DIY Christmas Garland Ideas

Christmas garlands are super flexible – they look great on stair railings, mantels, Christmas trees, around doors and windows, on dinner tables, along headboards, on bathroom mirrors, or any spot in your home (even outdoors).

Whether you’re starting from scratch or customize up a pre-made garland with your own creative touches, there are loads of easy yet eye-catching ideas for Christmas garlands that’ll fit right in with your home’s style.

Get crafty with a DIY garland using real or artificial greenery, yarn, string, paper, various crafting items, or felt. Or, take a plain garland from the store and personalize it with ribbons, string up some lights or baubles, or weave in natural touches like pine cones or dried orange slices.

Let these ideas spark your creativity for making your own Christmas garlands.

Christmas garlands on stair railings

Christmas garlands on stair railings are a classic and inviting way to infuse your home with holiday spirit. These garlands transform a simple staircase into a festive focal point of your home, guiding guests and family members upwards with a trail of seasonal beauty.

When it comes to dressing up your stair railings, the options are as varied as they are enchanting. You can opt for lush evergreen garlands that bring the fresh essence of a winter forest indoors. Intertwining the greenery with twinkling lights adds a magical touch, making every ascent a delightful experience. For a pop of color and texture, consider weaving in bright red holly berries, elegant bows, or shiny ornaments that reflect the joyful lights.

For those who appreciate a more minimalist aesthetic, a simple string of white lights amidst a garland of frosted pine branches can create a sophisticated wintry look. Meanwhile, incorporating elements such as cinnamon sticks, dried fruit slices, and pinecones can give your garland a rustic charm and a delightful fragrance.

The beauty of decorating stair railings with Christmas garlands lies in the personal touch you can add. Whether you prefer a garland that’s rich and opulent or one that’s understated and natural, the end result is a warm welcome that captures the essence of the season and makes your home feel even more inviting during the festive period.

Christmas garlands around windows

Draping Christmas garlands around windows is a wonderful way to frame the wintry views outside and add a festive touch to the interior of your home. These garlands serve as a beautiful reminder of the season’s joy, visible both from the inside and to passersby outside.

For window decorations, you can choose a full garland that loops over the top of the window or a simpler strand that lines the window’s edge. Incorporating twinkling lights within the garland can create a warm, inviting glow that enhances the cozy ambiance of your living space, especially during the early evenings when the light outside begins to fade.

Adding decorative elements such as small baubles, stars, and ribbons to the garland can mirror the colors and themes of your interior decor, creating a cohesive holiday look. For a more natural and rustic appeal, intertwining branches with berries, sprigs of holly, eucalyptus, or even fresh flowers can make for a charmingly fresh window display.

Not only do these garlands elevate the look of your windows, but they also serve as a visual bridge between the indoors and the natural beauty of winter’s landscape. Whether you prefer a simple strand of evergreens or a more ornate arrangement, Christmas garlands on windows are a simple yet effective way to spread holiday cheer throughout your home.

Christmas garlands on the mantel

Adorning the fireplace with Christmas garlands is a time-honored tradition that adds warmth and charm to the heart of the home. As the fireplace is often the gathering spot for family and friends during the holiday season, a beautifully decorated mantel with a festive garland can serve as the centerpiece of your Christmas decorations.

A lush green garland draped across the mantelpiece sets the stage for a classic holiday scene. Incorporating strands of twinkling lights within the greenery can give your room a soft and cozy glow, enhancing the natural flicker of the fireplace. For a touch of color and festivity, you can intersperse the garland with bright red holly berries, glossy ornaments, and velvet ribbons that complement the stockings hung with care below.

Whether your style is elegantly simple or lavishly ornate, the fireplace garland is a symbol of hospitality and celebration. It’s where stockings wait to be discovered, where photos are taken, and where memories are made, all underscored by the beauty and tradition of your festive garland display.

Christmas garland around columns

Wrapping Christmas garlands around columns is a splendid way to bring holiday grandeur to your home’s architecture. Whether these columns are on your porch or part of your interior décor, garlands add a vertical element of festivity that draws the eye and captivates the imagination.

Indoor columns, whether fluted or plain, can be transformed with garlands into elegant holiday features. Delicate fairy lights can be intertwined with the greenery for a subtle sparkle that complements the indoor lighting. For a luxurious touch, consider adding sprigs of holly, mistletoe, or even artificial poinsettias for a burst of traditional Christmas color. You can drape the garland in a spiral or swag fashion, depending on the height and style of the column, for a dramatic effect.

Columns decked in Christmas garlands not only enhance the festive atmosphere but also utilize vertical space to spread holiday joy in a uniquely elegant fashion. This type of decoration can tie together your holiday theme, from the grand entrance to the cozy corners of your home.

Christmas garland on the side table

Decorating a side table with a Christmas garland is a subtle yet beautiful way to spread the holiday cheer throughout your home. A garland on a side table weaves a touch of festivity into the more intimate nooks of your living space, complementing the larger decorations in the room.

A slender, delicate garland works best for a side table to avoid overwhelming the surface. You can lay it across the length of the table, allowing the ends to drape slightly over the edges for an elegant look. Nestling small baubles, twinkling lights, and tiny pine cones within the garland can add sparkle and texture to your display.

For a creative twist, you might incorporate seasonal elements such as cinnamon sticks for their festive aroma, or intertwine strands of silver or gold tinsel for a bit of glamour. A side table garland can also serve as a base for a Christmas vignette—consider setting up a miniature nativity scene, a collection of candle holders, or a group of festive figurines amid the greenery.

Christmas garland on the mirror

Draping a Christmas garland around a side mirror adds a reflective dimension to your holiday decor, casting the festive spirit in a new light. A garland embellishing a mirror not only decorates the glass but also the room, as the greenery and decorations are doubled by the mirror’s reflection.

When choosing a garland for a mirror, consider the size and shape of the mirror to ensure the garland complements it without covering too much of the reflective surface. A garland that features small twinkling lights will create a luminous effect, with the glow doubled in the mirror’s reflection, enhancing the room’s ambient lighting.

To add a personal touch, interweave ribbons that match your room’s color scheme or incorporate elements that reflect your style, like delicate sprigs of mistletoe, elegant feathers, or colorful glass beads. Natural elements like pinecones or dried fruit can give the garland an organic feel, while small ornaments can add a pop of color and interest.

Christmas garland on the headboard

Adorning headboards with Christmas garlands transforms bedrooms into cozy, festive retreats, bringing the spirit of the holidays into your personal sanctuary. This decoration idea is perfect for creating a warm, inviting atmosphere right in your bedroom.

When selecting a garland for a headboard, it’s important to consider the size and style of the bed. A fuller, lush garland can create a sense of luxury and abundance, especially on larger headboards. For smaller or minimalist headboards, a simpler, more delicate garland might be more suitable, adding just the right touch of festivity without overwhelming the space.

Incorporating tiny fairy lights within the garland can add a magical glow, perfect for creating a peaceful ambiance conducive to relaxation and holiday dreaming. You can further personalize your garland with decorations that match your bedroom’s decor, such as small baubles, ribbons, or even homemade ornaments.

For an extra touch of warmth and seasonal aroma, consider natural elements like sprigs of cinnamon, dried orange slices, or eucalyptus leaves. Not only do these add a rustic charm, but they also bring a delightful scent to your bedroom.

Christmas garland on the dining table

Adding a Christmas garland to your dining table is a charming way to create a festive and inviting atmosphere for holiday meals. This decorative touch brings an element of natural beauty to your dining experience, making every meal feel like a special occasion.

When choosing a garland for your dining table, consider the length and width of the table to ensure the garland complements it without overcrowding. A garland running down the center of the table can serve as a beautiful, organic centerpiece. For longer tables, a continuous garland that extends the full length of the table creates an elegant and abundant look. For round or smaller tables, a circular garland or a shorter strand placed in the center can be just as effective.

Incorporating elements such as small pine cones, berries, and holly leaves adds texture and color to the garland. Interspersing candles amongst the greenery can create a warm and intimate ambiance, with the candlelight softly illuminating the garland’s details. For an extra festive touch, small ornaments or ribbons can be added to tie in with the overall holiday decor of your home.