A paper chain is simple enough to make together and flexible enough to fit almost any Christmas color palette. Strips of cream, cranberry, and forest-green paper create a traditional version that can decorate a wall or frame a low-traffic corner.
Measure the place you want to decorate
Decide how long the garland should be and make a short test section before cutting all the strips. Links use more paper than their finished length suggests. Choose a location away from heat, operating doors, and young children’s sleeping areas. Do not make long loops where someone could become tangled.
Cut a consistent stack of strips
Try strips about 1 inch wide and 6 inches long, then adjust the proportions to the paper you have. Use a ruler for the first few pieces and a finished strip as a guide. Keep the colors in separate piles so you can repeat a pattern without searching through scraps.
Build one link at a time
Curve the first strip into a ring and join the overlapping ends with suitable glue or paper tape. Thread the next strip through the first ring before closing it. Let glued joints set as directed instead of hanging the entire chain while it is still wet. Avoid staples on pieces children will handle.
Hang gently and save a repair kit
Support the chain at several points rather than pulling it tight between two hooks. Use mounting products suitable for the surface and load. Keep a few extra strips with the leftover paper. If a link tears, replace that section instead of wrapping tape around the whole garland and making it stiff.
