Let's make New Year’s decorations by hand! A collection of ideas you can create with everyday materials.
As the New Year approaches, are you thinking about brightening up your space with handmade New Year’s decorations? Store-bought pieces are lovely, but decorations you craft yourself carry a special warmth and sense of attachment.
In this article, we’ll share easy, DIY New Year’s decoration ideas you can try using familiar materials.
From yarn and felt to origami paper, you can create a wide variety of projects with items that are easy to find.
Try making them with your children, or finish them with your own favorite designs for decorations full of originality.
How about preparing for the New Year with heartfelt, handmade items?
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Let's handcraft New Year decorations! A collection of ideas made with familiar materials (71–80)
Wall decoration kadomatsu
Let’s welcome the New Year in style by making a kadomatsu wall decoration! If you place large kadomatsu pieces on a bright red backing that evokes the New Year, it will turn out wonderfully colorful.
In addition to the kadomatsu, adding decorations inspired by that year’s zodiac animal or plum blossoms will make it even more festive! All the parts can be made with origami or construction paper, so it should be easy to try even for first-time crafters.
Give it a try!
Shishimai decoration
I’ll show you how to make a cute shishimai (lion dance) decoration that’s easy to create.
First, prepare two sheets of origami paper in any colors or patterns you like.
Tear them into pieces and glue the pieces onto a white sheet of paper.
Next, cut a red origami sheet into a square one quarter the original size, and paste it onto the paper at a diamond angle.
Make the mouth, eyes, nose, eyebrows, and ears from construction paper or origami and glue them on.
Finally, use glue to attach cotton to make the hair, thread a bell onto a red-and-white pipe cleaner, twist it, and attach it as a necklace to finish.
This time we used origami, but using fabric for the kimono part is also recommended.
Give it a try!
Red and white dahlia wreath
Let’s make a stylish shimenawa decoration featuring large red-and-white dahlias as the focal point.
It’s handmade, but don’t worry—you won’t be starting from scratch.
We’ll use a store-bought shimenawa, such as one from a 100-yen shop, as the base.
First, remove any unnecessary parts from the store-bought shimenawa.
Then simply arrange and attach the parts you want to add with a hot glue gun, keeping the balance in mind.
Finally, attach the decorative artificial dahlias in auspicious red and white.
You’ll have a sophisticated, original shimenawa that hardly looks handmade.
shimenawa (sacred Shinto rope)
Speaking of New Year’s traditions, you can’t forget the shimenawa.
According to legend, the first shimenawa was hung as a sacred boundary when the sun goddess Amaterasu emerged from the Heavenly Rock Cave, so she wouldn’t go back inside.
Putting the mythology aside for a moment, why not try braiding your own shimenawa using rope or cord from a 100-yen shop? They last longer than ones made from straw, and the materials are easy to find.
There are plenty of tutorials on video sites, so even beginners can feel confident.
It could be fun to make lots of them—for your front door, your car, or your own room!
New Year’s wreath with a shimenawa base
A New Year’s wreath made with a shimenawa base creates an elegant, distinctly Japanese feel just by decorating it with artificial flowers and pinecones.
For Western-style rooms, adding a lace ribbon is also recommended.
Unlike real shimenawa, it’s lightweight, so it’s easy to hang.
Try choosing materials to match your preferred style.
Make your favorite wreath and enjoy getting ready to welcome the New Year.
Handmade New Year’s decorations will make your home feel much more festive!