19 Dollar Tree Garland Ideas on a Budget

Garlands are the unsung heroes of decorating. A single strand can dress a mantel, frame a doorway, or make a bare shelf look finished — and dollar tree garland options have quietly become some of the best value in the whole store. I’ve made, bought, and fluffed more garlands than I can count, and these 19 ideas cover every season and every skill level. Most cost under five pounds and take less than an hour, and the results genuinely don’t look like they came from a bargain shop.

Greenery Garlands

1. Faux Eucalyptus Garland on the Mantel

A faux eucalyptus garland draped across the mantel is the easiest high-impact decoration you can buy. Lay it with the ends hanging slightly over each edge, then fluff the leaves outward so it looks full rather than flat. I tried this in my own living room and the trick that made it look real was bending a few stems at odd angles — perfectly straight garlands scream artificial. Tuck in a couple of real sprigs at Christmas and nobody will know the difference.

Cost: ~$4 · Time: 15 minutes

2. Pinecone Garland for Autumn Texture

Thread pinecones onto twine with a large needle, spacing them unevenly for a natural look, and hang the strand along a shelf or banister. Mix in a few faux acorns from the craft aisle if you want extra texture. I made one of these for my hallway and it lasted three autumns before I finally retired it — the pinecones age beautifully. One mistake to avoid: don’t hang it anywhere damp, or the twine stretches and the whole thing sags by December.

Cost: ~$3 · Time: 45 minutes

3. Boxwood Garland for Year-Round Greenery

A boxwood garland works in every season because it reads as neutral greenery rather than holiday-specific. Drape it over a mirror, along a bookshelf, or around a wreath form for extra fullness. The dollar store versions have improved enormously — look for ones with varied leaf sizes rather than the old uniform plastic look. I keep one draped over my bathroom mirror all year and it makes the whole room feel fresher. Shake it outside first; they shed a little at the start.

Cost: ~$4 · Time: 10 minutes

4. Woven Vine Garland as a Base

A plain grapevine garland is a blank canvas you can dress differently every season: fairy lights in winter, faux flowers in spring, small pumpkins in autumn. Buy the longest one you can find and double it back on itself for fullness. I keep two of these in a storage bag and redecorate them four times a year — it’s the cheapest seasonal rotation going. Wrap the ends with floral wire rather than tape so you can undo it all without damage. (see also: 23-dollar-tree-wreath-ideas-that-look-expensive)

Cost: ~$3 · Time: 20 minutes

5. Greenery Garland with Fairy Lights Woven In

Weave a string of warm-white fairy lights through any greenery garland and it becomes an evening centrepiece. Start at one end and spiral the lights loosely so they sit inside the foliage rather than on top of it. I did this on my mantel last December and the whole room glowed — guests kept asking where I’d bought the “expensive” garland. Use battery lights with a timer so you never have to remember to switch them off.

Cost: ~$6 · Time: 20 minutes

Paper Garlands

6. Classic Paper Chain Garland

Paper chains are nostalgic, nearly free, and kids love making them — but they look surprisingly chic in kraft paper or muted tones for adults. Cut strips about 2cm wide, loop and glue, and alternate two colours for a tailored look. I made a long one in cream and sage for a spring party and it photographed beautifully. The trick is consistency: keep every loop the same size or it looks homemade in the wrong way. A glue stick beats tape for speed.

Cost: ~$2 · Time: 1 hour

7. Tissue Tassel Garland

Tissue paper tassels on a string give you that party-decor look for pennies. Fold tissue sheets, cut fringe strips, roll and twist the top, then thread onto twine. Make the tassels fat rather than skinny — skimpy tassels look sad, full ones look festive. I hung a row of these in my daughter’s bedroom doorway and they lasted months. Keep them away from radiators; tissue paper and heat are not friends.

Cost: ~$3 · Time: 1 hour

8. Paper Star Garland

Cut stars from cardstock in two sizes, stitch or glue them back-to-back onto string, and you have a garland that works from Christmas through to summer parties. Metallic card from the dollar store looks far more expensive than it is — gold stars on a mantel read as proper holiday decor. I tried this with a glue gun the first time and burned my fingers repeatedly; a needle and thread through the top of each star is slower but safer and looks neater.

Cost: ~$2 · Time: 1 hour

9. Letter Banner Garland

A letter banner spelling out a word — HELLO, AUTUMN, BABY — personalises any celebration. The dollar store sells pre-cut letter kits, or cut your own from card for a custom font. Space the letters evenly and hang the string with a slight swag rather than pulled taut; a gentle dip looks more natural. I made one for a housewarming that said HOME and it’s still up two years later because it just works in the hallway.

Cost: ~$3 · Time: 45 minutes

Fabric and Yarn Garlands

10. Burlap Strip Rag Garland

Tie strips of burlap onto a length of twine for a rustic garland that suits autumn and farmhouse styles perfectly. Cut strips about 15cm long, tie each in a simple knot, and push them tight together for fullness. The frayed edges are the whole point — don’t trim them neat. I draped one of these over my kitchen window for October and it gave the whole room a harvest feel for almost nothing. Wear gloves when cutting; burlap is scratchy stuff.

Cost: ~$3 · Time: 1 hour

11. Pom-Pom Yarn Garland

Fluffy yarn pom-poms threaded on string make the cosiest garland going. Wrap yarn around a fork, tie the middle, cut the loops, fluff — repeat about twenty times for a good length. Mix cream, grey and one accent colour for a grown-up look rather than rainbow. I made one for my reading chair area and it softened the whole corner. This is a perfect telly-watching craft; I finished mine over two evenings without really noticing the time.

Cost: ~$4 · Time: 2 hours

12. Felt Ball Garland

Thread felt balls onto string with a darning needle for a clean, modern garland that suits nurseries and minimalist rooms. Space them evenly or cluster them in groups of three — both look intentional. The dollar store felt balls come in decent colour mixes now; I used the neutral set across my fireplace and it looked like something from a Scandinavian design shop. Knot the string on each side of every fifth ball to stop them sliding into a bunch.

Cost: ~$3 · Time: 30 minutes

13. T-Shirt Yarn Strip Garland

Cut old t-shirts into strips, stretch them into yarn-like cords, and tie them onto twine for a zero-cost garland with great texture. This is the ultimate stash-buster: those stained tees you can’t donate become decor. I made one from grey and white shirts for my laundry room and it fit the space perfectly. Stretch each strip firmly before tying or the garland looks lumpy rather than gathered. Mix in a few patterned fabric strips for contrast — plain jersey looks even better with a little print breaking it up.

Cost: ~$1 · Time: 1 hour

14. Fabric Strip Rag Garland in Seasonal Colours

Like the burlap version but with quilting cotton or old scarves in seasonal colours — pastels for spring, jewel tones for winter. Cut, tie, fluff. The fabric version looks softer and more colourful than burlap, and you can wash it if it gets dusty. I keep a neutral cream one up year-round in my bedroom and swap in coloured ones for parties. A rotary cutter makes the cutting ten times faster, but scissors work fine. (see also: 17-dollar-tree-wreath-ideas-on-a-budget)

Cost: ~$4 · Time: 1 hour

Statement Garlands

15. Wooden Bead Garland

A strand of wooden beads draped over a stack of books or along a mantel edge is the simplest styling trick in this whole list. Buy the pre-strung ones or thread your own onto jute cord with a tassel at each end. The natural wood tone goes with everything. I have one that’s migrated through four rooms in my house and it looks right in every single one. If the beads look too pale, rub them with a used tea bag for an aged finish.

Cost: ~$3 · Time: 10 minutes

16. Dried Orange Slice Garland

Dry orange slices in a low oven, thread them onto twine with cinnamon sticks and bay leaves, and you have a garland that smells as good as it looks. Slice the oranges thin — about 5mm — dry at 100°C for three hours, turning once. I made this for Christmas and the scent when the heating came on was incredible. One mistake to avoid: don’t hang it anywhere humid like a bathroom, or the slices go sticky. Save this idea for later and make a batch in November.

Cost: ~$4 · Time: 3 hours (mostly oven)

17. Floral Swag Garland for the Front Door

Combine two dollar store floral garlands into one lush swag for the front door or above a console table. Twist them together, add a bow at the centre, and fluff every bloom outward. Doubling up is the secret — one garland looks thin, two look abundant. I refresh mine each season by pulling out a few stems and poking in seasonal picks; the base garland has lasted two years. Hang it with a removable hook so the door paint stays intact.

Cost: ~$8 · Time: 30 minutes

18. Ribbon Garland in Mixed Textures

Tie lengths of different ribbons — satin, grosgrain, sheer — onto a cord for a garland with beautiful movement and texture. Vary the lengths and let the ends hang at different points. Choose three colours maximum or it gets chaotic; I did cream, gold and sage for a wedding shower and it looked properly elegant. This one doubles as party decor and everyday styling depending on your colour choices.

Cost: ~$5 · Time: 45 minutes

19. Harvest Swag Garland for Autumn

Build a chunky autumn swag by wiring faux leaves, mini pumpkins and wheat stems onto a vine garland base. Work in odd-numbered clusters along the length, stepping back every few minutes to check the balance. I made mine for the stairs banister and it was the first thing visitors commented on all October. Store it in a bin bag hung in the loft and it will come out next year looking just as good — mine is on its third autumn.

Cost: ~$8 · Time: 1 hour

Start with one greenery garland and one you make yourself — between the two, you’ll have every surface in the house covered for every season, for less than the price of a single shop-bought wreath.