Christmas garlands are versatile. They can be used as background decorations with a pop of color or they can be used as a focal point for your decor. You can choose to go the DIY route or the store bought route. Whatever you choose, no Christmas decor is complete without a garland.
Considering that we've given you so many Christmas porch decoration ideas, it's only fitting that we give you a whole lot of Christmas garland decorating ideas. Read on for the mega list that will help you transform your porch into a Christmas wonderland.
1. Greenery Garland
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This classic garland filled with seasonal greenery is easy to do and will fill your porch with unmistakable Christmas cheer. Collect some seasonal branches and leaves from Winter evergreens in your area, attach them to a long piece of string, and you're done.
2. Banister Garlands
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Put those porch banisters to work by wrapping them in a colorful garland this year. Any garland will do. Wrap the garland around the banister in a spiral fashion for some whimsical interest, or drape the garland around the top of the banister for a more classic aesthetic.
3. Wrap Around Garland
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This idea is all about framing your porch in garlands. Hang a variety of garlands, or one extra-long one, from the eaves on the outside of your porch. This is an easy way to make a big impact with simple decorations.
4. Door Frame Garland
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Frame your front door with a welcoming garland. Consider adorning this garland with elements that engage all our senses. Go for fragrant cedar or pine greenery, use a variety of textures as layers, or add some fruit or candy for a welcoming snack for your guests.
5. Bauble Garland
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Do you ever end up with a surplus of baubles at the bottom of your decorating box? If so, you could string them all together for a delightful bauble garland. They all have loops for attachment points already, so all you have to do is string them together and hang the resulting garland.
6. Plaid Garland
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Plaid was a staple in the 90's. And since the 90's are coming back into fashion, so is plaid! Accent any garland with plaid ribbons or bows for a charming look that will warm up any decor.
7. Candy Cane Garland
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This candy cane garland couldn't be simpler. Find some rustic looking twine and use clothes pegs to clip candy canes to the twine. Just make sure you have plenty backup candy canes for when the ones on the garland inevitably start disappearing.
8. Columns Wrapped In Garlands
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Use the posts and pillars on your porch as structures to hang your Christmas garlands from. You could wind the garlands up the posts and then drape them in between each post to fill out your holiday decorations on your porch.
9. Layered Greenery
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For this garland, you're looking for a variety of Winter greenery you can use to make a layered seasonal garland. Bunch the greenery as close together on the garland as possible for a full look. Try different shades of green and a variety of textures for a truly layered look.
10. Citrus Garland
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Dried citrus is a classic seasonal decoration. Use this as inspiration for a dried citrus garland. All you need is some fried citrus of different sizes and colors (try different fruit), some clothes pegs and twine. An added bonus is that this will fill your porch with that warm citrus aroma for weeks.
11. Focal Point Garland
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Garlands work great as filler or background decorations. But you can flip the script and make them the main focus of your porch decor too! Go for bright colors, eye-catching shapes, or high contrast to make your garland the star of the show.
12. Stocking Garland
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Stockings don't have to be limited to the mantelpiece. If you have some extra stockings lying around, string them together into a stocking garland. This is a great way to get more use out of old or Christmas stockings or as an extra place to hang stockings for those with bigger families.
13. Apple Garland
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Bright red apples are not only in season in winter, but they also match a lot of Christmas decor! Try adding a splash of red to your classic greenery garland by adding some shiny apples. You could weave the string directly through the center of the apple to make sure they don't go anywhere. Or tie the string to the stem of the apple to encourage people to 'pick' apples from the garland for a snack.
14. Mitten Garland
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There's nothing quite as cute or cozy as a mitten garland. No need to buy mittens for this specific purpose either. Most of us have mittens that have lost their partner, or maybe multiple pairs of mittens that your kids have grown out of. String them up and hang them on your porch!
15. Felt Garland
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Felt is a star of the DIY crafts show. Organize a craft night with your family and make some felt garlands together. Get various colors of felt that match your theme for this year and let your family loose with some scissors and string.
16. Advent Calendar Garland
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Counting down the days until Christmas used to be one of my favorite things about the holiday season when I was younger. Why not turn a porch garland into an advent calendar in a few easy steps. It can be as simple as tying some colorful boxes onto a piece of string or it can be as elaborate as you can imagine.
17. Air Freshener Garland
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Garlands look great, but you can make them smell great too! For this idea, you need to find the most fragrant evergreen branches you can find. Look for typical winter evergreens with a strong smell like pine and cedar. Dried citrus can add to the olfactory buffet and the color contrast will make it look great too.
18. Christmas Lights Garland
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Here's a simple way to have a big effect on your porch decor. Simply grab some Christmas string lights and display them as you would a garland. This is a great last-minute way to transform your porch into a Christmas scene. It would be best to use colorful string lights here for the best effect.
19. Gingerbread Cookie Garland
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Gingerbread is one of those Christmas delights that can be used as a snack and as a decoration. Although if you're displaying a gingerbread garland on your porch, we recommend using paper cutouts instead of actual gingerbread. Get some ginger-colored paper and start cutting some shapes. Bright red buttons and white trim will get you extra gingerbread points.
20. Santa And His Reindeers Garland
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Santa and his herd of sleigh-pulling reindeers is the unofficial mascot of Christmas. Give this merry crew a tip of the hat in a garland on your porch this Christmas. You could go the DIY route with paper cutouts and felt figures, or you could string a set of decorations together for a more polished look.
21. Nautical Garland
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Are you celebrating Christmas by the beach this year? Lucky for you, nautical-themed garlands are an easy decoration that fits the beach theme. At its simplest, a thick, rough, nautical rope can be used as a garland by itself. Or you could dress it up with a collection of Christmas and beach-themed decorations.
22. Rustic Garland
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Pine cones are nature's Christmas baubles. Collect a few from your nearest pine forest, string them together, and you have yourself a rustic garland that's appropriate for Christmas. Feel free to add whatever other natural elements and textures you fancy for a fuller garland.
23. Gold Garland
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Since gold was one of the gifts that the Three Wise Men gave Jesus, it makes sense to add some gold into your decorations this Christmas. A string of gold beads can be adorned with golden baubles and ribbons, or origami flowers made from gold paper. The options are endless!
24. Green And White Wintery Garland
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Take a cue from nature this holiday season with a green and white themed wintery garland. The green can come from seasonal leaves and vegetation, and the white can come from white baubles or ribbons weaved into the greenery. A bow every few feet will bring some added interest and give an air of sophistication.
25. Paper Bells Garland
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Paper bells look more striking than usual when arranged in bunches around certain points on your garland. Stick with one color for a muted, toned-down look, or go color crazy for a vibrant Christmas porch. Make sure the paper bells are well undercover so as to avoid precipitation.
26. Ribbon Garland
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Ribbons are an excellent substitute for string or twine when making your own garlands. They double as decoration as well as a functional element in any garland you make. They could even act as a garland on their own! Simply add some greenery or leftover Christmas decorations for a beautiful garland for your porch.
27. Christmas Berries Garland
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Bright red berries are often used as a splash of red in a traditional red and green Christmas palette. Translate this idea into your porch garlands by pairing bright red winterberries with dark green spruce leaves for Christmas decor that has stood the test of time.
28. Christmas Words Garland
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This idea is endlessly customizable. You can cut your own letters out of craft paper or you can buy a done-for-you garland at most stores. Look for Christmas-themed words or words that represent what this season means to you and your family.
29. Tassel Garland
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Tassels bring a touch of glam to any situation, and they'll do the same for your Christmas garlands. Choose some bright colors, contrasting patterns, or interesting textures in your tassels to make the whole decoration pop. The great thing about this is that you can add these tassels to any existing garland that needs a bit more life or personality.
30. Upcycled Garland
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Here's a useful way to use up any old scraps of fabric you may have lying around. You can tie them all together for a mismatched upcycled garland. Use shorter bits of fabric as ribbons hanging down and you have a garland that costs absolutely nothing.
31. Red Flower Garland
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Red flowers are extra popular around Christmas time. Use this to your advantage by making a garland out of red flowers. If you're happy with a short-lived garland, fresh flowers will look best and might even make your porch smell nice. For more longevity, use dried or fake flowers for the same effect that lasts all season.
32. Say It With Greenery
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This is a combination of a few ideas you might find above. To bring an extra level of sophistication to the ever-popular 'word garlands', try spelling out the word with greenery. Use wire to spell the word, and then attach winter greenery to the wire, and then hang on an existing garland. Easy!
33. Snowflake Garland
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Just like you, every snowflake is unique. Pay homage to this fascinating phenomenon by making a garland out of faux snowflakes. You can cut your own snowflakes out of white paper or use snowflake-shaped decorations. You could dedicate one garland to only snowflakes, or you could add a few snowflakes to your existing garlands.
34. Mini Wreath Garland
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Combine two Christmas decoration classics by making a garland out of mini wreaths. The great thing is that you can customize a simple wreath for a fully personalized garland on your porch. The sky is the limit here, and you can make a traditional wreath out of anything you can imagine. Take a look at our outdoor Christmas wreath ideas for endless inspiration. String them together on a piece of string and you're done.
35. Winter Palette Garland
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Play up that winter theme with some wintery garlands for your porch. Give some pine cones a light dusting of white spray paint to mimic snow and combine them with snowflake decor. Add any silver or white decorations you have and this garland is sure to turn your porch into a winter wonderland.
36. Mistletoe Garland
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Whatever you do under the mistletoe is your business. It's our business to suggest turning that mistletoe into a garland. The process here is the same as it would be for any other garland, except you're using mistletoe as the greenery.
37. Silver And Green Garland
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For a natural, wintery-looking garland, try a color palette of silver and green. As always, utilize those winter evergreens for a plethora of greens and natural textures, and then offset this with silver baubles or ribbons. This color palette is somewhat muted so focus on the little details to add interest.
38. Eucalyptus Garland
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Eucalyptus is a somewhat modern addition to standard Christmas decor. The unusual shape of the leaves will catch your eye and an added benefit is that it smells great and is widely available in most places. Tie this silvery foliage into a garland for paired back but striking addition to your porch.
39. Christmas Bow Garland
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Add some bows to your garland to liven up any display. DIY felt bows are an easy addition to any garland you already have hanging. Just remember to stick to the color palette when deciding what bows are going where.
40. DIY Wood Bead Garland
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This one takes a bit of extra effort, but the result is worth it. Thread your twine through some wooden beads for a natural-looking touch to your porch garlands. Accentuate the garland with added decorations or some geometric wooden sculptures for a modern twist on the humble garland.
41. Corner Garland
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Not all garlands have to be draped overhead. Take a different approach with a garland that accentuates the corners of doors and windows. To do this, attach 2 pieces of scrap lumber at a right angle. Use this as the foundation for whatever you want your garland to be decorated with. When you're done, attach the wood above the corner of a door or window for a garland with a twist.
42. Metallic Gold And Silver Garland
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Shiny gold and silver is the palette to go for if you're looking for a bit of glamour in your Christmas decorations. Combine gold and silver tinsel together with baubles of the same color for a simple garland with a huge dose of glamour.
43. DIY Yarn Garland
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Yarn is a hard-working regular in most craft kits. Put that yarn to work this holiday season by making some DIY yarn garlands. You could get the crafters in your family to make their own yarn pom-poms and tassels to attach to the yarn garland. Another great way to personalize your Christmas decorations this season.
44. Christmas Card Garland
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Are you looking for an interesting way of displaying all your Christmas cards? Turn them into a garland! This is as simple as dedicating one bare garland to Christmas cards. Attach any Christmas cards you get in the mail to this garland for everyone to see. Since it's on your porch, invite your neighbors to hand-deliver their cards directly to the garland.
45. Fresh Flower Garland
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Bring a burst of fragrant fresh flowers to your porch with a fresh flower garland. You can use a bunch of store-bought cut flowers or you can pick your own. Arrange the display to mimic a garland and attach all the stems together with twine. Since this garland uses fresh flowers, it's not going to stay in its prime for too long, but will look and smell great for a few days.
46. Braided Garland
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For this you'll need at least 3 different colored strands of oversized wool. Braid these strands loosely together and decorate with your chosen decorations. A loose braid of chunky wool will bring that cozy feeling to your porch decor.
47. Felt Flower Garland
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Felt strikes again with this DIY project the whole family can get involved in. Making felt flowers can be as simple or as complex as you wish. Let your family's imagination run wild with a fun family crating night. Make sure all the flowers match the color palette if you want some cohesiveness with your decor.
48. DIY Christmas Star Garland
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If you have any scrap fabric lying around, use it to make this DIY star garland. Hot glue some shiny sequins in the middle of the star for a bit of visual interest and vary the sizes of the stars for some contrast.
49. Christmas Blooms Garland
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Traditional Christmas blooms are a great addition to a tablescape, but what if you put them in a garland too? Accentuate any garland with some bright red poinsettia flowers. To play up the traditional theme, pair poinsettias with evergreen foliage and winterberries.
50. DIY Holly Garland
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For this one, you'll need felt in two shades of green. Cut out as many holly-leaf-shaped pieces of felt as you'd like. Punch a hole in the top and string your holly leaves together for a delightful yet simple homemade Christmas garland.
60. White Dove Garland
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White doves are a symbol of peace and unity. Honor these noble concepts with a flock of white doves perched on a garland. Some foliage and other vegetation in the same garland will add to the whole effect of having white doves perched on a garland on your porch.
61. Natural Textures Garland
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Instead of using color and shape to bring interest to your garland, use contrasting natural textures instead. Think of the rough texture of a rope made from natural fibers, contrasted with the smooth, dark surface of a shiny leaf. Find inspiration in the natural world around you by mimicking the different textures found in nature.
62. Instant Photo Garland
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Instant photos are one of the best ways to capture those special memories created around this time of year. And what better way to display them than on a garland on your porch? Make sure there are plenty of extra clips nearby for any new photos and encourage all your visitors to snap a picture and add to the garland.
63. Popcorn Garland
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Popcorn garlands gain in popularity around this time of year. Jump on this seasonal trend by making one of your own. It's as simple as threading some fishing line or thin twine through a bunch of popcorn, adding extra decorations along the way as you see fit. Make an extra batch of popcorn to snack on while you this garland.
64. Painted Pinecones Garland
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Pinecones are great on their own, but if you need to modify them to fit your theme, reach for the spray paint. A light dusting of white paint mimics snow, while any other color under the sun will fit with the theme you've chosen for Christmas this year.
65. Felted Acorn Garland
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Felt is back with this DIY felt acorn garland. Two shades of brown felt is all you need to make your own acorns. Pair them with the felt holly from another idea on this list or use them as cute add ons to any garland that needs a bit more.
66. Real Acorn Garland
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There's no substitute for the real thing. Much like pinecones are nature's baubles, so are acorns. If you live near an oak tree, go out and collect some acorns off the tree for your very own acorn garland. Try to leave as much of the stem as possible on the acorn so that you have an attachment point for tying everything together.
67. Burlap Garland
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No rustic-themed Christmas decor is complete without a burlap garland. Thread long strips of burlap onto the twine of your choice. Bunch the burlap together to fill out the decoration and add any other rustic decorations you have available.
68. Driftwood Garland
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This one is for those of you celebrating Christmas by the beach. Driftwood comes in all shapes and sizes, and some pieces are just too interesting to not take home. Display the most interesting pieces in a garland by threading some fishing line through each piece of wood. Pair it with a nautical rope garland to complete the beachy decoration.
69. Reindeer Garland
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We've honored Santa Claus and his team of merry reindeer, but this garland puts all the spotlight on the reindeer. You can choose to focus on only their cute faces, especially when it comes to Rudolf and his red nose, or you can include the whole body. They can be cut out of craft paper or glued together with felt, the options are endless.
70. Bandana Garland
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Have any bandanas lying around? Put them to use with an interesting bandana garland. The more colors the better for this idea. You could tie the bandanas into a garland themselves, or you could choose to hang the bandanas from an existing garland for a different look altogether.
71. Pom Pom Garland
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Pom poms are simply delightful. Gather, or make, a bunch of pom-poms in different sizes and colors. Thread them onto a piece of colorful twine and the result is a whimsical garland full of color and delight.
72. Faux Fur Garland
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Faux fur brings some luxury into sophisticated spaces. Elevate your porch with a faux fur garland draped from the eaves. Add other natural textures to the garland for a consistent feel or contrast the fur with bright and shiny ornaments for some added drama.
73. Light Bulb Garland
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This Christmas, turn that string of lightbulbs on your porch into a beautiful DIY garland. Since the string lights are already in place, all you need to do is add a collection of your favorite Christmas decorations to the string lights and you're done.
74. Origami Garland
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This season is always filled with plenty of rainy (or snowy) days spent inside. Put that time to use by brushing up on your origami skills. Display said origami in a garland on your porch that you can add to as the days go on.
75. Jingle Bell Garland
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Inspired by the Christmas carol of the same name, a garland with jingle bells will bring the Christmas spirit into any space. My favorites are the ones covered in gold glitter with a tiny bell on the inside. Add them onto some fairy lights and a few Christmas bows to bring the whole thing together.
76. DIY Crochet Garland
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While this may be a little more on the advanced side, the result is worth it. If you already know how to crochet then this is the perfect option for you. You can crochet whatever you like, whether it's snowflakes or reindeers, and keep them all attached by the yarn for a fully customized Christmas garland.
77. DIY Paper Plate Garland
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This one's for the kiddos out there. This is a great activity to keep the young ones busy while they decorate a paper plate to their liking. My personal favorite is a snowman face, complete with a carrot for a nose. Punch a hole in the top so you can string them together and display your children's work.
Wrap Up
With this huge list of ideas above, there's no doubt you'll find an idea for a garland that will fit your porch. Whether you're looking to DIY or you prefer store bought, there's an option for every theme. What do you think? Did you find something you like on this list? Comment below and tell us which one is your favorite.