As we find ourselves edging closer and closer to Christmas, it’s about time to start decorating for the festive season – or, at the very least, start stocking up on your seasonal decor. Christmas garland ideas are the perfect way to add a bit of festive flair to anything from a shelf to the fireplace with ease.
A garland can be the perfect DIY Christmas decor idea if you want to create one yourself from scratch. But equally there are so many beautiful ready-made designs that you can shop for, as long as you know where to buy the best Christmas decorations.
‘Garlands bring the perfect festive touch to homes throughout the Christmas season, filling windowsills, dining tables and mantels with festive warmth,’ says Lucy Kirk, creative and photography manager at Lights4Fun.
Alex Stubbs, Flitch interior stylist, continues, ‘Window garlands add charm inside and out, while table garlands make striking centrepieces with low greenery and candles. Door frame garlands and mini garlands for shelves are great for framing spaces or adding subtle festive touches.’
But if you’re lost for Christmas decor ideas, then this guide to some of our favourite trending Christmas garland styles will surely provide you with some source of inspiration.
Where to buy Christmas garlands – the quick list
- Argos: ideal for traditional garland styles we all know and love
- Cox & Cox: unique but sophisticated Christmas garland designs
- Dunelm: budget-friendly yet beautiful garlands
- John Lewis: our favourite place for fun, felt garlands
- Lights4Fun: perfect for pre-lit, realistic garlands
- Marks & Spencer: our go-to for pre-lit bauble garlands that keep selling out
- Next: a varied selection of garlands from classic designs to unusual bauble styles
- The White Company: luxury, realistic garlands with a foraged look
1. Incorporate lights
‘We recommend wrapping delicate micro lights to enhance the colours of foliage for an understated yet effective look,’ Lucy at Lights4Fun says.
Incorporating some of your best Christmas lights into your garland design, whether it’s an artificial one or a real one from foraged foliage, will create a real statement from day to night.
But while you can also put the work in by wrapping your garland with string or fairy lights, you can also buy a pre-lit Christmas garland that comes with the lights already attached. But that’s, of course, entirely up to you and your preference.
If the more traditional Christmas look is what you're after then this Dunelm design adorned with red seasonal berries and pinecones is for you.
This affordable garland is the perfect design for any minimalist or a lover of the quiet luxury aesthetic. It's subtle yet effective so we're not surprised it's Lights4Fun's bestselling design.
If you want to drape a full and bushy garland around the mantelpiece that looks like it's just been foraged without doing all the necessary work then this luxurious style from The White Company will do the trick.
2. Don’t forget the bow trend
Bows and ribbons tied into bows were one of the biggest Christmas decor trends last year – and this Christmas, the bow popularity has gotten even bigger. There are so many different ways in which you can include this trend into your festive decorating scheme – and your garland is one of them.
‘For an added touch of luxe, adorn with velvet ribbons tied in bows and tones of mulled wine for a charming touch that’ll suit any home,’ Lucy says.
3. Go for a natural look
‘There’s a growing trend for more natural-looking Christmas garlands this year which reflects broader trends in interior design and lifestyle,’ says Danielle Le Vaillant, head of photography and film at Cox & Cox. ‘People increasingly seek connections to nature in their homes so natural and botanical decor has become a go-to choice.’
There are several different elements you can incorporate into your garland design for a natural look – from dried oranges or orange slices to fresh or faux flowers.
‘Faux greenery like eucalyptus and succulents helps recreate a calming, outdoor feel indoors,’ Danielle adds.
Alex at Flitch continues, ‘Natural garlands with dried botanicals are trending for their eco-friendly and organic appeal. Add decorations like dried orange slices, pinecones, or cinnamon sticks for a natural look.’
4. Discover the charm of felt garlands
Fun, playful Christmas decor that feels nostalgically childish (in a good way) is increasingly more popular. So everything from colourful Christmas trees to cure felt garlands goes this year.
‘Felt garlands are a great alternative to a traditional Christmas garland. Perfect for smaller spaces and a simple yet effective way to introduce a touch of colour, these charming woodland-inspired felt garlands styled along bannisters and in amongst Christmas trees in place of tinsel will bring a touch of softness to your seasonal styling,’ Lucy at Lights4Fun says.
Danielle at Cox & Cox adds, ‘Last Christmas saw an increase in sugary, “candy land” decorations dubbed “Wonkacore” and the trend is still going strong this year. Candy canes and pom-poms look great when hanging from traditional red and white string.’
A Christmas garland can't get much cuter than this! Red and white pom poms paired with gingerbread men made from felt for £12? We don't expect this one to be available for much longer. Better be quick!
Candy canes and Christmas are intrinsically linked. And somehow they look even better when made from felt and hung on a string - or at least when Cox & Cox does it.
We love the playful spirit of this festive felt garland shaped as Christmas lights - without any actual working lights. So fun and cute - and for £10, it's a bargain!
5. Opt for an autumnal theme
Going autumnal for Christmas is a popular look that came about last Christmas, giving rise to motifs like mushrooms and acorns turned into Christmas decorations and classically autumnal colour schemes used for the festive season. And that trend is not going anywhere this time around either.
‘Miniature mushroom decorations nestled in amongst the garland with pops of real red berries and winter foliage foraged from the garden will bring the outdoors in, and elevate seasonal decor further still,’ Lucy at Lights4Fun says.
6. Replace a traditional garland with paper chains
Whether you want to incorporate your little ones in the making of your Christmas decor or are after some budget Christmas decorating ideas (or both), swapping a traditional garland for homemade paper chains is the perfect way to inject some personality into your home decor.
‘Paper chains made from artisan or handcrafted papers in mismatched, folksy patterns are a great alternative to traditional Christmas garlands. Style over festive dining tables or along the bannister of a staircase for a nostalgic touch that can be a fun crafting activity during the Christmas holidays,’ Lucy says.
7. Invest in a bauble or pearl garland
If you want to skip on the traditional foliage look of most Christmas garlands, whether real or artificial ones, then going for something even more festive, pretty and decorative like a garland made of baubles or even pearls will look lovely instead. Especially as most of the bauble garlands available on the market come pre-lit too – and they’re so popular at the moment that the M&S Light Up Bauble Garland keeps selling out online.
‘Long strings of beads shine beautifully under the glimmer of Christmas tree lights, pearls in particular add a beautiful touch of nostalgia,’ Danielle at Cox & Cox says, adding that they’re ‘easy to drape over a mantlepiece, window sill, or hang on the tree as an alternative to tinsel.’
But no matter which idea or ideas you go for, they are guaranteed to create one stylish base for your festive decorating scheme. Merry Christmas!
-
It’s normally impossible to find a Dyson vacuum for under £250 — but QVC has slashed the price of their bestselling models for a limited timeRun don’t walk to pick up the brand’s bestselling model for under £230 before it sells out
-
How to remove algae from a fence — 4 methods that will banish the green and prevent wood rotYou don’t have to replace a fence if it’s covered in algae. Here's what to do…
-
I wish I'd known about these 4 things before I bought my Le Creuset – here's how you can learn from my mistakesHere's how to make sure your Le Creuset will still be your most-used pan in a decade
-
I got a first look at the new John Lewis range for spring/summer 2025 – these are the top pieces to shop now and save for laterThese are all the new additions to the brand's range that should be on your radar
-
How to make your ceiling more attractive – 7 ways to turn the neglected fifth wall into a beautiful featureAre you forgetting to decorate your ceiling? You really shouldn't
-
IKEA is putting an end to ugly extension cords – you won’t mind having its latest design on display in your homeI can’t wait to get my hands on one
-
Primark is selling a gorgeous green cushion that is almost identical to a £150 designer cushion — we predict a sell-outThe new collection is filled with beautiful designer-look pieces
-
Aldi’s Blocks in Bloom Building Flowers are a dead-ringer for LEGO flowers - at just £2.99 they’re half the price tooWhen there's a dupe to be had, Aldi always finds a way to save us money
-
Marks & Spencer has combined the best parts of a rose and peony to launch an exclusive new flower – I got a sneak peek at the beautiful bloomAnd you don't have to wait for peony season to buy it
-
M&S have given their sell-out light-up candles a romantic update in time for Valentine’s Day - but you’ll have to be quick as they’re already a bestsellerLove is in the air - and it smells good
-
5 colours that go with brown — the colour combos experts use to make this shade look incredible in any roomMake this trending shade shine
