from interior designers and DIYers inspire you.

Traditional Popcorn Garland

Add a nostalgic, handmade touch to your Christmas decor with a DIY popcorn garland. Layer it with a green garland decorated with red ball ornaments to embellish a tree or a staircase, like this entryway from Inspired By Charm.

Paper Flower Garland

Style your Christmas mantel with a white paper flower garland and matching wreath for an ethereal feel. Whether you purchase one or get creative and whip one up yourself, style it with brass candlesticks and white taper candles for a farmhouse look, like this living room from Liz Marie Blog.

Textile Garland

Mix textile-based garlands made from fabric or yarn to add texture to a green garland mantel display. Homestead City Dwelling layered a neutral pompom garland with a multi-colored ball garland from the bottom of the mantel to complement this playful holiday display that features Santa hats and gnomes.

Kitchen Shelf Garland

Restyle open kitchen shelving for Christmas with a bright red berry garland. Embellish it with a vase of holiday greens and branches, tea lights in champagne coupes, and green pottery for a warm holiday feel like this space from designer Annie Sloan.

Freeform Eucalyptus Garland

If you have a sweeping staircase, keep it simple with a freeform garland made from bunches of eucalyptus and berries tied to the banister, like this grand staircase dressed up for Christmas from designer Annie Sloan. A bunch of upside down leaves and branches and a matching wreath fills out the space for a cohesive feel.

DIY Cranberry Garland

For a low-waste Christmas garland, string fresh cranberries using a big needle onto thread. Get creative by draping double strands from the center of the mantel, like this DIY project from The House That Lars Built.

Paper Fan Garland

Put a modern spin on your Christmas decor by pairing bright green and pink. This Christmas home bar from designer Annie Sloan includes a shocking pink paper fan garland against a Kelly green wall that adds a bright and uplifting holiday feel.

Orange Slice Garland

Orange slice garlands can bring a pop of color to an updated traditional space. Marie Flanigan Interiors layered a orange slice garland over a bushy green garland that spills over the sides of this Christmas mantel decorated with green velvet stockings for an elegant feel.

To make it, dehydrate some orange slices (or buy some pre-dehydrated ones) and string them together with a needle and thread.

Christmas Letter Garland

Add nostalgic charm to a Christmas staircase garland by pinning old Christmas letter envelopes or postcards to it with wooden clothespins, like this holiday entryway from Inspired By Charm.

Modern Fireplace Garland

Give a flat modern fireplace a warm holiday feel with a Christmas garland made of greens and magnolia leaves that add volume, like this space from Mindy Gayer Design Co. Drape the garland in a casual, asymmetrical way to make it feel casual and cozy.

Christmas Table Garland

Create an easy centerpiece for a modern Christmas table with an extra-long garland. Run the garland down the center of a bare wood table, either straight down the middle or zig zag it around candlesticks or other elements. Let it puddle on the floor to create a nonchalant feel, like this modern holiday table from Urbanology Designs.

Bedroom Window Garland

Decorate an all-white room with a simple green garland to create a fresh holiday feel, like this bedroom window curtain rod draped with a green garland from Bria Hammel Interiors and Brooke & Lou.

Garland With Message

Layer a simple evergreen garland with twinkle lights (or buy a pre-lit faux garland) and pair it with a bright colorful accent like a bright red JOY sign to spread an uplifting Christmas message, like this mantel decorated for the holidays from Emily Henderson Design.

Modern Maximalist Garland

Create a maximalist modern Christmas mantel in a contemporary formal living room with a supersized garland framing the fireplace. This Christmas mantel garland from Mel Bean Interiors is embellished with lights, bows, faux flowers, and ball ornaments in varying sizes and finishes.

TV Wall Garland

Drape a Christmas garland on the wall around the TV to add holiday vibes to a family room. Blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona complemented the midnight blue wall of built-ins with a pine cone-studded green garland.

Wall Art Garland

Drape a garland over existing wall decor such as a large framed print or photograph to add a surprise element to your Christmas decor scheme, like this space from GordonDunning.

Headboard Garland

For an instant makeover, drape a tufted headboard with a fresh and fragrant green garland rather than hanging it on the wall, like this primary bedroom from Brexton Cole Interiors. Use a faux garland if you prefer. Decorate it with small white berries for a fresh look.

DIY Mylar Pompom Garland

Make an easy DIY pompom garland to create a bright and merry Christmas mantel display. This project from A Beautiful Mess includes shiny gold pompoms made from Mylar paper.

Piano Top Garland

The top of an upright piano is an ideal blank canvas for a holiday display. This space from Emily Henderson Design features a lighted green garland that serves as a base for lighted Christmas trees, ball ornaments, white flowers, and house-shaped votives.

Farmhouse Staircase Garland

Layer multiple different garlands to decorate a staircase and entryway and create a dimensional feel. Liz Marie Blog piled undecorated garlands into a vintage sleigh to add a whimsical accompaniment.

Maximalist Layered Garlands

Get creative by layering store-bought gardens to create a maximalist Christmas mantel display. Homestead City Dwelling draped three different styles of garlands in neutral tones to create a warm holiday feel. Copy the look of the leaf garland by attaching gold paper leaves to a chain or thick string.

Bedroom Window Garland

Blogger Annie Diamond of Most Lovely Things draped a simple garland with golden fairy lights around the window above the bed in this dark walled bedroom to add some moody Christmas vibes.

Advent Calendar Garland

Create an advent calendar garland that is both functional and festive and can be used from year to year. This simple star garland from A Beautiful Mess will delight kids of all ages, and can be used as holiday decor for a leaning ladder, mantel, or wall.

Bathroom Mirror Garlands

Layer faux garlands to create a custom look. Blogger Sarah Jane Christy
draped a faux cedar garland intertwined with a vintage silver bead garland around a dark wood mirror in this cozy bathroom decorated for Christmas.

Scandi-Style Garland

Layer simple string lights with a green-and-white paper or felt leaf garland above the bed to create a cozy feel in a minimalist bedroom like this Scandinavian style space from designer Annie Sloan. The simple garlands complement chalk painted wood paneled walls, simple linen bedding in shades of pale gray, and a vase of tall branches. You can make your own leaf garland by cutting ovate shapes out of felt or paper and attaching them to a sturdy string.

Matching Garlands

Garlands aren't just for fireplace mantels and holiday table centerpieces. Give your living room an instant makeover by lining the periphery with matching fresh or faux garlands draped on the mantel and across the back of dressers, consoles, and other furniture for a cohesive look, like this Christmas living room from Brexton Cole Interiors.

Colorful Beaded Garlands

Hang colorful oversized beaded double garlands in shades of red, white, and green on the wall above the bed for a festive look, like this space from designer Annie Sloan. Match your garland to the rest of your holiday decor by choosing beads in your preferred Christmas color scheme.

Stylized Wild Garland

Mix green and red branches and berries of varying types and heights to create a stylized and slightly wild Christmas garland using natural elements, like this Christmas mantel from designer Annie Sloan.

Natural Garland

A white iron headboard decorated with a draping natural garland and a string of bulb lights is complemented by a matching wreath in this farmhouse Christmas bedroom from Liz Marie Blog.

Dining Room Garlands

Line the door frames or arched openings in your living room, dining room, or other adjoining rooms with green garlands to create a homey and festive feel, like this space from Pine and Prospect Home.

Bathroom Sink Garland

A rustic wood plank covered in a natural green garland with foraged pine cones
adds just enough Christmas decor to complement the vintage sink and
beveled mirror. You can layer several shorter garlands or branches so they overlap to create the illusion of one longer garland, like Milk and Honey Life did in this holiday bathroom.

Old World Garland

Decorate the top of kitchen cabinets or built-ins with a lighted garland that will fill the blank space below the ceiling. This open kitchen and dining space from Courtney St. John Studio features a garland that is embellished with red-and-black checkered bows for a festive and traditional feel.

DIY Wood Bead Garland

Make a DIY wood bead garland to decorate for Christmas with a light, modern boho-style touch. Lovely Indeed made a quick and easy garland using wood beads of various sizes and baker's twine. The garland can be used to decorate the tree, coffee table, holiday table, and more, and is neutral enough so that it can be repurposed throughout the year for any occasion.

Bay Window Garland

Drape a long green garland around a bay window frame to make a statement. A green garland creates a festive frame for a large Christmas tree nestled in front of a large bay window in this holiday living room from Emily Henderson Design.

DIY Paper Star Garland

Use simple materials that you already have on hand to create a simple and charming DIY paper star garland for the tree. Inspired By Charm punched out stars from old book pages and shiny gold paper that were attached to simple string with glue for a handmade feel. Make the project go faster by using a star-shaped hole punch.

Deconstructed Garland

To decorate a non-linear or multi-level space like a bathtub surround, feel free to cut up your garland to fit. S.U.S.A.P created a romantic holiday bathtub filled in with pillar candles, twinkle lights, a black wire Christmas lantern, and bathtime drinks and snacks.

DIY Swan Christmas Garland

Create a DIY garland using a swan-shaped cookie cutter to make clay ornaments. Once the shapes are formed, poke a hole with a toothpick before baking, then paint and string them together. Add a few feathers to the body for extra texture.

A Beautiful Mess layered multiple garlands of various styles, colors, and materials for a maximalist display, but you could hang just the swan garland for a more minimal feel.

DIY Half Garland

Decorate the top of your bathroom mirror with a DIY garland for a festive look. The Merrythought crowned this simple bathroom mirror with a minimalist half garland made from holiday branches decorated with dehydrated orange slices for a cozy, handmade look.

Painted Ornament Garland

Choose your own Christmas palette and decorate your garland with simple ball ornaments hand-painted in custom colors, like this staircase decorated by designer Annie Sloan.

Ceiling Height Garland

In a room full of windows with limited wall space, get out your ladder and hang your Christmas garland at ceiling height, like this open-plan space from M Starr Design. Leave the decorations off, and be sure to fasten it securely to the wall so that it doesn't fall on anyone's head. Use nails or temporary adhesive wall hooks.

Moody Mantel Garland

Create drama on your Christmas mantel with a multi-directional garland that includes both horizontal and vertical greens, pine cones, berries, and embellishments, like this moody holiday garland from Craftberry Bush.

Tip

Add volume to a faux garland by layering it with fresh greens or berries for a fuller look.

French Doors Garland

Decorate French doors for Christmas by draping a long green garland all around the door frame, like this Christmas dining room from Emily Henderson Design.

Simple Ivy Garland

Use simple vines of real or faux ivy to create an instant mantel garland. Add colorful taper candles, ornaments, and a tall potted plant for height, and hang some black-and-white-striped stockings for an elegant feel, like this traditional space from designer Annie Sloan.

Asymmetrical Garland

For a modern, asymmetrical look, Lemon Leaf Home Interiors allowed a green garland to spill down the left side of this neutral fireplace, leaving the right side clear. The natural garland is layered with a chunky wood bead garland and another tasseled garland to add volume.

Trailing Front Door Garland

Create an organic feel with a lighted Christmas garland around the front door frame that trails along the walkway. Emily Henderson Design hung a lighted garland around this red front door that is ready-made for Christmas, complementing it with a generous pine swag tied with a ribbon on the door itself.

China Cabinet Garland

Drape a magnolia leaf garland on top of a china cabinet to highlight a collection of Christmas tree plates. Montana-based interior designer Jeremiah Young of Kibler & Kirch created cohesion in the maximalist space by using the same magnolia leaves on garlands and wreaths throughout the formal dining room.

Fa La La Garland

A Fa La La (La La...) garland adds a lighthearted touch to this maximalist neutral Christmas farmhouse mantel from Liz Marie Blog. Cut out some big letters on a sturdy card stock and string them up.

Bookshelf Garland

Decorate the top of a freestanding or built-in bookcase with a garland and add candles and ornaments for an easy festive look, like this cozy living room styled by Emily Bowser for Emily Henderson Design. Decorate the lower shelves with house-shaped votives, a golden reindeer statue, and stockings to complete the holiday picture.

Oversized Garland

Decorate a large staircase with an oversized garland that will lend a whimsical feel to your entryway. This DIY paper holly and berry garland from The House That Lars Built makes a grand statement with a few simple elements.

Velvet Ribbon Garland

Add elegance to a minimalist green wreath with velvet ribbon. This simple staircase garland from Finding Lovely is tied with brown velvet ribbon at equally spaced intervals that adds a finishing touch. Knotting the ribbon rather than tying it into bows results in a more minimal look.

Living Room Window Garland

Pair a window frame garland with a hoop wreath to make a large bank of windows feel cozier. This living room window from Emily Henderson Design is decorated with a lighted garland and an oversized half hoop wreath in the window to create a warm feel.

DIY Ornament Garland

Turn a set of ornaments into a Christmas garland by stringing them up to a piece of twine. This simple DIY project from Lovely Indeed features glass ornaments in soft pastel colors for a modern twist on holiday decor, but you can customize it using any shape or color palette that suits your decor.

Kitchen Island Garland

If you can spare the counter space, decorate your kitchen island with a full garland and embellish it with ornaments like a pair of shiny gold Christmas trees to elevate your open-plan kitchen, like this space from Mel Bean Interiors.

Front Door Frame Garland

Drape a natural garland around the front door frame to complement the rest of your front porch Christmas decor. A natural wreath complements this outdoor holiday display from Finding Lovely, with the same greens used on the garland, wreath, and pair of planters flanking the entrance for a cohesive look.

Christmas Sweater Garland

For a kitschy take on Christmas decorating, try a printable Christmas sweater garland. This easy DIY project from A Beautiful Mess can be used to decorate Christmas shelves or a kids' room. Have fun decorating each of the sweaters with markers, colored pencils, and stickers.

Bronze Bell Twine Garland

On a maximalist mantel layered with natural garlands, add a rustic garland of twine strung with bronze bells to add some metallic shine and a cozy, old-world feel, like this Christmas display from Homestead City Dwelling.

DIY Felt Garland

Make a Christmas garland from a cozy material like felt that you can bring out every year. This colorful felt Christmas light garland from Lia Griffith is simple to make and will create a new tradition in your household that can be moved from room to room every year. Each light can be sewn or glued together, and the letters can be cut out of felt or made with a Cricut machine.

Botanical Garland

Create a botanical Christmas garland for a vibrant, boho-style feel. Casa Watkins Living decorated this mantel with a cascading garland made of wintergreens and pothos plants that adds a dramatic nature-inspired look in the maximalist living room.

Ball Ornament Garland

If you have a bunch of random ball ornaments from years past, give them new purpose by turning them into a DIY garland, like this simple project from A Beautiful Mess.

Sideboard Garland

Add drama to your sideboard with a voluminous magnolia leaf garland that will make your dining room feel extra festive. Mix some of the magnolia leaves with white flowers in a bouquet for a coordinated centerpiece, like this elegant Christmas dining room from GordonDunning.

Outdoor Patio Garlands

Decorate your outdoor space for Christmas by hanging festive garlands above the doors to your patio, like this holiday entertaining-ready home from Mel Bean Interiors.

How do you make a really simple Christmas garland?

To make a really simple natural garland, cut a piece of twine to the length you want your garland to be. Tie the end of a length of wire at the end. Then gather lengths of real or faux branches of pine, cedar, eucalyptus, berry branches or other materials into a bundle. Wrap wire around the base to attach it to your pre-cut twine. Continue layering bundles until you reach the end of the twine.

What materials can you use for a homemade garland?

You can make a homemade garland using natural materials like pine branches, pine cones, berry stems, popcorn, cranberries, or dried orange slices. Or you can opt for faux branches and adornments like ribbon, LED string lights, artificial flowers, and Christmas ornaments. You can also make DIY Christmas garlands from a range of materials such as paper, felt, bells, wood beads, tassels, pompoms, and other materials.

Read the original article on The Spruce.