Garland on a staircase is one of my favorite elements of decorating for the holidays. It feels so classic and is undoubtably beautiful every time. But even if there isn’t a staircase to decorate, garland is such a versatile decor item that looks pretty down the center of a table, over a window, mantle, on open shelving or atop a favorite furniture piece. Personally I prefer garland with multiple varieties of greenery, fullness and other live elements (no skimpy garland here). Just like a Christmas tree, I think it’s an opportunity to create a beautiful moment with multiple elements and layers for a really thoughtful statement.
mix it up with faux + live elements
Live greenery always looks the most natural and beautiful, but it inevitably begins to dry out and look a little sad. There are a few faux garlands that have come out in recent years that can *almost* pass for the real thing but are not always the most budget friendly. So how do you get that gorgeous, Williams-Sonoma-esque garland on your own (without breaking the bank)? The trick is mixing a few faux garlands + live greenery. Creating a garland of life-like faux greenery and accenting with live greens gives you a lasting garland with the illusion that it’s made up of of a fully live greenery.
choosing live greenery + how to put it all together
Each year my garlands are a combination of two different faux garlands and whatever live greens I’m feeling that year. I also always make a point to add in another live element: dried citrus, pinecones, branches – this really elevates the look of your garland and looks more akin to a floral installation. There are a few that dry better than others – boxwood, cedar, magnolia leaves, spiral eucalyptus – and a few others that drop needles a little too quickly – namely pine branches. For this reason I suggest going for a faux pine garland to use as a good base. From there, add in another faux pine variety or something entirely different – I use a faux seeded eucalyptus garland that I’ve had for years. Then add in your live greenery: eucalyptus, boxwood, cedar branches or twigs. I then add in my live elements last, in an organic way (do not space each pinecone out perfectly), creating clusters of oranges or pinecones in random spots along my garland. And lastly, I always like to add ribbon to take it once step further: use a combination of ribbon or just one that ties into the rest of your holiday decor or gift wrap.
favorite garland combinations
Faux juniper + faux seeded eucalyptus + live cedar + dried oranges
Faux cedar + faux pine + live spiral eucalyptus + pinecones
Faux pine + faux frosted pine + live cedar + twigs
Faux mixed pine + live boxwood + dried oranges
Faux frosted pine + live cedar + pinecones
Faux pre-lit pine + faux seeded eucalyptus + dried citrus