Looking for an easy way to decorate your home for Christmas? This DIY ornament garland is a festive way to add color and personality to a mantel, staircase, doorway, or Christmas tree. In this step-by-step guide, I'll show you how to make an ornament garland using Christmas ornaments, floral wire or twine, and a few simple supplies.
Ornament garlands are easy to customize to match your Christmas decorating style. Use traditional red and green, elegant gold and white, bright colorful ornaments, or mix in wooden and personalized ornaments for a garland that feels unique to your family. Below, you'll find everything you need to create your own Christmas ornament garland, along with decorating ideas and helpful tips.
Why Make an Ornament Garland?
An ornament garland is an easy Christmas decoration that can be customized for almost any space or decorating style. It's also a fun project you can bring out and enjoy year after year.
- Budget-friendly holiday decor
- Customizable to any color scheme or theme
- Easy to assemble with minimal tools
- Reusable year after year
- Perfect for mantels, staircases, doorways, Christmas trees, and more
Supplies You’ll Need
Before you get started on your DIY ornament garland, gather these supplies:
- Christmas ornaments – Choose ornaments in a mix of sizes, colors, and finishes to create a layered look. You can also mix in a few handmade wooden Christmas ornaments to add texture and make the garland feel more personal.
- Floral wire, twine, or sturdy string – This will form the base of your garland.
- Ribbon – Optional, but great for adding bows or extra color.
- Scissors or wire cutters
- Command hooks or other hanging hardware – Choose the option that works best for where you plan to display your garland.
Once you have your supplies ready, you can start building your garland.
Step-by-Step Instructions for DIY Ornament Garland
Step 1: Choose Your Color Scheme
Before attaching anything, decide how you want your ornament garland to look. You can use traditional Christmas colors like red and green, keep it neutral with white and gold, or mix bright colors for a more playful look.
Lay your ornaments out first so you can see how the colors, sizes, and finishes work together. Using a mixture of large, medium, and small ornaments will give the finished garland more dimension.
Step 2: Prepare the Garland Base
Cut a piece of floral wire, twine, or sturdy string to the length you need, leaving a little extra on each end for hanging.
If you are decorating a mantel, staircase, or doorway, measure the area first so you know how long your ornament garland should be.
Step 3: Attach the Largest Ornaments First
Start by attaching your larger Christmas ornaments along the base. Space them out rather than grouping all of the large ornaments together.
Secure each ornament through its hanging loop using floral wire or twine. Don't worry about making everything look perfect yet. You'll fill in the open spaces with smaller ornaments in the next step.
Step 4: Fill In With Smaller Ornaments
Add medium and small ornaments between the larger ones until your garland starts to take shape.
Position the ornaments at slightly different angles as you work. This helps disguise the wire or twine and creates a more natural, layered appearance.
This is also a great place to add a few special ornaments, such as wooden ornaments, personalized ornaments, or family keepsakes that you want to stand out.
Step 5: Hang and Adjust Your Ornament Garland
Once all of your ornaments are attached, carefully hang the garland on your mantel, staircase, doorway, Christmas tree, or other display area.
Step back and look for any empty spaces. Adjust the ornaments as needed, and add a few smaller ornaments, bows, or pieces of ribbon to fill in any gaps.
Your DIY Christmas ornament garland is ready to display!
Creative Ornament Garland Ideas
Once you know the basic technique, you can easily customize your garland to fit your Christmas decor.
- Vintage Ornament Garland – Mix vintage-style or thrifted ornaments for a nostalgic Christmas look.
- Color-Themed Garland – Choose two or three coordinating colors for a more polished design.
- Mini Ornament Garland – Use smaller ornaments for a tabletop tree, kid's room, or smaller space.
- Wooden Ornament Garland – Mix laser-cut or handmade wooden ornaments with traditional ornaments for added texture.
- Personalized Ornament Garland – Add family names, important dates, or meaningful keepsakes to create a garland that's personal to your family.
Tips for Making the Best Ornament Garland
A few small details can make a big difference in the finished look:
- Use shatterproof ornaments if the garland will be around children, pets, or high-traffic areas.
- Mix shiny, matte, glittered, wooden, and patterned ornaments for visual interest.
- Use different ornament sizes to create depth.
- Keep the garland lightweight if you're hanging it on a banister or delicate surface.
- For extra sparkle, use a strand of battery-operated Christmas lights as part of your garland base.
Final Thoughts
Making your own Christmas ornament garland is an easy way to add color, texture, and personality to your holiday decorations. Because you can choose the ornaments, colors, and special keepsakes you include, no two garlands have to look exactly alike.
Whether your Christmas style is traditional, colorful, rustic, or somewhere in between, an ornament garland can become a beautiful part of your holiday decor year after year.
Gather your ornaments, choose your color scheme, and have fun making it your own!