Follow these step-by-step instructions to make a gorgeous Christmas garland with lights! DIY Christmas garland to decorate your home for the holidays. No experience needed! This simple Christmas decorating tutorial will show you how!

Over the past few years I have used the same cheapy garland to decorate our home at Christmas. It’s thin, spindly, and looks just as inexpensive as the $5 I paid for it.

But not anymore! One afternoon and a few supplies later I’ve got a gorgeous Christmas garland with lights to hang over our front door.

Let me show you how simple it is to decorate your own garland this season!

How to Decorate Christmas Garland with Lights

DIY Christmas Garland Supplies Needed

Four 9′ artificial garlands (the cheaper the better)

One 6′ holly garland (similar to this)

Eight Christmas greenery picks (similar to these)

Seasonal Ribbon (2″ – 3″ wide)

Wire Cutters (here’s my favorite set!)

Floral Wire

Step One: Make a Fuller Christmas Garland

Start with two inexpensive 9′ garlands laid side by side. Twist together to make a fuller 9′ garland.

Do the same with the other two 9′ garlands then attach the first twisted garland to the second. This makes a super full 18′ garland to hang over your front door.

Sorry I don’t have pictures of this step. I did this a lonnggg time ago and have used the same garland year after year.

Step Two: Prep the Garland

Lay the entire garland on a flat surface (like your kitchen table). Grab a pair of old gardening gloves and get ready to fluff!

Since the garland will lay flat against a wall, mantle, or staircase, pull all the branches forward to create a flat back.

DIY Christmas Decorating Tip: Wear gardening gloves to protect your hands whenever handling artificial greenery or trees. Trust me. It’s a handsaver!

Step Three: Add Lights

If the garland isn’t pre-lit then add lights now. Weave them back and forth as you work your way from one side of the garland to the other.

Step Four: Add Texture with Greenery

The plain, inexpensive garland needed a little bit of interest. So I purchased three different garlands and Christmas picks from our local Hobby Lobby.

One 6′ pine garland with red berries, one 6′ silky holly garland, and eight frosted lambs ear Christmas picks.

Use wire cutters to cut the holly garland and lambs ear into chunky pieces. I did not use the pine garland in this project.

Place the greenery pieces evenly around the garland. Secure in place with floral wire.

Step Six: Add Ribbon

Cut your ribbon into 1′ to 3′ pieces. Weave in and out of branches and secure onto garland with floral wire.

Don’t forget to cut the ends of each ribbon into a pretty fish tail notch!

Step Seven: Add Ornaments

Gather a variety of plastic ornaments to attach to the Christmas garland. Red and green are traditional choices.

Don’t forget to add white ornaments! Bright white ornaments will pop against all the greenery.

Choose two or three ornaments of different sizes and colors. Wire them together then attach the ornaments to the Christmas garland with lights. Make sure the ornament bundles are evenly spaced along the garland.