Garland Decorating Ideas Your Home

JAMES MERRELL

While your Christmas tree does deserve a lot of attention and a wreath steals the show on your front door, never underestimate the power of garlands. You can hang them on walls or across a mantel, thread them through banisters, frame them over doorways, and even wrap them around your tree—whichever you choose, they'll deliver an instant seasonal upgrade. Whether you want to buy one or take the DIY approach this year, we've got tons of gorgeous Christmas garland styling ideas for you. Keep reading to recreate your favorite, or incorporate a few of these 35 ideas throughout your home.

christmas garland in formal living room

JAMES MERRELL

1 of 35

Make It Grand

A formal living room calls for a formal holiday garland. Add bows, berries, and acorns to make it extra lush. Use this pretty and elevated garland in a living room by Charlotte Moss as inspiration.

BUY NOW White Ribbon, $7

Room, Interior design, Red, Textile, Wall, Furniture, Interior design, Carmine, Paint, Linens,

JoseÉ Picayo

2 of 35

Make Paper Bells

For a totally over the top display that also feels cheerful and airy (while still being so inexpensive), string up paper bells along your mantel or staircase. Choose red and white for a candy cane theme and string them together with fishing line.

BUY NOW Beistle Red and White Paper Garland, $6

living room with fireplace decorated for holidays

David A. Land

3 of 35

Tie In Some Ribbons

A simple harvest garland adorned with plaid ribbons gets this contemporary living room in the home of CB2 president Ryan Turf ready for a stylish holiday season.

BUY NOW Suzanne Kasler Plaid Ribbon, $39

white, room, property, interior design, furniture, living room, home, building, house, ceiling,

Annie Schlechter

4 of 35

Bring One to Every Room

Hang a garland over double sinks in the bathroom to bring the winter vibes to every inch of your home. Bonus points for red accents and plants. Bonus points if add some nice smelling touches, like cinnamon, roasted apple, and fresh citrus to a bathroom garland.

BUY NOW Jamali Rosemary Garland, $10

garland over mantel for christmas

Matthew Bees

5 of 35

Add Berries and Fruits

Weave in berries, pomegranates, and apples for an extra splash of color. The deep red tones are a natural fit for Christmas, as you can see in this mantel vignette decorated by Matthew Bees.

BUY NOW Apple Garland, $59

Room, Interior design, Home, Christmas decoration, Christmas tree, Interior design, Living room, Holiday, Christmas, Christmas ornament,

Erica George Dines

6 of 35

Add Lemons and Limes

Add splashes of cheerful and vibrant color with citrus. Whether they're part of the garland or just sitting atop the greens doesn't matter. Either way, lemons and limes will lighten the mood. And as for your tree, string through a metallic garland or party beads for a subtle sparkle.

BUY NOW Target C&F Home Lemon Garland, $ 38

pink garland over fireplace

2LG Studio

7 of 35

Go Pink

Go the unconventional route with an unexpected color scheme. Here, 2LG Studio incorporated dried pink hydrangeas to correspond with the room's existing bubblegum color scheme. We're also loving the bohemian feel of the wild ivy dripping over the edges of the mantel.

BUY NOW Preserved Pink Hydrangea, $16

Wood, Ceiling, Hardwood, Flowerpot, Interior design, Plywood, Light fixture, Twig, Houseplant, Wood stain,

Annie Schlechter

8 of 35

Turn It Into an Advent Calendar

Turn a kitchen garland into an advent calendar. Attach a ribbon across it and then hang little tin containers labeled with the day of the month and fill them with treats. Now that's our kind of giving tree.

BUY NOW Craig Bachman Striped Ribbon, $15

pink nursery with garland for holidays

Sara Ligorria Tramp

9 of 35

Use Your Words

Use your words with a metallic paper garland that says, "Merry Christmas!" If it's baby's first Christmas, this is a great way to deck out their room without breaking away from the current color palette. Emily Henderson hung one right above the crib here.

BUY NOW Paper and Parties Custom Banner Gold Glitter, $11

christmas garland in living room

JAMES MERRELL

10 of 35

Stick With Neutrals

A garland complements the warm tones of this traditional living room designed by Charlotte Moss. For a DIY version of the all natural look, try bleaching pinecones then stringing them alongside real cranberries and magnolia leaves.

BUY NOW Snowshoe Road Pinecone Garland, $18

Green, Room, Interior design, Wood, Hearth, Property, Wall, Home, Living room, Heat,

LESLEY UNRUH

11 of 35

Match It With Artwork

Weave some ribbons around the garland and add a few ornaments. The key is in matching your garland accessories to wall art and decor throughout the space rather than using the classic Christmas colors.

BUY NOW The Holiday Aisle UV Ball Ornament, $42

pink and orange christmas deocrations in entryway

Mike Garten

12 of 35

Add Tassels

Give your garland even more dimension by embellishing it with tassels. Here, the pink, orange, and white paper tassels hang between the balusters, adding an extra pop of fun and color.

BUY NOW Pink Construction Paper, $4

Wood, Logging, Natural material, Lumber, Molding, Still life photography, Mirror,

Miki Duisterhof

13 of 35

Use Unexpected Materials

Coffee saves the day yet again! These brown paper filters work seamlessly with a fireplace filled to the brim with birch. Get the tutorial at Country Living.

BUY NOW Jeoffrey's Trading Co. Basket Coffee Filters , $12

contemporary home decorated for holidays

Sara Ligorria Tramp

14 of 35

Leave No Table Untouched

If you want to transform every inch of your home into a winter wonderland, you'll want to make sure you cover all your surfaces. And garlands are an easy way to do so since they're so vibrant and festive. Here, Emily Henderson dressed up a console table with a garland, a few figurines, and some string lights.

BUY NOW Home Depot Winchester Pine Garland, $32

Room, Interior design, Green, Christmas decoration, Home, Interior design, Furniture, Pillow, Throw pillow, Linens,

Mike Garten

15 of 35

Create a Makeshift Wreath

Use a small garland to create a makeshift wreath around a circular mirror. This way, you'll be able to add some greenery to the space for the holidays without having to move around your decor too much.

BUY NOW Millwood Pines Norfolk Pine Garland, $38

Window, Bottle, Glass bottle, Drink, Glass, Fixture, Hardwood, Distilled beverage, Wood flooring, Laminate flooring,

Ngoc Minh Ngo

16 of 35

Animate a Bar Cart

Small-scale garlands are perfect for furniture and accent pieces, like a bar cart. They fit in with the other Christmas decorations and also put the spotlight on the entertaining zone.

BUY NOW Joss & Main Dried Leaf Garland, $42

creative diy garlands

Mustard Seed Interiors

17 of 35

Upcycle Materials

These neutral stockings are actually recycled pieces of grain sacks. They also happen to blend into this room's interiors beautifully. Get the tutorial at Miss Mustard Seed.

BUY NOW Bungalow Rose Vintage Stocking Garland, $54

Interior design, Interior design, Holiday, Christmas decoration, Christmas tree, Home, Lighting accessory, Light fixture, Ornament, Christmas eve,

COURTESY OF WYNN MYERS

18 of 35

Lay It as a Centerpiece

Use a classic Christmas garland as your dining table centerpiece. So much simpler and easy to put together than a floral arrangement and even more festive!

BUY NOW Frontgate Freshly Fallen Snowcrest Garland, $159

table set for formal christmas dinner

Aubrie Pick

19 of 35

Add Red Florals

If you're going to use a garland as a centerpiece for your Christmas dinner, break up all the greenery with some vibrant red florals. Then mix modern metallic accents and drinkware with classic winter motif plating.

BUY NOW Target Poinsettia & Berry Garland, $61

Wood, Floor, Stairs, Flooring, Cabinetry, Drawer, Dresser, Chest of drawers, Hardwood, Sideboard,

Annie Schlechter

20 of 35

Spruce Up Spiral Stairs

Following the curvature of these spiral stairs, the garland takes on a whole new attitude. And it enlivens the kitchen, a space that can be hard to decorate for the holidays since you want to keep all useable space clear and ready for feast prep.

BUY NOW Pottery Barn Leaf Garland, $79

Event, Christmas decoration, Christmas ornament, Holiday ornament, Interior design, Holiday, Christmas tree, Christmas, Christmas eve, Ornament,

21 of 35

Use Colorful Felt

Get crafty with rainbow felt for for a colorful addition to the Christmas tree. This garland from Tell, Love, & Party is super easy to make and it's a lot more affordable than other options. You just knot felt strips along a string of twine, then hang anywhere and everywhere.

BUY NOW World Market Multi-Color Felt Garland, $8

Interior design, Room, Wood, Floor, Property, Hearth, Home, Furniture, Table, Chair,

Paul Raeside

22 of 35

Leave Room for Flowers

Opt for a slim garland instead of a super lush one so there's room for more on the mantel. In this dining room, bright orange flower arrangements animate the garland and reflect the pop of tangerines in the center of the table.

BUY NOW Williams Sonoma Orange and Lime Garland, $100

White, Black-and-white, Text, Font, Wall, Room, Monochrome photography, Calligraphy, Design, Branch,

Homey Oh My

23 of 35

Spell Something In Green

All you need is wire, floral string, and pine to create this minimal holiday arrangement. Get the tutorial at Homey Oh My.

BUY NOW The Holiday Aisle Leaves Felt Garland, $39

Furniture, Room, Home, Living room, Pillow, Outdoor furniture, Coffee table, Interior design, House, Throw pillow,

Erin Kunkel

24 of 35

Bring It Outside

Celebrating the holidays somewhere warm this year? Bring your garland outside near a fire pit or fireplace. Festive, but also regionally appropriate.

BUY NOW Pottery Barn Faux Silver Dollar Eucalyptus Garland, $79

Room, Interior design, Shelf, Furniture, Shelving, Home, Interior design, Living room, House, Picture frame,

Annie Schlechter

25 of 35

Flank a Clock

Use your garland to frame mantel decor and them add some tall candlesticks that blend in so you can create an intimate, flickering atmosphere once the sun sets.

BUY NOW Worth Imports Magnolia Leaf Garland, $55

Room, Interior design, Wood, Home, Textile, Ceiling, Furniture, Wall, Shelf, Interior design,

Annie Schlechter

26 of 35

Deck Out the Bedroom

Hang a garland from the rafters in the guest bedroom if you're hosting over the holidays. Visions of sugar plums will definitely be dancing in the heads of your guests while sleeping here.

BUY NOW Grandin Road Long Needle Garland, $69

Pink, Christmas decoration, Party supply, Interior design, Ornament, Christmas tree, Creative arts, Christmas, Balloon, Holiday ornament,

Studio DIY

27 of 35

Fake Everyone Out

You won't believe that this light garland is actually made out of paper. Playful, colorful, and no fire hazard whatsoever. Get the tutorial at Studio DIY.

BUY NOW JustLetterB Felt Christmas Lights Garland, $28

Room, Interior design, Decoration, Tartan, Plaid, Tablecloth, Interior design, Creative arts, Home accessories, Flower Arranging,

Annie Schlechter

28 of 35

Beautify a Cabinet

They're not just for your tree! Beautify the table and china cabinet with green garlands, then string together some pinecones and weave in lights for some extra oomph.

BUY NOW Joss & Main Cheyenne Pine Garland, $34

Interior design, Serveware, Dishware, Shelving, Peach, Shelf, Pottery, Porcelain, Ceramic, Still life photography,

Annie Schlechter

29 of 35

Add Snowflakes

Use gingerbread cookies, cardboard, clay, or construction paper to make little snowflakes to add to the garland. This also introduces an extra Christmas craft to keep the kids busy.

BUY NOW WoodPresentStudio Wood Snowflake Ornaments, $21

Creative arts, Craft, Coquelicot, Gesture, Bracelet,

The Sweetest Occasion

30 of 35

Make It Mini

These mini wreaths are so cute and so easy. Secure sprigs of rosemary around tiny embroidery hoops with floral wire and attach to a cherry-red string of twine. Get the tutorial at The Sweetest Occasion.

BUY NOW Enduring Vision Christmas Tree Garland, $65