Let's make our own shimenawa! A collection of stylish ideas you can create with paper and artificial flowers
Shimenawa to decorate your front entrance for the New Year.
Ready-made ones are lovely, but wouldn’t you like to try making one yourself? In this article, we introduce a variety of DIY shimenawa ideas using artificial flowers, different kinds of paper, yarn, craft tape, and more.
There are plenty of ideas that suit not only Japanese-style homes but also Western-style interiors.
We’ve gathered a wide range of variations, so please use them as inspiration.
Why not prepare for the New Year by making your own original shimenawa with simple materials and have fun in the process?
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Let's Make a Shimenawa by Hand! A Collection of Stylish Ideas Using Paper and Artificial Flowers (1–10)
Lemongrass shimenawa
A shimenawa wreath made with lemongrass, familiar from herbal teas.
This is an authentic shimenawa crafted with lemongrass that has been dried for about a week.
Twist and braid the dried lemongrass to form the base of the wreath.
Since twisting requires a bit of strength, make it with two people, or if you’re working alone, use your feet to hold it firmly in place as you work.
Once the base is complete, decorate it together with other dried herbs.
It’s a shimenawa wreath that seems like it would give off a lovely fragrance just by being displayed!
Scandinavian-style wire shimekazari (New Year’s decorative wreath)
Let’s make a Scandinavian-style shimenawa wreath with a modern, attractive design! Scandinavian interiors are characterized by simple designs that make the most of the materials.
Many people may already be styling their rooms in a Scandinavian way.
For those people, we recommend a shimenawa wreath made with wire.
By intentionally using wire, which conveys a rugged, metallic feel, and pairing it with artificial pinecones and red pine berries, you create a striking contrast of materials.
The result is stylish, making it especially recommended for those who love modern design decor accents!
Shimenawa wreath made with newspaper
This is a shimenawa wreath made by twisting newspaper! First, crumple newspaper into a ball to add texture, then open it up and roll it up tightly.
Twist the rolled piece further, form it into a ring, and secure it with craft tape.
Wrap the ring with Japanese-style paper cut to a suitable width, and the wreath base is complete! Next, decorate it with paper fans and camellia parts to create a festive New Year’s ornament.
The crumpling and twisting steps are easy for seniors and young children alike, so do try making it together as a family.
Let’s Make a Shimenawa by Hand! A Stylish Collection of Ideas Using Paper and Artificial Flowers (11–20)
Shimenawa wreath made of paper
Surprisingly, the only materials used for this vibrant, Japanese-patterned shimenawa wreath are paper! These exquisitely delicate paper shimenawa wreaths can be made by combining various paper materials such as origami, paper cord, and paper tape.
Unlike artificial or dried plants, paper lets you create a wreath with a unique delicacy and warmth that only this material can provide.
And if you use Japanese-patterned origami, you can also evoke a festive New Year’s mood with an elegant, eye-catching look—so be sure to give it a try!
Figure-eight shimenawa wreath
When it comes to New Year’s decorations, the first thing that comes to mind is the shimenawa hung at the entrance.
Since it’s a circular ornament, it also evokes a wreath-like image.
This is a festive arrangement that blends the traditional Japanese feel of a shimenawa with Western-style decorations.
Using a braided rope as the base, you adorn it with artificial flowers suited to the season, mizuhiki cords that strongly convey a celebratory mood, and bell motifs that give a sense of luxury.
The fun part is freely adding decorations with your own ideas—while being mindful of what you want to highlight, proceed with an eye on the overall color balance.
New Year wreath made with an ornamental base
Attach artificial flowers and New Year’s ornaments to a round base, finishing it like a wreath.
By being mindful of the spacing between each ornament as you place them, you can showcase the pattern of the base as well.
If you’re aiming for a wreath, place a decoration with a loop for hanging at the top, and then attach the remaining ornaments along the outer edge—this is recommended.
Pay close attention to the selection of ornaments and artificial flowers, as well as the balance of their arrangement, and create a wreath that reflects your own style.
New Year wreath made of craft tape
This wreath is beautifully three-dimensional, with striking color transitions, created by twisting and weaving craft tape.
Choose auspicious color combinations like red and white, and attach lucky motifs such as fans or mizuhiki cords to give it the feel of a traditional shimenawa.
The most important step is making the rope by repeating the ishidatami (checker) weave—focus on learning the sequence and weaving firmly.
Because the base is three-dimensional, it’s recommended to emphasize that depth in the decorations as well, using items like chirimen crafts to enhance the dimensional effect.