Best Easy DIY Valentine’s Day Garlands 2026
I absolutely love creating DIY garlands for Valentine’s Day. There’s something so satisfying about making beautiful decorations with my own hands, and garlands are one of the easiest projects you can tackle. Whether you’re decorating your mantel, draping them across doorways, or adding romance to your dining room, handmade garlands bring such a personal touch to your home.
Today I’m sharing my favorite DIY Valentine’s Day garland ideas that are simple enough for beginners but stunning enough to impress your guests. Let’s dive in!
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Why I Choose DIY Garlands for Valentine’s Day
Before we get into the tutorials, let me tell you why I’m so passionate about making my own garlands. Store-bought decorations can be expensive and often lack that personal charm I’m looking for in my seasonal decor. When I create my own garlands, I can customize the colors to match my existing decor perfectly. I also love being able to control the size and style to fit my specific spaces.
The best part? Most of these projects use materials you probably already have at home. I’m all about budget-friendly decorating that doesn’t sacrifice style.
Essential Supplies You’ll Need
Let me share the basic supplies I keep on hand for garland making. You won’t need all of these for every project, but having them ready makes the creative process so much easier.
First, I always stock up on quality scissors and a hot glue gun. These are absolute must-haves. I also keep various types of string and twine in my craft closet – natural jute, white cotton string, and thin ribbon in blush pink and cream. For structural elements, I use floral wire, which is incredibly versatile and easy to work with.
Paper in various weights is essential for many projects. I love using cardstock in shades of blush, cream, white, and soft gray. Don’t forget regular tissue paper and maybe some glittery cardstock for added glamour. Felt is another favorite material of mine because it’s forgiving to work with and doesn’t fray.
Classic Paper Heart Garland
This is the perfect project for beginners. I make this garland every single year because it’s so versatile and can be customized in countless ways.
Start by cutting heart shapes from cardstock in your chosen colors. I typically cut hearts in two different sizes to create visual interest. For a six-foot garland, you’ll need about 30-40 hearts depending on how full you want it to look. I like to use a heart-shaped cookie cutter as my template because it ensures all my hearts are uniform.
Once your hearts are cut, fold each one in half vertically. This creates a lovely dimensional effect when they’re strung up. Take your string or twine and lay it flat on your work surface. Apply a small dot of hot glue to the inside fold of each heart, then press it onto the string, spacing them about 4-5 inches apart.
Here’s my pro tip: alternate your colors in a pattern that feels balanced. I often do blush, cream, white, blush, cream, white. Sometimes I’ll throw in a subtle pattern by using hearts with different prints or textures. The key is keeping it cohesive while adding enough variety to keep the eye moving along the garland.
Felt Rosette Garland
This garland looks incredibly sophisticated but is surprisingly simple to make. I discovered this technique a few years ago and it’s become one of my signature Valentine’s decorations.
Cut felt into long strips about 1.5 inches wide. The length can vary, but I usually cut strips about 12 inches long for medium-sized rosettes. Starting at one end, begin rolling the felt tightly, adding a small dab of hot glue every rotation or two to secure it. As you roll, gradually angle the strip slightly downward to create a spiral effect that looks like a blooming rose.
Once you’ve rolled the entire strip, secure the end with glue and hold it for a few seconds until it sets. Repeat this process until you have enough rosettes for your desired garland length. I usually make about 20-25 rosettes for a standard mantel.
To assemble, cut small leaves from green felt if you want to add a botanical touch. String your rosettes together by threading jute twine through the back of each rosette using a large needle. Space them about 3 inches apart, and tuck in felt leaves between some of the rosettes for a romantic garden feel.
Fabric Scrap Rag Garland
This is my go-to project when I want something with beautiful texture and movement. I love using this garland in doorways where it can gently sway when people walk by.
Gather fabric scraps in your Valentine’s color palette. I raid my fabric stash for blush pink linens, cream cotton, white lace, and soft gray materials. Cut the fabric into strips approximately 1 inch wide and 8-10 inches long. The edges don’t need to be perfect – I actually prefer a slightly rough, organic edge.
Take a length of sturdy twine or ribbon and tie each fabric strip onto it using a simple double knot. Push the strips close together as you go to create a full, lush appearance. I like to vary the fabrics as I work, mixing textures and shades to create depth.
The beauty of this garland is that it looks amazing even if it’s not perfect. The casual, slightly messy appearance is part of its charm. It works beautifully in both farmhouse and cottagecore settings.
Doily Banner Garland
Vintage paper doilies create such romantic, delicate garlands. I hunt for these at antique shops and craft stores year-round because they’re so versatile.
For this project, you’ll need paper doilies in various sizes. I like mixing 4-inch, 6-inch, and 8-inch doilies. Fold the top edge of each doily over your string or ribbon and secure it with a small piece of double-sided tape or a dot of glue. This creates a banner effect that’s absolutely charming.
I sometimes add small heart cutouts between the doilies or alternate doilies with vintage-style postcards or love notes. You can even rubber stamp romantic phrases onto the doilies before stringing them up. Think “love,” “amour,” “forever,” or simple heart shapes.
The white-on-white effect is stunning, but you can also paint the edges of your doilies with soft pink or gold watercolor for added elegance.
Pom Pom Garland
There’s something inherently cheerful about pom poms, and they’re surprisingly easy to make. This garland adds such a playful touch to Valentine’s decor without being overly childish.
You can buy pre-made pom poms, but I prefer making my own using yarn in blush, cream, white, and soft pink shades. To make pom poms, wrap yarn around your fingers about 50-60 times (the more wraps, the fuller your pom pom). Carefully slide the wrapped yarn off your fingers, tie a piece of yarn tightly around the center, then cut through the loops on both sides. Fluff and trim your pom pom into a round shape.
Thread a large needle with strong thread and string your pom poms together, spacing them about 2-3 inches apart. I like to vary the sizes by making some pom poms with more wraps and some with fewer. This creates lovely dimension and keeps the garland interesting.
Dried Floral Garland
For a more natural, organic approach, I absolutely adore creating garlands with dried flowers and botanicals. This style fits perfectly with cottagecore and French country aesthetics.
Start with a base of eucalyptus or another dried greenery. You can find this at craft stores or order it online. Lay out your eucalyptus strands and begin tucking in dried flowers like strawflowers, statice, or baby’s breath in soft pink and cream tones. Use floral wire to secure each addition.
I also incorporate dried grasses, wheat stalks, and even dried roses if I have them. The key is layering different textures and keeping the color palette soft and romantic. This garland is stunning and can actually stay up well beyond Valentine’s Day because it’s so subtle and beautiful.
Drape it along your mantel or across a mirror for a touch of natural romance.
Book Page Valentine Garland
If you love vintage aesthetics like I do, this garland will speak to your heart. I use old book pages from damaged books I find at thrift stores – never sacrifice a good book for crafting!
Cut heart shapes from book pages in various sizes. You can leave them as-is for a subtle look, or edge them with red or pink ink using a stamp pad for a pop of color. I sometimes use pages from vintage poetry books for an extra romantic touch.
Punch a small hole at the top of each heart and thread them onto baker’s twine. Add small spacing beads between hearts if you want a more refined look, or let them touch for a fuller effect. The vintage text creates such beautiful, subtle pattern and gives your garland an heirloom quality.
Painted Wood Bead Garland
This project creates a more modern, minimalist Valentine’s garland that works year-round with a simple color swap. I love the natural texture of wood beads combined with soft painted accents.
Purchase large wooden beads from the craft store – I prefer beads that are at least 1 inch in diameter. Paint some in blush pink, some in cream, and leave some natural. You don’t need perfect coverage; I actually love the slightly worn, organic look of hand-painted beads.
Once they’re dry, string them onto jute twine, alternating painted and natural beads. I like to add a few smaller beads between the large ones occasionally for variety. This garland looks beautiful draped casually along shelves or wound through greenery.
Watercolor Heart Garland
If you enjoy painting, this project lets you create truly one-of-a-kind garland art. I break out my watercolors for this project and lose myself in the creative process.
Cut heart shapes from watercolor paper in your desired size. Using soft pink, red, and coral watercolors, paint each heart with gentle washes of color. I love creating ombre effects or letting colors bleed together for an abstract look. Some hearts I paint solid colors, others I add subtle details like tiny florals or romantic phrases in gold ink.
Once everything is completely dry, punch holes at the top of each heart and string them together with thin ribbon. The handmade quality of watercolor creates such warmth and personality in your decor.
Tips for Hanging Your Garlands
Now that you’ve made these beautiful garlands, let me share my favorite hanging methods. For mantels, I use small Command hooks at each end, which don’t damage the wood. I like to let my garlands drape naturally rather than pulling them too tight – the gentle swag is so much more romantic.
For doorways and archways, I use removable adhesive hooks or small nails if it’s a spot where holes won’t show. When hanging garlands on walls, I create interest by draping them in gentle curves rather than straight lines.
I also love layering different garlands together. A felt rosette garland looks stunning when paired with a simpler paper heart garland behind it. Don’t be afraid to mix textures and styles for added depth.
Storing Your Garlands for Next Year
Since you’ve put effort into creating these beautiful garlands, you’ll want to store them properly. I wrap each garland loosely around a piece of cardboard and secure it with a twist tie. Then I place them in a clear plastic storage bin labeled “Valentine’s Garlands” so I can easily find them next year.
Paper garlands should be stored in a dry place to prevent moisture damage. Fabric and felt garlands are more forgiving but should still be kept clean and dry. I always add a few silica gel packets to my storage bins to absorb any excess moisture.
Making It Your Own
The beauty of DIY garlands is that you can customize them to fit your personal style perfectly. I’ve shared my favorite techniques, but please feel free to adapt these ideas to match your aesthetic. Maybe you prefer bolder reds instead of soft pinks. Perhaps you want to add glitter or metallic accents. The possibilities are truly endless.
I encourage you to gather your supplies, put on some music, and enjoy the creative process. There’s something meditative about making garlands, and the result is decoration that means so much more because you made it yourself.
Valentine’s Day decor doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. With just a few simple materials and a little time, you can create beautiful, professional-looking garlands that will make your home feel special and loved all season long.
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