How to Make a Christmas Garland

The festive season is in full swing, so it’s time to deck the halls. What better way to festoon your hallways than with a homemade Christmas garland?

Going DIY with your Christmas decorations can be a great way to save some money while getting into the Christmas spirit. Homemade Christmas garlands are perfect for your mantlepiece, stairs or anywhere else you want to liven up with some festive foliage. With an array of pre-made garlands available at Homebase, you can make your Christmas craft project as DIY as you like.

So, whether you want to know how to make a Christmas garland for a magical mantlepiece, or simply spruce up your staircase with some handmade decorations, we’ve got you covered. Follow our simple, step-by-step guide to learn how to make a natural Christmas garland.

What You’ll Need

– Foliage
– Scissors or secateurs
– String
– Twill or bind wire
– Christmas lights
– Baubles and extra Christmas decorations

Step 1. Collect your foliage

If you want to make a real Christmas garland, you’re going to need to forage all the festive foliage you can get your hands on.

Luckily, at this time of year, woods and fields are full of holly, red berries, pine, and other greenery ideal for that cosy, Christmassy feeling. Grab your secateurs and head out for a wintery walk to see what you can find.

Short on time and outdoor space? You can always get a head start by buying a plain, green garland and decorating it yourself. Homebase has a range of gorgeous Christmas garlands in a variety of styles either online or in-store. We also stock a variety of decorations from our Frosted Forest range to suit your authentic, warm feel.

This is a great option if you want to make a garland for your stairs, as it’s easier to fasten in place and more manageable when putting it up and taking it down. If you go down this route, you can skip steps 3 and 4.

Step 2. Measure your space

Now you need to measure the space you want your Christmas garland to cover. The best way to do this is with a piece of string or rope, as this is what you’ll be using as the base of your garland.

If you’re making a garland to sit on your fireplace, measure your string across the length of your mantlepiece. Remember to add a bit extra if you want the garland to hang down over the sides.

If you’re using a pre-made garland, you need to make sure you have enough to cover your staircase, or whichever space you’re decorating. Our Homebase Christmas garlands all provide dimensions on the product pages, so be sure to measure your space and compare before you buy.

Step 3. Tie your rope

Once you’ve cut your rope to the right length, tie a knot at each end. Now, attach your bind wire or twill to one end of the string by wrapping it around tightly.

Once this is secure, you’re ready to start attaching your foliage.

H2: Step 4. Add your foliage

Before you start, you need to cut your foliage to size, so your stems are all around 10-12 inches long.

Next, grab a bunch of stems and place them over the first knot in the string. Wind the binding wire around the stems to attach them securely to the string. Don’t cut the binding wire after you’ve attached the first bit of foliage, as we want to keep using it along the string.

Get another bunch of foliage and lay it so it’s slightly further along the string, but still overlaps the previous bunch. Attach it using the same bit of bind wire or twill.

Repeat this process along the string until the whole piece is covered in beautiful, festive foliage. You want to make sure each bunch slightly overlaps with the previous one to build texture and avoid any gaps.

Once you’ve covered the whole piece of string with wintery green foliage, you’ve completed the base of your Christmas garland.

Step 5. Attach your garland

If your garland is going on a flat, wide surface like a mantelpiece, simply lay it across – it should stay in place. If your surface is narrower, you can add some small weights to the greenery to make sure it doesn’t move.

It’s a good idea to use a protective layer between the mantel and the garland, as fresh greenery can shed leaves or leave marks. You can use folded bin bags or anything else suitable and easy to hide.

If you’re using a shop-bought Christmas garland for your stairs, there are different ways you can hang it. For a classic look, drape it along the bannister, securing it in certain points and letting it sag between these points. Alternatively, wrap it around the bannister. For both methods, you can use garland, cable or zip ties to secure it in place.

Step 6. Tidy and decorate

Now it’s time for the fun bit: how to decorate a Christmas garland. Add some extra sparkle and festive goodies to your garland, like adorning it with silver shiny bells or white frosted pinecones. If you’re using a pre-made garland, this is where you can get creative and make it your own.

You can use twine or bind wire to attach decorations like baubles, bells or dried fruit to your branches. If you want your Christmas garland to light up the room, you can also weave in some twinkly Christmas lights.

We have everything you need to make your garland merry and bright, so visit your local Homebase store or simply browse online. If you need a bit of extra inspiration, check out our Christmas garland decoration ideas.

That’s our guide on how to make the perfect, festive Christmas Garland unique to you! If you want to explore more DIY decorations, check out our guide on how to make a bauble wreath or visit our Christmas hub for more festive fun.