The Forgotten Thrift Store Find People Are Repurposing For Unique Christmas Tree Decor

Decorating a Christmas tree is often a cherished memory for families. The different items you put on a tree can spark good feelings from Christmases past. Some people choose to coordinate elaborate displays of matching ornaments, garland, and stars to dress their trees. Some of the most special trees, though, are those lovingly decorated with handmade items. If you want to create more of a cozy, personal vibe for your tree this year, consider crafting a garland out of buttons. Whether you're trying to save money by thrifting your holiday decor or looking for ways to decorate your Christmas tree without ornaments, adding a button garland can add a little extra charm with minimal effort.

This cozy and charming DIY garland idea starts with sourcing lots and lots of buttons, which can typically be found at thrift stores. One of the significant (and fun) aspects of this Christmas project is that none of these buttons need to match. You could grab a bag of big and small, all-black buttons and a tin of multi-colored, tortoiseshell ones. Any combination of size and color will work for this project. The goal of button garland is to give your tree a little vintage touch, not to create the perfect symmetrical garland — although you can do that if you want to. Don't forget to grab twine, wire, or string before sitting down to complete this DIY. This simple Christmas decor comes together so easily that you can do other things while stringing the buttons — a holiday movie marathon, for example, would make this a fun and festive activity.

To start this DIY, decide on the length of your garland using a measuring tape. Cut a piece of string or twine to that length, then tie a sturdy knot at one end. Begin adding buttons to the line, threading the end of the string through each buttonhole. A tip to make stringing your garland easier is to dab a little bit of glue at the end of your string or twine. This prevents the struggle of trying to string frayed ends.

Continue threading buttons until your string or twine is full, then cut off any excess and tie a knot at the other end. Play around with spacing if you want to display a little bit of the twine, tying knots to keep your buttons evenly spaced. You can also sort your thrifted buttons by size and shape to create a pattern, alternating between large and small, for example. For a more dedicated Christmas design, make a pattern using only green, red, or white buttons.

Reusing thrift store finds to DIY Christmas tree decor is a great way to make decorating your tree feel a little more personal. Make a day where everyone in your family, including the kids, crafts a garland using your collection of thrifted buttons, letting each family member design their own. For a single garland, each family member can add their own custom section. Consider adding other elements, such as popcorn and fruit slices, for a warm, country-style look. For those who still want to invoke a chic, airbrushed style using button garland, consider painting them gold or silver, or adding a little glitter paint.