How to Decorate with Christmas Garlands

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Ideas and tips for how to decorate with christmas garlands for the season for different areas for your home.

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It's beginning to look like Christmas here at our home!

I've still got to decorate our front porch completely and select our live tree for our collected ornaments.

Garlands are a fabulous way to add Christmas cheer to your home indoors and out.

We have so many fabulous ideas for decorating with garlands today….just in time for your Christmas decorating.

Christmas Ideas from OSH

• Check out my Christmas Decorating Must-Haves HERE.
• Last year's Christmas Tour Part 1 and Part 2
• Plan your Chrismtas Storage NOW!
• Christmas DIY Gift Ideas
• Over 150 Christmas Decorating Ideas

Whether you are completely decorated or just starting, today's tour with my blogging friends hosted by Cindy from County Road 407 is bound to spark your creativity.

You can shop this year's look HERE. The ornaments and mantel decor are on sale!

I'll be updating this post throughout the season as I take photos of this year's Christmas decor. Here is a little sneak peek of this year's mantel. The above mantle is the perfect example of “faking” a garland.

If you have a narrow mantel or want to have space for decor items, use picks to weave around your decor to give the illusion of a garland. That's what I've done here.

How to Decorate with Christmas Garlands

This month's Pinterest Challenge is a bit different in that we are not going by a specific inspiration photograph.

We all have many garland ideas so we thought we'd share all of our ideas in one handy post.

If you are stopping by from Marty at A Stroll Thru Life, welcome. I am so happy to have you here. Marty has such a lovely home.

You will find a handy shopping post at the end of this post.

History of Garland

The early settlers brought the tradition of garlands with them in the colonial days. Times could be hard back then. Many families started to harvest different types of evergreens into garlands by twisting and manipulating them to form these garlands.

They'd sell them to friends, family, and those in the area.

In early times, they could also be used to decorate trees.

In the early days, garlands were real and very fresh.

Today the evolution of faux garlands has come a long way.

Many garlands today look so real that you'd have a hard time distinguishing the difference.

Garlands come in many qualities and price ranges from dollar store varieties to elaborate ones that can cost in the hundreds.

Types of Garlands

• Faux garlands
• Pre-made fresh garlands
• Hand-made garlands
• Combination of faux and fresh
• DIY garlands
• Pre-lit garland
• Faking a Garland

Uses of Garlands

• Banisters
• Rails
• Doorways
• Mantels
• Dining room table
• Around windows
• Front Door
• On mailboxes
• Along fence lines
• Above cabinets
• Entertainment Center
• With lighted houses and villages

This is actually a large swag that I laid out flat on the mantel. Rarely have I ever completed a garland for this mantel that does not include fillers.

I typically start with an inexpensive “base” garland that is somewhat thick and lush.

Then you can fake a more expensive garland by filling it in with floral picks or fresh greens.

I have quite a collection of floral picks in several bins.

I start by looking at the mantel from the previous year. I want to create a different look from year to year.

I then empty out the bin and group everything on the floor by type.

I place the base garland on the mantel.

Sometimes I simply place it on top of the mantel or I hang it across the front with twine and command hooks.

Look closely above. I have two oversized trailing berry picks placed underneath the base garland so it trails across the front. It really softens the lines.

Do you see how pics are placed throughout the garland? The main garland is hung across the front. I tie twine around the garland to create a loop. Then I hang it on a Command Hook that is placed on the top edge. This is from many years ago.

Major blast from the past with these old photos.

I hung this garland in the same manner. I just added a ribbon across the front on this one.

The garland looks so full and lush in the distance.

Ways to Hang

I've used numerous methods to hang garlands around our home. Here are a few that have worked best for me.

• Command Hooks
• Nails
• Pipe cleaners
• Twine
• Yarn
• Zip ties
• Floral wire
• Cup hooks

I've hung this exact same garland on our staircase for the last 17 years. I've hung it in many different ways, but typically in a swang layout.

This year (photos coming soon), I have done a combination of wrapping around the railing and using clear zip ties.

Here is a look at last year's staircase.

Fill in the area with extra picks, berries, and ribbons.

The garland is hung above the windows with white cup hooks. I just leave them in place all the time.

Notice the wall color change?

I also hang the garland in our master bedroom on the fireplace mantel.

I use large nails across the top of the doorway to hang my garland. I actually bought a new garland for the front door this year! I love it and can't wait to share it with you.

It's got a pretty, welcoming glow at night.

Drape a garland around a hutch or server like this. The cow head helps to anchor it in place.

Do you have some special ways that you like to use garlands? I'd love to hear in the comments.

Be sure to come back for a visit as I update this post with this year's garland looks.

See all of my Christmas archives HERE.

Up next on today's tour is Laura from Decor to Adore. I can't see her felt garland.

More Ideas with Garlands

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