DIY American Flag Garland With Vintage Charm -

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A cozy DIY American flag garland using mini flags, coffee staining, and ribbon for a vintage inspired Americana look perfect for summer decorating.

Handmade American flag garland hanging on hutch for cozy summer decorations. — *As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains other affiliate links too for your convenience. You can read my privacy policy for more details.

I get a rush when I find something online that I know I can make for so much less.

Not just because it saves me money, but because there’s something special about creating decor with your own two hands.

Especially when it ends up looking cozy, collected, and like something you’ve owned for years.

A few weeks ago while browsing Terrain’s website, I spotted the cutest vintage inspired flag garland.

It had American flags attached to a cotton ribbon and gave off that nostalgic Americana vibe I’m completely drawn to this time of year.

Then I saw the price.

$36 plus tax and shipping.

And while it was beautiful, there was no way I was going to spend that much for something I could easily make myself.

So that’s exactly what I did.

Using inexpensive small American flags, coffee, and a plain cotton ribbon, I created my own flag garland for a fraction of the price, and honestly, I think I love mine more!

If crafting isn’t your thing, buy it!

You can shop the American flag cotton garland that was the inspiration behind this post, right here.

Why You’ll Love This DIY American Flag Garland

So much more affordable than store-bought version.
It comes together in minutes, even if you’ve never picked up a hot glue gun before.
This garland works for more holidays than the Fourth of July. It looks great displayed for Memorial Day, Labor Day, and honestly all summer long.
Every single one turns out a little different, which means yours will be completely one of a kind.

Supplies You’ll Need to Make Your Own Vintage Americana Banner

All you need for this easy craft are some small flags, ribbon, and a little coffee to give this DIY flag garland its darling vintage charm.

The simple supplies you'll need to make your own DIY flag garland.

(8) 4″x6″ 100% Cotton Mini American Flags: The base of the garland.
(6′) 1″ Cream Cotton Ribbon: This is what you’ll attach the flags to.
Brewed Coffee: Ages the flags and give them an antique appearance. You could also use tea if you have that on hand.
Baking Dish: The vessel I used to soak the flags in the coffee.
Paper Towels or Old Towel: Absorbs excess coffee and allows the flags to dry flat.
Tape Measure: Optional, but helpful for measuring the spacing between the flags so your garland is evenly balanced.
Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks: Attaches the flags to the ribbon. No sewing here!
Scissors: To trim the ribbon or any loose threads.

COZY TIP: You can customize this DIY garland to fit your space by making it longer or shorter. I made mine similar in size to the one I saw online, but if you want a longer garland, simply cut a longer piece of ribbon and add more flags.

materials you’ll need

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I’m Heidi, the heart and hands behind Eleanor Rose Home.

Heidi and her dachshund rescue Eleanor Roosevelt.

I’ll show you that your home can become a place of warmth, comfort, and style with practical tips, creative ideas, and my own journey to help you create a space that feels like you…welcoming, personal, and full of charm.

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How to Make a DIY Patriotic Garland Using Coffee Stained Flags

Now that you have your supplies, you’re not going to believe how easy this flag garland is to put together.

And…you’ll be glad you didn’t spend $36 on the one from Terrain!

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Small American flags for DIY patriotic decor.

Step One: Start by removing the American flags from their wooden sticks. Most small flags are stapled around the stick, so they come apart pretty easily.

American flags soaking in a coffee bath in a baking dish.

Step Two: Pour the brewed coffee into a shallow baking dish. Place the flags into the coffee and let them soak until they reach your desired aged appearance (I left them in the coffee for about 2-3 hours). The longer they soak, the darker and more vintage looking they’ll become. Once the flags are done soaking, carefully remove them and place them on paper towels or an old towel to dry completely.

Using a measuring tape to measure where the American flags go on the ribbon garland.

Step Three: Lay your ribbon out flat and leave about 6″ of ribbon on each end for hanging. Then begin arranging the flags across the ribbon, spacing each one 4″ apart for an even, balanced look.

DIY flag garland for 4th of July, Memorial Day, or Labor Day.

Step Four: Use hot glue to attach the top edge of each flag to the backside of the ribbon. Before gluing, make sure all of the flags are facing the same direction so that when the garland is displayed, the stars are on the left hand side of each flag. Press firmly for a few seconds while the glue sets.

Helpful Tips

Make sure to use 100% cotton flags. The cotton is able to absorb the coffee and will give the flags a much more natural vintage appearance than polyester flags.
The coffee aging doesn’t affect the red, white, and blue colors, it just adds a warm, brownish cast that tones everything down. Think faded antique rather than bright and new.
When attaching the flags to the ribbon, make sure the stars are positioned on the left hand side when displayed so that you’re following American flag etiquette.
Let the flags dry completely before gluing them to the ribbon. This helps the glue adhere better and prevents the ribbon from absorbing moisture.
Leave extra ribbon on both ends for easy hanging and draping. I always think garlands look cozier when they have a relaxed, slightly imperfect swoop to them.

Vintage inspired DIY flag art on a kitchen hutch for patriotic decor.

How to Make Vintage Inspired American Flag Wall Art

Create your own vintage inspired American flag wall art to add a patriotic and nostalgic touch to your home decor.

learn how

Where to Display Your Handmade Patriotic Garland

DIY American flag garland hanging on a wooden hutch with red geraniums and checkered cups.

This garland is easy to style throughout your home during red, white, and blue season.

Because the flags have an aged appearance, the garland feels cozy, collected, and vintage rather than something new you picked up at a big box store.

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You can drape your DIY flag garland…

Across a mantel layered with candlesticks and vintage books.
Over hooks in an entryway or mudroom.
Across open shelving or a hutch.
Down the center of a 4th of July table for a simple summer centerpiece. You could pair with these mason jar votives.

COZY TIP: I don’t recommend displaying your flag garland outside for an extended period of time. Since the flags are coffee stained and made from cotton, too much sun or rain could cause fading, discoloration, and wear.

DIY American Flag Garland Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use tea instead of coffee to age the flags?
Yes! Tea works great too. You can see how to age flags with tea in this post.

How long will the garland last?
Because the flags are glued rather than sewn, this is really an indoor only decoration. Kept inside away from moisture, it should last for years. I’d store it flat or loosely rolled in tissue paper between seasons to keep the flags from creasing.

Can I use larger flags?
You could. Just keep in mind that larger flags might need a sturdier ribbon to support the extra weight, and you may want to use more glue to secure them.

What if my flags don’t absorb the coffee evenly?
Uneven absorption is actually part of the charm, it gives the flags that authentic aged, primitive look. If you want more even coverage, you can press the flags down into the coffee bath a few times during soaking so they stay fully submerged.

Can I use a different color ribbon?
Absolutely. Cream is my pick because it feels soft and vintage, but literally any ribbon will work for this DIY.