10 Ideas for Styling Garland

Thanks for your kind words about the holiday gift guide on Monday- that’s always a fun post to share! I’m back with another holiday related post today- it feels like perfect timing because we’re currently getting more snow here. Winter seems to be coming on strong! Yesterday, I brought all of our holiday storage totes up from the basement in preparation to begin decorating tomorrow… early holiday parties and the weather have me feeling festive all of a sudden. I’ve been packing up a LOT of Tuesday Made orders (thank you for that!) and right now, our number one seller is my favorite pine needle garland. I thought it would be fun to share some garland styling inspiration, because in my opinion- garland is one of the easiest and most versatile types of greenery you can buy for the holiday season. Click through for 10 ideas on styling your holiday garland… 

1 // Over Artwork

I’ve always loved garland styled over artwork. It can really emphasize a vignette and frame out artwork nicely… bonus points if you hang a vintage French horn on the corner or try an asymmetric arrangement.

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2 // On a Range Hood

This is an oddly controversial idea… believe me, I’ve been on the receiving end of feedback. Many people are skeptical to hang garland on their range hood, but I love the look! Obviously you have to be smart and can’t dangle the garland low enough to catch fire on your cooktop, but there is no harm in installing it in the kitchen, like pictured above.

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3 // Over a Window

Much like artwork, it’s fun to add texture & greenery to areas by framing windows. Rather than cluttering our kitchen countertop with holiday decor, I frame each kitchen window in an effort to make the space feel more festive.

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4 // On the Dining Table as a Centerpiece

This is one idea I think most people forget… using garland as a dining table centerpiece. It’s pretty genius! You can tuck in taper candles, florals, dried orange slices, ribbon, or whatever you please to add interest and develop a color palette, but the greenery always makes a great base.

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5 // Over a Curio Cabinet

A couple years ago, my friend Marynn and I swapped kitchen Christmas tours, and I loved how she wrapped her curio cabinet with lush garland. Garland has the ability to perfectly emphasize a vignette, while bringing a cozy feel to the room.

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6 // On the Mantel

Six or seven years ago, Emmett & I had just moved to Salt Lake and our house was a complete disaster, thanks to renovations. I was working with Lowe’s on a campaign for fresh greenery at the time, and our fireplace was absolutely destroyed (I’m talking major demo). I convinced my friend Brooke to let me overhaul her mantel for the holiday season. She had these amazing vintage candleholders from her grandmother and it was such a fun day styling & shooting. Almost a decade later, I still love this vignette and smile when I see it floating around Pinterest. It was one of my first viral posts, and I remember thinking, “Whoa, people must really love simple greenery!” You never would have guessed how much I was scrambling behind the scenes to find a mantel for this shoot, having just moved to a new state. Ha!

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7 // On a Credenza, Dresser, or Sideboard

I really admire the way Josh styles with the seemingly effortless ability to make maximalism work without feeling completely overwhelming. Obviously there is a LOT of garland happening here and I know it’s not for everyone, but my point is this… don’t forget to use dressers, credenzas, sideboards, or a dining buffet as surfaces for a garland moment. Personally, I adore this look!

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8 // On a Bookcase or Built-In

I also enjoy adding garland to bookcases or built-ins for added texture. This makes a great backdrop to add in wreaths, as well! On an unrelated side note, it’s almost time for me to piss people off by flipping my books around. Hah! I have no idea why this creates such an outrage, but it really lights a fire. Check out this post for more on this topic. Serena & Lily already shared an image of my previous holiday living room on their IG this month, and the comments are already rolling in. I’m going to say this again… do what you love in your home because it makes YOU happy. This makes me happy during the holidays- it’s fun to switch things up (without removing all my beloved books, which would be quite labor intensive).

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9 // Above Cabinetry

The above scene from our previous home (I loved that kitchen!) also caused some Insta drama. While it may not be practical for everybody, I like installing greenery above cabinetry… especially if you have super tall cabinets, stacked cabinetry, or cabinets you don’t use often. With the pine needle garland that I’ve been using for years, you can still open & close the cabinets without the garland getting stuck… it just kind of flops up toward the ceiling, then when you close it- it lies nice and flat again. No fussing or ladders required. I’m married to a “function first” husband and it would drive us both nuts if it continually got stuck. Another point I’m making? Test it out first and see how it functions. Some garland types work better than others!

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10 // On a Stair Railing

Obviously the most traditional place to see and style garland is on the stair railing. I’m thinking our staircase will not be done in time for me to install my beloved garland for Christmas, but I’ve got big plans & hopes for it next holiday season! If it does get finished, we’ll just call it a happy surprise. Either way, I’m ready to make some serious progress in the months ahead… both on the entryway and the guest bedroom, which I’m starting this week.

I hope this post was helpful as you begin brainstorming for the holidays and begin to pull out your decor. I’m really looking forward to the happy holiday months. I can’t believe we’re only a couple weeks away from Thanksgiving! This year has really blazed by, hasn’t it? I hope everyone is having a great week so far!