3 Ways to Upgrade Your Paper Chains (Which Are Having a *Moment*)

Holiday decorations are so personal. I love seeing how friends and loved ones make their homes feel warm and festive during the winter months. Yes, there are certain motifs that pop up again and again, but what people choose to decorate their homes with this time of year depends so much on their aesthetic preferences, space parameters, and what they grew up seeing at home.

That last point plays a really important role in holiday decor for me. My nostalgia-fueled Christmas decorations include a vintage ceramic light-up tree just like the one my Grammy had; a bunch of mismatched, random stockings hanging over the fireplace; and plenty of paper chains and garlands, which I used to make in elementary school.

The fact that paper chains are still popular today (and, in fact, all over TikTok right now!) points to their timelessness. We’re all looking for easy, approachable ways to create a little holiday cheer for our homes — without spending a lot of money — and paper chains are the perfect way to do that. And making them is a great activity to do with kids, which just sweetens the deal.

Paper chains are incredibly versatile: You can buy a kit, or go the DIY route with old wrapping paper or that stack of construction paper that your kid never really got into. TikTokers and Instagrammers this time of year are providing plenty of inspiration for how to make paper chains feel fresh and of-the-moment — and I’m here for it. 

Here are three ways to upgrade your paper chains:

This video from Instagram user @heykrystalann shows such a fun spin on the classic paper chain by going big with it. Krystal begins by cutting up large, thick strips of brown kraft paper, and then paints them in beautiful colors on both sides. Once the paper is ready, the assembly looks pretty straightforward; Krystal goes the stapler route to close up the chain loops. The result is a festive dream, and the only hard part is deciding where to place it, which Krystal mentions in the caption: “Such a fun holiday DIY … but now I’m realizing I have no clue where to hang this thing. 🙊”

TikTok user @meagangarr actually opted for felt instead of paper. “Making felt chains with Velcro so I can switch the colors however I like,” reads the text overlay on the video. Using Velcro dots (which Meagan hot-glued onto the felt strips) is such an ingenious way to make this craft even easier for little ones who might not be ready to operate a stapler — or who might be fickle about the order of the colors!

This tutorial from TikToker @rosiepiper_ walks you through how to make three different sizes of paper chains: the more traditional, open-looking chain; a more condensed, tighter chain that’s trendy right now; and a mini version of the tighter chain. If you don’t remember how to fold things “hot dog-” or “hamburger-style,” you might want to brush up on that before watching this video. (Ask your Kindergartener!)

So if you’re looking for something to do this month while your kid is home on school break, or if you want to create a little holiday magic without a lot of effort or costs, then making a paper chain should be on your list. When it comes to what that chain looks like — color, material, size — the possibilities are major.