Bring a little nod to vino into your home décor with this DIY upcycled wine cork garland. Whether you want something with rustic charm for your everyday décor or a personal detail for gathering and entertaining spaces, this upcycled craft will bring a little unique personal touch. It’s easy, earth-friendly, and just plain fun to make.

If you love adding handmade touches to your space, make a reversible bento bread bag, fabric scrap mache bowl, or seed bead wooden spoon project next.

A garland made of wine corks and round beads is arranged on a wooden surface beside green pine branches.

Let’s talk about this project

I love to upcycle, and after so many years working in bars and restaurants — where I always had access to an endless supply of used wine corks — I finally put some of them to good use in this simple garland. It’s funny how I’ve always been drawn to their aesthetic. I’m not much of a wine drinker, but I love the way they look and the atmosphere they bring to a space. There’s something celebratory about them — and honestly, life is just better when you live in a steady vibe of celebration.

I’m so happy with how this project turned out. It takes less than an hour to make, and you can use it in so many different ways — drape it over a bar cart, hang it across a window, layer it into a shelf display, or work it into a serving table arrangement. It has an earthy, warm charm that adds real character to any space. My simple hanging tea light holders, basic wooden garden box, and primitive handmade garden markers bring that same kind of personality to your outdoor spaces, and are just as easy to make.

Materials you’ll need

Wine corks: Used wine corks are incredibly easy to come by — save your own, get your friends on board, or ask a local bartender to set a few aside for you. Their subtle variations in color and texture give this garland a warmly worn look.
Jute twine: A sturdy, rustic twine works beautifully for threading the corks and beads. It’s strong enough to hold weight, easily knots securely, and adds a natural texture that pairs well with the cork aesthetic.
Wire: A short piece of craft wire makes threading easy. Bend it in half and use it as a hook to pull the twine through each cork without unraveling the fibers.
Beads of your choice: I used wooden beads for a warm, rustic feel, but this is your moment to add your own personal touch. Glass, metallic, or painted beads all work too — choose a style that reflects your seasonal décor or your everyday aesthetic.
Wood scrap: Use any small, flat piece of wood that you don’t mind drilling into. It stabilizes the corks as you drill through them, and prevents damage to your work surface.

A variety of crafting tools and materials on a wooden surface, including a wood block, corks, string, beads, pliers, scissors, a tape measure, a drill, a skewer.

Equipment you’ll need

Measuring tape: Helps you measure the twine accurately so your finished garland is the length you want it to be.
Craft scissors: Used to cut the twine cleanly.
Pliers: Holds each cork firmly in place while drilling the hole through the center. They keep your fingers a safe distance from the drill bit and ensure that the cork stays upright.
Drill: A basic handheld drill works perfectly for this project. You’ll use it to make a clean, straight channel for the twine to run through each cork.
Drill bit: Choose a drill bit just slightly wider than your twine so the twine threads through the corks smoothly while still allowing them to sit snugly on it.
Skewer: Running a skewer through the drilled hole helps clear any remaining cork debris, making threading the corks on the twine much smoother.

How to make a DIY upcycled wine cork garland

This is a simple, satisfying project that comes together quickly. Take your time with the drilling and threading — those small details help the garland look polished and intentional.

A tape measure, scissors, and length of jute twine on a wooden surface.

Pliers holding a cork upright on a block of wood with a drill and bit drilling a hole through the center of it.

Step 1: Cut the jute twine to your desired finished length, adding 12 extra inches to allow for tying loops at both ends.

Step 2: Use pliers to hold each cork upright on the wood scrap and drill through it’s center from end to end. Drill all the way through, and back out, three times to remove as much debris from the hole as possible.

A wine cork on a skewer with cork debris on the table by it and a bowl of wine corks visible in the upper corner of the image.

A strand of beads and wine corks on jute twine with a loop tied in the end of it.

Step 3: Clear any debris remaining in the hole by running a skewer through it, first from one end and then from the other.

Step 4: Tie a loop at one end of the jute twine.

A wire folded in half with jute twine in the fold that has beads and wine corks strung on it.

A garland made of wine corks, red beads, and white beads laying in a coil on a wooden surface.

Step 5: Thread beads and corks onto the twine, using the wire as a hook to pull the twine through each cork. Follow the same pattern from one end of the garland to the other.

Step 6: Tie a loop at the opposite end when finished.

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A festive garland made of wine corks, small red and white beads, and twine is arranged on a wooden surface, with green pine branches visible in the upper left corner.

Diane Gail’s tips for success

Measure your pattern first: Lay out one full bead-and-cork sequence, measure it, and divide that measurement into your total garland length to determine how many repeats you’ll need.
Adjust the ends thoughtfully: If the numbers don’t divide evenly, add or remove beads at each end of the garland to bring it to the perfect length without disrupting your overall pattern.
Drill slowly for straight holes: A slow, steady drill keeps the bit moving straight through the cork — an important detail, since used corks are especially prone to developing a crooked channel.
Keep the twine straight: As you thread, pull the twine through fully after each cork to prevent twisting or tangling in the final garland.
Choose beads that balance the look: Lighter beads create a soft, easy-going look, while darker beads bring a grounded, more substantial feel to the design. Either option works beautifully — it all depends on the mood you want to create.

If you enjoyed this simple handmade project, stick around and browse the easy from-scratch recipes and seasonal slow living tips on the blog — there’s so much more inspiration waiting for you there.

Other projects you’ll love

Partially painted wooden board with a paint brush laying on it. — **Toxin Free Milk Paint**

Mini macrame plant hanger with painted beads hanging in a corner with a picture, trivet, and strainers on the wall behind it. — **DIY Mini Macrame Plant Hanger**

Five pieces of different color fabric laying on a wooden table with a small pile of food in the corner of them. — **Make Natural Food Dye**

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I had so much fun putting this little garland together. It came together quickly, and I’ve already moved it around the house twice because it looks good everywhere I try it. It’s such a simple way to bring a cozy, handmade touch into a space. I hope you make one too — and that it brings the same bit of rustic vino charm to your home that it’s brought to mine.
~ Diane Gail