7 Creative Garland Decorating Ideas for Your Home

TL;DR: Garlands add elegance, warmth, and festive charm to any home décor. Discover seven creative ways to decorate with garlands, from mantels to ceilings, and learn maintenance tips to keep them fresh year-round.

Garlands are a fantastic way to add charm and creativity to your home décor. They offer endless possibilities for both everyday and seasonal looks. Garlands come in handy whether you’re enhancing your mantel or doorway or creating a stunning feature wall.

We’ve curated a list of garland decorating ideas to instantly transform any space. From festive greenery to delicate florals, you’ll bring a touch of elegance and warmth to your living space.

Read on to infuse your home with unique, personalized touches that suit any style or occasion.

Why Garlands Make the Perfect Decor Accessory 

Garlands have been used in seasonal décor since antiquity. They’re a symbol of the bounty of nature and the hope of spring to come.

In early Scandinavian culture, people believed that evergreen trees were filled with good spirits. That’s why they brought them into their homes. They believed the spirits protected them during the long, dark winter season.

Today, we decorate with garlands because of tradition. We also choose garlands because they’re festive and gorgeous and help curate a classic Christmas ambiance. A garland’s natural greenery complements common decorating schemes, coordinating with your stunning Christmas tree centerpiece. Furthermore, garlands and greenery add color to your interior or exterior during the darkest months of the year.

A garland is always good for adding sensory elements to your holiday décor, too. Fresh garlands add a pine-fresh scent to the home. Artificial garlands create the same ambiance without the mess of fallen leaves or needles.

Personally, we love decorating with garland because of its versatility. You can use it to highlight areas in the interior or exterior of your home. Check out our favorite ideas for decorating with garland below.

Decorating with Garland: Ideas for Your Home

Deck the halls with our garland decoration ideas! Below, we’re sharing 7 classic ways to incorporate greenery into your Christmas décor.

1. Garland over the Fireplace Mantel

Get your fireplace ready for Santa Claus by draping a stunning garland across your mantel. Drape it across the top, have it cascade over the side, or scallop garland over the front. Ensure your mantel is clean before you begin.

We recommend using a garland hook to secure your heavy garland in place. That’s especially important if it features delicate ornaments that could crack and break if it falls!

2. Staircase Garland

Nothing says Christmas splendor like a garland-wrapped staircase banister. Imagine the kids springing down the stunning staircase on Christmas morning!

You need approximately 1.5 feet of Christmas garland for every foot of banister you’d like to wrap. Make sure to use banister protectors to achieve this classic festive staircase look. They’ll protect wood, paint, and finishes all season long.

3. Garland as Wall Art

You can create an eye-catching feature wall using cascading garlands. We were inspired by this garland wall art, which spells out “MERRY” in cursive. This requires a little bit of crafting, but the effect is gorgeous and perfect for photos. If stored correctly, you can reuse your crafty wall art for seasons to come.

There are plenty of other garland wall decor ideas where that came from – you just need to dream them up!

4. Table Runner Garland

Use garland as a natural, beautiful centerpiece on your dining or console table. On a rustic-style dining table, you can simply lay your festive garland down the center. Allow some greenery to drape off the edge. It’s a stunning, simple, rustic décor idea that couldn’t be simpler.

On a less rustic table, consider laying down a fabric table runner first. It will protect the surface and can tie in your holiday color scheme.

5. Window Frame Garland

One of our favorite garland décor ideas is framing windows with garland to add warmth and charm. Drape the garland over your window pane just like you’d frame your mantel. We recommend using a dedicated garland hanger.

6. Doorway Garland

One of the most classic ways to decorate with garland is to use it to frame your doorways. It helps create an inviting entrance for guests arriving for the holidays. We love decorating interior and exterior doorways with garland. You can even use lit garland to light your front porch on icy evenings.

Consider keeping the garland in place with a double doorway garland hanger. This is much easier than DIY methods and won’t damage your home.

7. Ceiling Hanging Garland

For a creative garland decorating idea, hang garlands from the ceiling for a unique and whimsical touch. Use your garland to create visual interest in the center of a larger room. Doing so can help you break up the space visually in a studio or industrial-style home.

How to Maintain and Store Your Garland for Longevity 

To keep your garland looking fresh and festive, you should store and maintain it properly. Throughout the season, you should clear them of dust and debris. That’s especially crucial if anyone in your household suffers from allergies. Properly cleaning your garland ensures a happy holiday for all.

We recommend using a soft brush or duster to clear your Christmas garland of dust. A microfiber mini-duster is a great tool because it’s gentle and won’t dislodge your décor.

We don’t advise using water, especially if your garland includes lights or electrical elements. Ensure your garland is completely dry before you store it for the season. Any moisture can contribute to mold and mildew formation in storage.

You can prevent problems by choosing a dedicated greenery storage solution. We recommend a storage container made from durable, wipe-clean polyester fabric. A built-in ID tag for quick identification is helpful when it’s time to decorate.

The right container prevents fading by keeping your artificial garland out of the sun. Keep dust and pests away with the right garland container. As a result, there will be no unfortunate surprises when you pull your garland out for the season!

Add Garland to Your Festive Décor This Year

It’s time to incorporate a stunning new artificial garland into your holiday décor. Shop our garland collection to find stunning lit and unlit options to add class and cohesion to your home.

Already have a garland you love? Shop our greenery storage solutions to keep them in excellent shape for years to come.