How To Make Eye-Catching Mardi Gras Decorations

Are you preparing to celebrate Mardi Gras? Here’s a brief history of the holiday and some suggestions of eye-catching Mardi Gras decorations that you can make. Whether you are looking for great Mardi Gras decorating ideas to make for your home or as a Craftpreneuer to sell, here’s your guide on all things Mardi Gras!

Hey, y’all! Being from Louisiana, it’s practically required that I create Mardi Gras decorations! In fact, people here are pretty much born ready to celebrate this holiday. Actually, here’s a little bit of trivia: Louisiana is the ONLY state where Mardi Gras is an official holiday (betcha didn’t know that).

I really embrace this holiday and have fun making and displaying Mardi Gras decorations. The more ‘over the top’ they get, the better. Let’s face it…this holiday is pure, unadulterated FUN!

But if you don’t live in Lousiana, you may not know much about the reason behind it or the traditions that make this holiday what it is today. I’m sharing some background on Mardi Gras as well as DIY Mardi Gras decorations you’ll love.

Whether you are a Craftpreneuer looking for ideas of what to make and sell, or you just love to go all out celebrating Mardi Gras, I have some terrific decorating ideas that you can use! Because this holiday is our top-seller, I really don’t want your business to miss out on the sales potential you can find this time of year.

How To Make Eye-Catching Mardi Gras Decorations pinterest image

FAQs

Before I share with you some of my favorite Mardi Gras decoration ideas, I wanted to give you a quick lesson on the background about what Mardi Gras actually is. I think this can help you understand its origins and the meanings behind the excess we all now think of when it comes to this holiday.

What is Mardi Gras?

In a nutshell, Mardi Gras refers to events of the Carnival celebration, which begins around the time of the Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day) and ends on the day before Ash Wednesday.

Traditionally, in the days leading up to Lent, people would binge on all the rich, fatty foods left in their homes before heading into a period of deprivation at the start of Lent.

Historically, Mardi Gras was a one-day event; however, in many areas, Mardi Gras has evolved into a week-long festival extraordinaire, especially in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Fun Fact: In French, Mardi means “Tuesday,” and Gras means “fat,“…making the day before Ash Wednesday well-known as Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday” in France.

What are the Mardi Gras colors?

Have you ever taken a look at Mardi Gras decor? What do you see? I’m banking that you just got an eyeful of purple, gold, and green! King cakes, masks, beads, décor – everything – are all covered in the classic purple, green, and gold color scheme.

Have you ever wondered why these three colors have come to be associated with Mardi Gras?

As it turns out, the colors of Mardi Gras can be traced to the first Rex parade in 1872. The Rex (King of the Carnival) selected the colors purple, green, and gold and proclaimed that balconies be draped in those three colors.

From that point on, those colors were adopted as the “official” colors of the holiday.

Each color has a meaning and a purpose:

Purple (often associated with royalty) stands for justice.
Green represents faith. Green beads used to be handed out to people who represented this characteristic the best.
Gold stands for power — and at Mardi Gras, you can find it everywhere you look, y’all!

Today, Mardi Gras really has become known as a day where “anything goes,” but if you want to really get into the festive spirit, be legit, or sell your Mardi Gras decor, show off that purple, green, and gold!

Up close shot of a Mardi Gras wreath with a mask

Ideas For Great Mardi Gras Decorations

Mardi Gras decorations are all about going over the top. Pretty much anything goes when it comes to Mardi Gras decorations…as long as they highlight the colors purple, gold, and green!

Think:

BIG bows
Garlands
Elaborate masks (with or without feathers)
Banners
Tinsel
Signs

Garlands

One of my favorite decorations for Mardi Gras is the holiday garland. I like to use this classic decoration for a party, carnival, or dance. It also looks great hanging in windows, over a mantel, or in a doorway.

As a twist on the tinsel garland decorations that you may be imagining, create your own unique large garland inspired by Mardi Gras wreaths.

Mardi Gras Garland Video Tutorial

I made a short video to show you how I make my garland. Take a look at this tutorial for my Mardi Gras Garland – it’ll make the process of making your easier. We created it to go over my front door, and I love how it turned out!

As you can see in the video, my friend Jen went crazy (in the best way) with this garland. It’s got bows, balls, and giant beads to create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that I’m thrilled to see every time I come home during the season.

I particularly like doing Mardi Gras garlands because you can easily stock up on cheap garland bases after the holidays. That will help you build up your inventory AND maximize profits too! Make sure to stock up on bows and other goodies!

Mardi Gras Decorations FAQs

If you have any questions about how to decorate for Mardi Gras, you’ve come to the right place! Here are some answers to common questions I see from readers. Don’t see your question below? Leave it in the comments section at the bottom of the post so we can answer it for you.

What decorations are used for Mardi Gras?

I’ve put a list together of some Mardi Gras decor ideas for when you want to get into the festive holiday spirit. Don’t leave any part of your home untouched. Remember, the bigger and brighter it is, the better!

Mardi Gras garland
Wreaths
Wreath sign
Large bows
Wooden door hangers
Banners
Masks
Paper flowers
Balloons
Fleur de Lis
BEADS!
King Cake – ok, it isn’t Mardi Gras decor, but it’s delicious!

When can you start decorating for Mardi Gras?

That’s really up to you. I know some people who love this holiday so much that they put up Mardi Gras decorations as soon as they take down their Christmas decor.

I personally prefer a little more separation between the holidays (plus, I like to decorate for Valentine’s Day), so I tend to wait until closer to the big day. Since Mardi Gras doesn’t fall on the same day of the year each year, the day that I put up my decorations varies too. So if I can, I try to get at least two weeks to enjoy the decorations.

Getting The Most Out Of These Ideas

I hope you use these ideas to get your creative juices flowing to create your own unique Mardi Gras decorations. For all you Craftpreneuers, think of these ideas as a huge brainstorming session of things YOU can make and sell on Etsy or at Craft Shows.

People love the flashiness of Mardi Gras, so I say let your imagination run wild and have fun creating those works of art. So don’t overthink them – just create.

Just make sure to use purple, gold, and green in your festive project!

If you are looking for some more inspiration or simply want to purchase a wreath or sign already made, check out our Etsy shop, where you can find Mardi Gras decorations and much more! If you’re going to try to create some of these decorations on your own, be sure to grab your Mardi Gras supplies at DecoExchange.

More Mardi Gras Inspiration

Share Your Creations With Us

As always, feel free to leave us a comment below or share this post with a friend. We appreciate getting your feedback and can’t way to provide y’all with more amazing content!

If you need any help with centerpiece-making, bow-making, wreath-making, or crafting in general, be sure to check out more of our tutorials on How to Make Wreaths.

We would love to see your beautiful wreaths! Please share with us over at the How To Make Wreaths Facebook Group.

Finally, if you’re interested in more info on learning how to make wreaths, where to buy supplies, and being in a community of like-minded crafters, check out our Creative Coaching Subscription Group.