15 Imaginative Garlands to Add Charm and Whimsy to Your Holiday Home

Why settle for just beads when you can dress your tree with stringed-decorations made from felt, corks, bells and more. Check out these imaginative Christmas garlands that you can make yourself.

By Jennifer Noonan and Katie Nolan | Updated Dec 15, 2018 12:57 PM

Felt Polka Dots

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Simple Felt Garland

Bring a rainbow of color to your holiday decor with this simple felt ball garland. Simply thread embroidery floss through the balls spacing them however far a part as you wish. It’s a quick and inexpensive way to brighten up those branches or to drape around your windows.

Related: The Weirdest Things Anyone Has Ever Used to Make an Awesome DIY Christmas Wreath

diycandy.com

Snowflake Garland

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Snowflake Garland

It's not the holidays without a few snowflakes—even if you have to fake it. A Beautiful Mess shares their tutorial for making a sparkly snowflake garland using polymer clay, Mod Podge, and glitter. They made molded their own snowflakes, but there are plenty of other ways to get the shape like using a stencil or getting miniature wood ones from the craft store. 

Related: The World's Wackiest Christmas Traditions

abeautifulmess.com

Ornament Garland

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Ornament Garland

This is a glitzy, glam garland from A Beautiful Mess. Thread ribbon through ornaments to get the look. Choose baubles that will go with the rest of your holiday decor—glitter ornaments not required!

Related: 12 Other Ways to Decorate with X-Mas Ornaments

abeautifulmess.com

Pom-Poms

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Pom Pom Crafts

Alternate craft store pom-poms with paper straws for a funky splash of fun on your tree. It’s like a party on the pine needles! This is a great way to dress up a tree on a budget, particularly if you’re just setting up house or are low on ornaments.

Related: 20 Easy Ways to Be the Best Holiday Host

auntpeaches.com

Christmas Lights Garland

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Christmas Lights Garland

This is one way to hang lights on the Christmas tree. Studio DIY traced lightbulb shapes on card stock paper and stuck them to heavy-duty string with black masking tape. She tied balloons to the end of the garland for a one-of-a-kind tree topper, but that isn't a must if you have your own star or angel in mind. 

Related: 45 Insanely Easy-to-Make Holiday Ornaments

studiodiy.com

Merry Garland

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Merry Garland

Here's a way to adapt the traditional green garland for a more modern look. Homey Oh My shares her tutorial for wrapping some pines around vine wire. The "Merry" message might get camouflaged if you place this around the tree, but it's perfect to hang on a bare wall or across a window.

Related: 10 Last-Minute Tricks for a Stress-Free Christmas

homeyohmy.com

Finger Knit Garland

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Finger Knit Garland

Whether you're a novice or a pro knitter, this garland project is worth a look! Using the finger knit technique, Lovely Indeed created a bunch of knitted strands of garland to drape across the mantel. It creates a warm and cozy feel perfect for the holidays. Get a head start on learning a new skill for 2019 and give this DIY a try. 

Related: 10 Ways to Decorate Your Xmas Tree for Under $10

lovelyindeed.com

Christmas Card Garland

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Christmas Card Garland

PMQ for Two used print outs of vintage Christmas cards for this garland, but you can also make use of all the holiday cards you receive or  even use all of your own former cards throughout the year to make this garland. The best part is that it's super easy to put together: grab a pretty ribbon of your choice and staple the cards to it. Voilà!

Related: 20 Unique Ways to Display Holiday Cards

pmqfortwo.com

Rustic Garland

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Rustic Garland

You can never go wrong with evergreen and plaid during the holidays. Angela Marie Made created this warm and traditional garland using only supplies she found in her house. Luckily, even if you don't already have these items they're easy finds online or at your favorite craft store. 

Related: 12 Totally Unexpected Ways to DIY a Holiday Wreath

angelamariemade.com

Advent Calendar Garland

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Advent Calendar Garland

Here's a two-for-one holiday decor: an advent calendar garland! A Beautiful Mess beautifully decorated star boxes and filled them with goodies and activities for a delightful Christmas countdown. 

Related: 35 DIY Advent Calendars to Help You Count Down to Christmas

abeautifulmess.com

Felt Letter Garland

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Felt Letter Garland

Save yourself a trip to the party store—and your money—by making your own holiday banner. Lemon Thistle shares her own tutorial for this DIY letter garland. It's a super easy and affordable project, plus you get to decide what it says and how it looks! 

Related: Christmas Miracle: 8 Simple Fixes for All Your Tree Troubles

lemonthistle.com

Sugar Plum Garland

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Sugar Plum Garland

Feeling inspired by the Nutcracker? A Subtle Revelry shares her DIY for a sugar plum garland, but without the sticky mess. Swapping gummies for decorated styrofoam, this garland will last beyond just one holiday season. 

Related: 15 Insanely Easy Ways to Decorate for the Holidays

asubtlerevelry.com

Crochet Ornaments Garland

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Crochet Garland

Here's another DIY garland to put your skills to the test. Persia Lou's crochet retro ornament garland adds a bright and festive touch to any tree. Gather your supplies and sit by the fire one night making this. 

Related: A Dozen Clever Hacks for Your DIY Holiday Home

persialou.com

Dried Orange Garland

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Dried Orange Garland

For a natural garland, thread together dried orange slices. This is a very traditional holiday trimming, from the days when store-bought decorations were too costly or difficult to acquire. If you want the real deal, dry the slices yourself by placing them in the oven for approximately one hour on each side. The Merry Thought shares a tutorial for how to do it just right. 

Related: 8 Ways to Make Your House Smell Like the Holidays

themerrythought.com

Bell Garland

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Bell Garland

If loud, clamoring jingle bells aren't your taste, why not try this vintage bell garland instead. The simple, rustic look is perfect if you're going for a calm and bright decor style. 

Related: Here’s How Designers Decorate for the Holidays

themerrythought.com

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