DIY Cozy Winter Swag

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Evergreen swags are one of my favorite seasonal pieces to decorate with during the winter. They’re timeless, versatile, and easy to refresh from year to year with just a few added touches. In this post, I’m walking you through how to create a simple, cozy winter swag that feels custom and handcrafted—without requiring tons of supplies or experience.

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Winter Swag Step-By-Step Tutorial

Follow along as we build this beautiful winter swag together. With just a handful of materials and a bit of shaping, you can create a stunning piece to display anywhere in your home.

Step 1: Gather Equipment and Supplies

Equipment (All can be found on Amazon, links included.):

• Wire Cutter
• Sharp Scissors
• Floral Wire
• Hot Glue Gun

Supplies (Suggested Items from Amazon, links included. Note: These items differ from those used in tutorial.):

• Faux Tear Drop Evergreen Swag – you can also use a real evergreen swag if you only plan to use it for just one season.
• Frosted Berry Stems – I recommend at least 8-10 branches once cut apart.
• Pinecones or Ornaments – Add these if your swag doesn’t already include them.
• Plaid Ribbon – 2.5-inch to 4-inch ribbon, approximately 5-6 yards.

Step 2: Fluff Your Greens

Before adding any embellishments, always start by fluffing your greenery. Straighten bent fronds, gently fan branches away from the center, and open up the swag so it looks full and natural.

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For a more detailed walkthrough, visit our post: “From Flat to Festive: Fluff Faux Evergreens Like A Pro“.

Step 3: Add Your Ribbon

Ribbon sets the tone for the entire swag, so I like to add it early in the process. For this tutorial, I used a 4-inch unwired plaid ribbon. Because this ribbon is thick in width and texture, I created a bow with five loops on each side, keeping the bow slightly smaller so the loops stay structured instead of becoming floppy. I cut the tails to match the length of the swag.

Have ribbon that isn’t as wide? A 2.5-inch ribbon works beautifully too—I just recommend not going any narrower.

For bow-making guidance, check out: “How to Create the Perfect Bow“.

Once your bow is complete:

1. Use the bow’s wire to secure it firmly to the swag.
2. Let the ribbon tails drape down the length of the greenery.
3. Attach the tails to a sturdy pine branch so they stay neatly in place.
4. Shape the tails, then tuck a small piece of pine or an embellishment over the gathered spot so it appears as if the ribbon is growing naturally from the swag.

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Fluff the bow and adjust the surrounding greens so everything blends seamlessly.

Step 4: Add Your Embelishments

Now for the fun part—berries, pinecones, and/or ornaments.

Adding Berries

Place berry stems so they look like they’re emerging from the swag rather than sitting on top of it. When gluing, run a line of hot glue along a 2–3 inch section of the stem, then press it directly onto the pine’s wiring for a secure hold.

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Adding Pinecones or Ornaments

If your swag doesn’t include these already, add two or three pinecones or ornaments throughout the greenery. Set aside one extra piece to use when finishing the bow in the final step. Attach using either wire or hot glue—whichever offers better hold for the piece.

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Step 5: Adding Finishing Touches

To complete your swag:

1. Shape the top. If there isn’t a natural piece of pine pointing upward behind the bow, gently bend one upward to create that “growing” effect.
2. Fill the bow. Snip a few smaller pine pieces and berry sprigs, and tuck them into the loops of the bow for added fullness and texture.
3. Add a focal point. Glue or wire the final pinecone or ornament into the center of the bow for a polished finish.

And as always—give everything one last fluff!

A Simple DIY with Stunning Results

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Your winter swag is now ready to hang! Whether you place it on your front door, display it indoors over a doorway, or style it creatively (I placed mine on a vintage sled on my porch!), you now have a beautiful, customized piece that reflects your own style and creativity. Swags are wonderfully flexible to design and decorate, and making one yourself adds an extra layer of warmth to your home this season.

Common Questions

I don’t know how to make a bow—can I still add ribbon to my swag without creating one? Absolutely! You can incorporate ribbon without making a traditional bow. Simply loop the ribbon throughout the swag, gathering sections as you go and securing them with wire or by twisting them around sturdy branches.

Wherever the ribbon is gathered, shape it so it looks intentional. For an even more natural look, tuck a small piece of pine or an embellishment over each gathered point—this helps the ribbon appear as if it’s growing right out of the swag.

For bow-making guidance, check out our post: “How to Create the Perfect Bow“.

Can I use real greenery instead of faux? Yes! Real greenery works beautifully. The main difference is how you secure your decorations. Instead of hot glue (which won’t hold well and may dry out the fresh branches), use floral wire to attach all berries, pinecones, and embellishments. This keeps everything secure while preserving the greenery throughout the season.

How would you hang this swag on a door without damaging the door? You have a few great options found easily on Amazon:

• Over-the-door wreath hanger: My go-to method. It’s simple, sturdy, and doesn’t require hardware.
• Stick-on hooks: If a hanger isn’t ideal for your door, use a removable adhesive hook such as 3M Command Hooks or other large adhesive hooks. These hold well and won’t damage the finish when removed.

Choose whichever option works best for your door style and the weight of your swag.

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