The magic of paper chains

Christmas is coming! While we love this time of year, we know the holidays can be stressful, too. In a season when people may be feeling stretched for time, budget-conscious and pressured to find the perfect decor, we love a holiday tradition that’s simple, satisfying and so very British. Paper chains combine some of our hallmark decorating principles: timeless, cozy, sustainable and, bonus, inexpensive. 

In England, paper chains date back to the late 1800s when families were looking for budget-friendly options for keeping their home feeling festive. Early on, people could simply cut up recycled newspaper or other paper goods they had around the house. As the trend caught on, patterned papers began to be sold, some with glue strips already attached for easy affixing. 

In England, paper chains date back to the late 1800s when families were looking for budget-friendly options for keeping their home feeling festive. Early on, people could simply cut up recycled newspaper or other paper goods they had around the house. As the trend caught on, patterned papers began to be sold, some with glue strips already attached for easy affixing. 

Nowadays, anything goes when it comes to paper. Mix and match patterns and colors to create a very English cottage vibe. Pull out your old magazines and cut articles and ads into strips for a vintage feel. For a neutral but worn feel, use old sheet music or a falling-apart book. Wallpaper remnants are a great option too. You can’t go wrong, so long as you love it.

You’ll need:

• Scissors
• Paper (make sure it is malleable enough to shape into a circle and fasten)
• Fastener (you can simply use a glue stick or a small strip of washi tape—or, for some extra charm, we’ll hole punch and tie with ribbon)
• Snacks (obviously) 

How to: 

Cut paper into strips. The width is up to you, but 1½ -3 inches wide seems about right to us.

Shape the first strip into a circle with one end overlapping the other just a smidge. Secure with your fastener of choice. 

Take the second strip and make a circle around the first loop so they’re connected.

Repeat for as many chains as you want to make it as long or as short as you see fit. 

Paper chains are an easy project to tackle with children, whilst catching up on your favourite shows or as a stress-free activity on an evening with the girls. And if you don’t fancy a craft night but still want the charm of paper chains, the folks over at Rifle Paper have you covered. 

Traditionally, paper chains were hung around trees, but we like to save that space for other types of décor (more on that to come). Instead, we hang ours across our mantle or draped scallop-style over windows and across ceilings. The possibilities are endless!

More easy holiday decorating tips to come

Keep an eye on the blog as we share more of our favourite Holiday decorating, gifting and entertaining tips. It really is the most magical time of the year, and we can’t wait to share more about how we celebrate. We hope you’re all enjoying settling into the quieter days and candle-lit nights that the winter season brings. This time of year is full of excitement and fun—and hopefully opportunities to rest and reset too.

Thanks for reading! 

Xx,
Liv