Holiday decorating feels incomplete until a garland is hung, filling the room with instant cheer.
Handmade garlands bring an extra layer of magic, carrying the warmth of your effort and creativity into every corner of your home.
Each loop of ribbon, string of beads, or row of crafted shapes adds character and heart to your seasonal decor.
These 22 DIY Christmas garland ideas will spark your imagination and help you craft pieces that make your holidays shine with true joy.
#1. DIY Macramé Tree Garland
If you love the texture of handmade crafts, this macrame tree garland will instantly win your heart.
Each little green tree is carefully knotted with a fringe at the bottom, giving a rustic yet elegant look.
Strung together on a simple cord, they bring a touch of Scandinavian charm to your mantel, stair railing, or even your window.
#2. Vintage Santa Face Garland
This Santa garland looks like it came straight out of a storybook.
You can see each panel features jolly red cheeks, rosy hats, and fluffy beards, all layered over vintage-style book pages that give the design a timeless feel.
Hanging it across your door, mantel, or wreath makes your space instantly festive, almost as if Santa himself left a little charm behind on his way through.
#3. Dried Orange, Cinnamon, and Pinecone Garland
You know that feeling when you walk into a room, and the air smells like Christmas? That’s exactly what this garland delivers.
The mix of dried oranges, cinnamon sticks, and pinecones brings a natural fragrance that warms your space instantly.
Draped across a mantel or staircase, it feels both rustic and elegant, like something you’d see in an old farmhouse kitchen.
#4. Festive Fabric Bow Garland
There’s something about bows that instantly feels joyful, and this garland is proof of that.
You can drape it over a mantel, hang it across a cabinet, or even use it to frame a doorway.
Specially, it’s one of those projects that doesn’t need perfection as slightly uneven bows only make it more whimsical.
#5. Rustic Wooden Sign Garland with Festive Bulbs
Amazingly, this wooden sign brings the nostalgic glow of Christmas lights without the cords.
The painted bulb cutouts in buffalo check, red, and green add farmhouse charm while the jute rope loops across the board like a strand of lights.
You can place it on your porch, above your mantel, or even by the entryway to welcome guests with holiday cheer.
#6. Colorful Paper Chain Garland
Paper chain garlands are like stepping back into childhood, when the simplest crafts brought the biggest smiles.
With bold pops of red, green, blue, yellow, and pink, this garland wraps your staircase in pure joy.
Each link feels like a countdown to Christmas, carrying the playful energy of school projects and family traditions.
#7. Luxurious Velvet Pom-Pom Garland
This garland feels like Christmas luxury draped right across your mantel.
The deep burgundy pom-poms add warmth and drama, creating a cozy yet glamorous statement for your holiday décor.
Imagine the soft velvet catching the glow of your tree lights, it’s like wrapping your room in festive elegance.
#8. Gingerbread Man Garland
Few decorations capture the spirit of Christmas better than gingerbread men lined up hand in hand.
This garland is full of nostalgia, looking as if it jumped right out of a holiday storybook.
Hung across a kitchen window or mantel, it spreads the comforting charm of homemade cookies without the crumbs.
#9. Vintage Spool and Bead Garland
Using wooden spools, rustic beads, and scraps of plaid fabric, this garland feels like something your grandmother might have strung together on a snowy afternoon.
Drape it over a mantel or stair railing and it instantly adds warmth, texture, and a little storybook nostalgia to your Christmas décor.
#10. Dried Orange Star Garland
Turning them into tiny star shapes makes this garland both fragrant and beautiful.
Hung across your mantel, staircase, or window, the golden-orange tones glow in candlelight and twinkle lights alike.
Plus, the process of drying and stringing them feels meditative, almost like you’re stitching warmth straight into your home.
#11. Paper Snowman and Tree Garland
Smiling snowmen with glittery hats and bold carrot noses pair with simple white Christmas trees dusted in shiny snowflakes.
It’s the kind of craft you can make with your kids in one cozy afternoon, and the best part, you only need paper, scissors, and glue.
Hang it across your window or above the mantel, and you’ll instantly add a joyful, handmade touch to your holiday home.
#12. Pom-Pom and Tassel Christmas Garland
This garland instantly brings playfulness to your home, perfect for wrapping around stair railings or draping across mantels.
The soft texture and joyful shades of red, green, and cream create a cozy, handmade charm.
Add tassels for extra movement, and suddenly your garland feels like it’s dancing along with the holiday music.
#13. Popcorn and Cranberry Garland
Popcorn and cranberry garlands are a timeless Christmas tradition that instantly transport you back to simpler days.
The contrast of snowy white popcorn against rich red cranberries adds a natural elegance that feels just right on a tree or draped across a mantel.
It’s a craft you can do on a chilly evening, bowl of popcorn in your lap, laughing with family as you string each piece.
#14. Evergreen Letter Garland
This garland literally spells out cheer! Each letter of “MERRY” is shaped from faux evergreen stems, giving the impression of miniature wreaths and branches bundled into words.
The hot pink bows bring a modern, playful twist to the traditional green, making it pop on any wall or mantel.
You’ll love how this DIY feels bold, whimsical, and personal, like writing holiday joy across your home in greenery.
#15. Jingle Bell and Ribbon Garland
This garland combines golden jingle bells with rich red ribbons, instantly transforming your mantel into a festive centerpiece.
The way the ribbons drape gives it movement and elegance, while the bells add a touch of tradition.
Every time you pass by, you’ll catch a glimpse of that warm holiday glow.
#16. Yarn Christmas Tree Garland
This yarn tree garland brings a gentle, handmade touch to your holiday decorating.
The little green trees, each topped with a star and dotted with “snowball” beads, look like something plucked from a cozy winter scene.
The addition of natural wood beads along the twine balances the design with rustic simplicity.
#17. Fabric Candy Garland
If you want your Christmas décor to feel like it came straight out of a candy shop, this fabric candy garland is the way to go.
Each piece of candy is simply fabric wrapped around a circle, tied at the ends, and strung together.
Kids especially love this garland because it looks just like giant peppermints!
#18. Felt Mitten Garland
Nothing says winter coziness like a string of tiny mittens hanging across your wall or mantel.
These soft felt mittens, stitched with simple snowflake embroidery, instantly warm up your space with handmade charm.
You can mix red, green, and white for a traditional Christmas look, or switch to pastels and neutrals for a more modern twist.
#19. Gingerbread Man Banner Garland
With smiling gingerbread men perched on red and white flag panels, topped with cheerful gingham bows, this gingerbread banner instantly brightens your space.
It’s a fun way to bring that fresh from the oven cookie charm into your décor without any baking required.
Hang it on your mantel, across a shelf, or even in your kitchen to spread Christmas cheer.
#20. Elegant Red Bow Garland
Red satin bows remind you of wrapped gifts under the tree and old-fashioned Christmas cards.
When paired with soft twinkle lights, this garland creates a scene that feels both welcoming and festive.
It’s a project that doesn’t take long but fills your home with an atmosphere of joy, almost like draping warmth across the walls.
#21. Rustic Peppermint Banner Garland
Wow, his banner garland blends rustic charm with candy-sweet fun.
Kraft paper pennants make a sturdy base, while layered peppermint swirls and snowflakes bring classic holiday icons to life.
Hung across a mantel or along your dining table, it adds a farmhouse touch without losing the whimsical sparkle of Christmas.
#22. Pom-Pom and Ornament Garland
If you want your mantel to feel like a cozy winter cottage, this pom-pom and ornament garland is just the project for you.
The fluffy pom-poms look like little snowballs, while the shiny red ornaments bring in that classic holiday sparkle.
Of course, you can hang it on a mantel, a headboard, or even across a window for an easy holiday lift that feels homemade but looks store-bought.
See also: 22 Cute Handmade Christmas Ornaments to Brighten Your Tree
