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[For Seniors] Wall Decorations to Enhance the Tanabata Atmosphere: Ideas Compilation
For craft activities in senior care facilities, we recommend making seasonal projects that let everyone feel the changes of the four seasons.
Among these, wall decorations are especially useful: they help with fine-motor rehabilitation and can also spark deeper communication with those around them.
This time, we’re sharing wall decoration ideas for Tanabata, the major event in July.
We’ve gathered many ideas featuring classic Tanabata motifs such as Hikoboshi and Orihime, bamboo decorations, and the Milky Way.
Use this article as a guide to create lovely wall decorations together with the seniors.
[For Seniors] Wall Decorations to Enhance the Tanabata Atmosphere: Ideas (1–10)
Tanabata decorationsNEW!
When it comes to Tanabata decorations, bamboo branches are a must.
Real ones are best if you can get them, but you can also make lifelike branches with papercraft.
Try transforming your room into a Tanabata atmosphere in time for the evening festivities.
Once the branches are up, have everyone hang colorful tanzaku strips and ornaments.
If you make the tanzaku and ornaments by hand, you’ll likely rediscover your childlike spirit and find yourself absorbed before you know it.
The memories of everyone working together to enjoy Tanabata will surely become irreplaceable.
Making tanzaku (paper strips)NEW!
On Tanabata, we decorate bamboo branches with tanzaku slips bearing our wishes.
I’m sure many of you, as children, freely and boldly asked the gods for what you wanted.
So let’s have older adults enjoy making Tanabata tanzaku as well.
The slips themselves are easy to make using colored construction paper or origami paper.
Have them write whatever they like on them.
As adults, we rarely have chances to write down our wishes, so it might feel fresh and engaging.
It will also be fun to see what everyone wishes for!
Tanabata Decorations: Sputtering Edition
It would be wonderful to incorporate spattering into Tanabata decorations.
Spattering is a technique where you create effects by flicking paint.
The problem is that paint tends to splatter everywhere, right? Here’s a simple way to spatter precisely where you need it.
Take a milk carton cut in half and make four slits.
Insert straws flattened on both ends into the slits, and you’re done.
Then move a paint-loaded brush between the paper straws to do the spattering.
Once you spatter it to look like the Milky Way, it’s complete.
Star and Watermelon Decorations
https://www.tiktok.com/@chooobo2/video/7500583256115399954Here’s an idea for a wall decoration that lets you enjoy both the Tanabata and summertime vibe: “Star and Watermelon Ornaments.” The watermelons are accordion-folded to create a three-dimensional look, while the stars are made from origami in coordinated colors and shapes.
Thread them and hang them from bamboo leaves for the finishing touch—the way they sway in the breeze feels refreshingly cool and makes for a visually delightful display.
The impression changes with different color combinations and arrangements, so there’s fun in experimenting, too.
Once you’ve finished decorating, the whole space is wrapped in the colors of summer, creating a bright, seasonal atmosphere.
It’s an easy yet festive wall art project that’s perfect for summer.
The tanzaku of Orihime and Hikoboshi
When Tanabata draws near, it somehow makes you want to look up at the sky, doesn’t it? This time, we’re introducing a craft: making “Orihime and Hikoboshi tanzaku.” Use softly colored origami to create Orihime and Hikoboshi, and display them together with wish strips featuring different messages.
When it comes to writing wishes like “Health first” or “I want to enjoy delicious meals,” everyone’s personality shines through, which is heartwarming.
Lined up on the wall with bamboo leaves, it creates a gentle, Tanabata-like atmosphere that delights passersby.
It’s an easy project that leaves lasting memories—highly recommended for wall decorations.
bamboo leaves
Why not make the essential Tanabata “bamboo leaves” out of origami and enjoy decorations full of seasonal charm? Using green origami paper and folding it into long, slender shapes creates cool-looking leaves that sway in the breeze.
A single leaf is lovely, but combining several gives your decoration a three-dimensional look.
Display them together with stars, tanzaku (wish strips), and kusudama balls to instantly enhance the Tanabata atmosphere.
The steps are simple, so even seniors can work on them with confidence, and it’s also effective as finger exercise.
How about preparing for a fun Tanabata with origami?
Tanabata wreath made with materials from a 100-yen shop
Here’s a simple and charming Tanabata wreath you can make using materials from a 100-yen shop.
Prepare a wreath base, wire, and origami paper for bamboo leaves.
Glue a piece of wire between two sheets of origami, then cut them into bamboo leaf shapes with scissors.
Twist three leaves together with the wire to form a bamboo sprig.
Attach these along half of the wreath by twisting the wire around it, then hide the wired section with a ribbon to finish the base.
Cut star shapes out of construction paper or origami and decorate the wreath.
Adjust the amount of decorations and leaves as you like.
Having a variety of decorations ready might make it even more fun.