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)
A shimenawa wreath with cute translucency made using Decolap
This is a shimenawa wreath made with sheer materials that give it a light, cute feel.
The method is very simple: first layer bubble wrap over decorative wrap, then roll it up tightly from one end to form a single rope.
Make two of these, then repeatedly twist to the right while bringing the strand to the left to braid it into the shape of a shimenawa.
Once the shape is formed, secure it firmly with cable ties and trim any excess to complete the base.
Finally, add your preferred decorations to enhance the look and create an original shimenawa.
The key point is how the transparency of the bubble wrap overlaps with the color of the decorative wrap, letting light pass through and sparkle.
It’s an easy project that still looks great, so it’s highly recommended.
Simple lemongrass shimenawa
Lemongrass is known for its pleasant, lemon-like fragrance.
A shimenawa made with lemongrass makes a perfect New Year’s decoration for Western-style homes, too! Because lemongrass can easily cause cuts, it’s recommended to wear work gloves while crafting.
Take two bundles of lemongrass and braid them a bit tightly, then gradually shape them into a rounded form like a traditional shimenawa.
Secure the point where the ends of the loop cross with wire, and trim the remaining leaves to even the length.
Add dried flowers or other decorations around the wired section as you like, and it’s complete!
Simple shimenawa made from rice straw
Do you think making a shimenawa with authentic materials must be difficult? Actually, even if you use rice straw—the material commonly used for shimenawa—it’s surprisingly easy! Prepare 20–30 stalks of rice straw and bundle them together.
Divide the bundle into two equal sections, twist each one tightly, then twist the two bundles together.
Repeat this process to form a loop for the shimenawa.
Tie the ends of the loop together with hemp twine to secure the circle, then trim any stray straw to neaten the shape.
Attach a small loop of hemp twine for hanging, add shide (paper streamers) or plant decorations, and you’re done! Try displaying it at your entrance.
A shimenawa wreath made with artificial roses
This is a New Year’s decoration that uses only artificial flowers you can find at 100-yen shops, yet captures the vibrant look of fresh blooms.
The process is very simple—basically just two steps: “insert” and “glue with a hot glue gun.” That makes it great for beginners working with floral materials or for parent–child crafting.
Materials include artificial flowers such as nandina, velvet roses, and flower sprays, along with a vertical-style New Year’s shimenawa, mizuhiki cords, and braided Edo cords.
Artificial flowers are easy to handle because they hold their shape, and you can change the arrangement to adjust the overall impression.
You’ll need wire or string to bundle the mizuhiki, but there aren’t many complicated steps.
With its calm color palette, it brings an elegant, modern-Japanese feel to an entryway or interior space.
It’s easy yet looks professional—give it a try!
Shimenawa wreath made with 100-yen shop materials
This is about using a simple shimenawa decoration as a base and transforming it into something more festive by adding embellishments.
From the original shimenawa, we’ll use just the rope part with the decorations removed, so carefully detach the ornaments so they can be reused later.
Then attach artificial flowers—starting with nandina (heavenly bamboo)—and other decorative elements that add a sense of splendor to the rope.
If you want to highlight the knot in the rope, place decorations on the other sections; if you prefer to hide the knot, attach decorations over the knot itself.
If you also rearrange the original ornaments with a sense of balance, you can clearly convey the celebratory feeling of the New Year.
