If you have been seeking a unique holiday decoration that’s a little different than your standard wreath, you’ve come to the right place! With minimal materials, effort, and time, you can create this pretty DIY black and white Christmas swag that’s perfect for your front door.

When I was trying to figure out what to do for Christmas decorations this year, I decided I wanted to do something different than the wreaths I usually hang.

And saw this really pretty swag on Hometalk. But there weren’t any instructions on how to make it.

So I decided to do my own version.

And it turns out, it is super easy to make and looks really pretty with my DIY polka dot ornaments.

You can use these swags on your front door, in windows, on the backs of dining room chairs or on kitchen cabinet doors. Pretty much anywhere you might hang a wreath.

Supplies

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Materials

3 white ornaments with different textures or patterns – I used a 2” glitter ornament and 2 of my DIY polka dot ornaments
3 black ornaments with different textures or patterns – I used 1 glitter ornament, 1 matte ornament and DIY polka dot ornament
3 clear ornaments
1 evergreen garland – I like the ones with short needles best for this project, but you ca use whatever your favorite type is
Black and white string
2.5” wired black and white ribbon – I used striped ribbon, but another pattern would work just as well.

Equipment

Scissors
Wire snips (optional) – These are the easiest away to cut faux evergreens. But you can use scissors, if you don’t have wire snips on hand.

How to make a DIY black and white swag

DIY black and white Christmas swag hung with a black and white striped background

1 | Arrange the ornaments

The first step is to lay the ornaments out in a pattern that you like.

black and white ornaments arranged on a table top

I did 3 layers of 3 ornaments each – 1 black, 1 white and 1 glass.

Try to vary the heights a little so the ornaments in one layer aren’t all at the exact same level.

2 | Add string

black and white string being tied onto black, white and clear ornaments

Starting 3 or 4 inches above your top layer, roll out enough string to create a loop for the first ornament.

Cut the string, then thread it through the top of the ornament and tie a knot to close the loop.

9 black and white ornaments with black and white string attached

Repeat this process with each of the 9 ornaments so they all have loops of string attached to the right length.

3 | Tie the ornaments together

Cut another piece of string that is about 12 inches long.

black and white ornaments being tied together with string

Thread this string through the loops of all the ornaments.

Then tie a knot in the string to keep them tightly grouped together.

Group of black and white ornaments tied together with string

This should be at one end of the string as we’ll be using the rest of it to tie on the evergreens.

4 | Add the evergreens

Cut 2 pieces of faux evergreen that extend a little more than half way down your ornament grouping (when they are hanging).

Place them behind your ornaments.

Evergreen branches being tied onto black and white ornaments

Attach the top of the evergreens to the top of the ornaments with the extra string left over from tying the ornaments together.

The easiest way to do this is to loop it under the first branch and around the stem before tying a couple of knots in it.

5 | Create a loop

Create a loop at the end of the string remaining after attaching the evergreens and tie a knot.

We’ll use this to hang the swag.

If you don’t have enough string left over to tie a knot, you can cut another small piece to loop under and around the top of the evergreen branches.

6 | Tie the bow

The last step is to add the bow.

Cut 2 to 3 feet of wired ribbon.

Black and white ribbon being tied in a bow on a Christmas swag

Wrap the ribbon around the top of the evergreens, tie a knot, and then add a bow.

I just used a simple single loop one, but you can get fancier than that if you prefer.

I think it looks best if the ribbon goes under the first evergreen branches, and covers the ends of all the ornament loops.

Shape the tails of the ribbon to create loose curls down the side of the ornaments.

Ends of the ribbon being cut on a black and white Christmas swag

Cut a triangle in the bottom of each ribbon and you’re done!

Hang the swag

Now it’s time to hang it.

Since these swags aren’t very heavy, command hooks are a great way to hang them. They can be removed without causing damage to most surfaces.

Or if you’re hanging them in front of a window where you often close the curtains, you can hang it from the curtain rod with a piece of string that hangs down to the right height.

The finished swag

Close up of the black and white ornaments and evergreens in the Christmas swag

I love the contrast in texture between the the glass ornaments and the evergreens. And the contrast in pattern between the polka dots and stripes.

The finished DIY black and white Christmas swag hung in front of a window with black and white curtains

Now, all that’s left is to enjoy your new Christmas decoration.

Other black and white Christmas decorations you might like

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