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 stylish collection of ideas you can create with paper and artificial flowers (41–50)
Natural dried flower shimenawa wreath
This is a shimenawa wreath with a soft, gentle look, unified by natural materials and colors.
All the supplies can be found at 100-yen shops.
Arrange dried flowers and mizuhiki around the knot of the shimenawa and secure them with glue.
To keep the look natural, avoid clustering too many flowers in one spot and add airy materials like pampas grass.
Instead of displaying artificial flowers as purchased, cut them into smaller pieces before decorating.
Why not enjoy arranging it in your favorite color palette?
Let's make a shimenawa by hand! A stylish collection of ideas you can create with paper and artificial flowers (51–60)
White gold shimenawa wreath
Let’s make a shimenawa that blends nicely into Western-style rooms, using white and gold as the main colors.
Have you ever tried to create a stylish shimenawa wreath with large floral decorations, only to struggle with a lack of cohesion in the design? In such cases, deciding on a color palette will give your piece a unified look.
Among all options, the combination of white and gold is highly recommended.
It suits both Japanese and Western interiors, and its subtle, refined finish will instantly elevate the ambiance of your space.
Try making a beautiful shimenawa wreath using white artificial flowers and gold ribbons.
A shimenawa wreath that matches Western-style interiors
A shimenawa wreath made with dried flowers is perfect even for Western-style rooms! If you want New Year’s decorations but worry they won’t match your interior, a dried-flower shimenawa wreath is the answer.
Dried flowers are very popular as interior decor—they’re a must-have in stylish spaces—and they’re loved because you can enjoy them without the maintenance fresh flowers require.
A shimenawa wreath that features dried flowers blends naturally into a Western-style room while subtly setting a New Year’s mood—highly recommended!
Shimenawa tassel made with paper cord
The shimenawa tassel made with paper cord has a quality you wouldn’t expect from such easy-to-find materials! Cut the paper cord to the desired tassel length, tie one end, and divide it into three bundles.
Twist two of the bundles together, then twist in the remaining one as well.
Form it into a loop, secure it, and fan out the cords in the tassel section to add volume—this completes the paper-cord base! Spreading the strands takes time, but carefully doing this step is the key to a clean finish.
Finally, decorate it with parts like fans or flowers made from origami, as you like.
Shimenawa wreath made with paper cord
The base of the wreath is made from packing paper twine! It’s a high-quality shimenawa wreath that you wouldn’t believe is made with such simple materials.
Prepare about 27 strands of paper twine cut to 50 cm, and tightly tie one end together.
Divide the bundle into three equal parts, then twist and intertwine two of the bundles, tying off the end to secure it once you finish twisting.
Next, twist the remaining bundle around the two-bundle rope you made first, shape it into a wreath, and tie it tightly to complete the base.
Finally, decorate it as you like with bright flowers suited to the New Year, such as camellias or temari chrysanthemums.
Make a shimenawa wreath using paper bag handles!
Surprisingly, the handles of a paper bag can be transformed into a shimenawa! Take an ordinary paper bag—the handles on many of them are made by twisting paper.
If you cut off the handles and untwist them, you’ll see they’re made from sturdy paper.
Use that paper to make a shimenawa.
Make two loosely twisted strands and braid them lightly.
Just like that, the base of the shimenawa is ready.
Then bundle it into a wreath shape and decorate it as you like, and you’ll have a genuine shimenawa wreath!
Shimenawa decoration made from colored construction paper
Let’s introduce an idea for a shimenawa decoration using colored construction paper.
First, prepare red construction paper.
Fold it like an accordion, pinch the center and secure it with masking tape to create a bow shape.
Next, make a second one the same way, then offset it by about 5 cm and stick them together.
With that, the base is almost complete.
After that, use a glue gun to attach a store-bought shimenawa, and decorate it with items like white weeping plum blossoms.
Of course, you can change the color of the paper and the flowers as you like.
In conclusion
Handmade shimenawa wreaths that use familiar materials can look very different depending on what you choose—such as artificial flowers, paper, or yarn.
Ideas range from designs that blend with Western-style interiors to pieces that evoke a traditional Japanese atmosphere.
As you prepare to welcome the New Year, why not create a one-of-a-kind original piece?