Wondering where to hang Christmas garland to make your home as Christmassy as possible? The classic answer is on the mantel. But once the mantel is finished, how do you decorate with garland for Christmas without repeating that same idea everywhere else?
I started looking around our home for other places to use it and realized that garland really only needs two things: a horizontal edge and something to tie to. Once I noticed that, I started seeing possible spots everywhere—from the flat top of a round mirror to the tiny upper edge of a picture frame.
I used very realistic faux cedar garland and the same rust-brown velvet ribbon throughout our home. You really can’t tell it’s faux, and I love that I can reuse it every year. Repeating those two materials connects the different arrangements from room to room.
If you’re wondering how to decorate with garland for Christmas beyond the mantel, look for the edges and anchor points already in your home. Drape it over a mirror, framed print, plate rack, window, stair wall, console, kitchen cabinets, counter stool backs, or doorway, then secure it with ribbon, floral wire, or removable hooks.
What You’ll Need
- Cedar garland (real or faux like mine)
- Small wreaths (optional)
- Floral wire or twist ties
- Removable adhesive hooks
- Ribbon (I used velvet ribbon)
- Scissors
I created some of my garlands using faux branches and twist ties to connect the branches together because it made it look more realistic than ready-made garland out there! It also was easy to customize length this way.
If you want ready-made garland, I do love the ones designed by Studio McGee at Target each Christmas season. The caveat is they only come in one length.
1. Garland Over a Round Mirror
A round mirror is one of my favorite unexpected places to hang Christmas garland. The greenery breaks up the perfect circle and the mirror reflects whatever lights and color are nearby, so a fairly simple arrangement ends up doing a lot.
I tried this on three mirrors, and the garland fell differently on each one. Rather than force a perfectly even swag, I let one side carry more weight and bent the wired branches until the ends fell where I wanted them to. That irregular shape is a big part of what makes this faux cedar look real.
I tied the greenery at the top of the mirror and finished it with the rust-brown velvet ribbon. That ribbon ended up being one of my favorite details in our Christmas decor. It adds color, but it’s much softer with our home than a bright red bow would be.
Even faux garland can be heavier than it looks, so make sure the mirror itself is securely hung before adding anything to it. I also wouldn’t put adhesive directly on an antique or delicate frame. Ribbon, floral wire attached to existing hardware, or a removable hook on the wall above it will usually give you a safer anchor point.
2. Garland Along the Top of a Framed Print
The upper edge of a large framed print can work almost like a tiny mantel. It gives a short piece of garland somewhere to rest, which is especially useful when you have leftover greenery but not enough for another large arrangement.
I did this over the framed art in our son’s room, and it might be my favorite garland moment in the whole house. It brought Christmas into the room without taking up any dresser or floor space, and the cedar looked so pretty with the art that was already there.
I laid the garland loosely across the top and used ribbon to anchor it rather than sticking anything directly onto the frame. I also let a few cedar tips fall over the upper corners. That small overlap makes the garland look like it belongs with the art instead of like someone balanced a branch on top and walked away.
Place ribbon or a small piece of felt anywhere floral wire could rub against the finish. Faux cedar doesn’t carry moisture or sap, but its wired stems can still scratch a delicate frame. If the artwork is valuable or irreplaceable, I would choose another spot!
3. Garland on an Open Plate Rack or Hutch
An open plate rack or hutch gives garland several ledge options to decorate.
In our dining room, I wanted to decorate the plate rack while still being able to see the mismatched plates and art. I decided our best bet was to rest the garland on top of the plate rack.
Though I’ve decorated the plate rack asymmetrically, the actual shape is symmetrical, so I wanted the garland to mirror that.
As such, I tied a ribbon directly in the middle:
You could go one step further and weave garland throughout the plates within a plate rack. If you choose this method, this is one place where I wouldn’t use the fullest garland you can find. A thinner strand—or even a few clipped pieces—lets you keep some empty space around the plates. If the greenery covers every edge and opening, an open rack can go from charming to very busy surprisingly fast.
This year, I’ll also try hanging garland from my dining room chandelier!
4. Garland or a Wreath Around a Window
A window is such a small place to add Christmas greenery, yet it can make the whole room feel decorated.
In our bathroom, I hung a wreath above the window because its compact shape fit the narrow space better than a full garland. If you prefer garland, you can follow the upper edge of the window—or drape it down one side—so the cedar stays out of the way.
In another window, I hung a wreath directly in front of the glass and paired it with garland on the entry storage unit beside it:
A windowsill is another option when you only have a short piece of garland left. Rest it loosely along the sill, but make sure it doesn’t block the window lock, interfere with curtains, or sit where condensation regularly collects. If the sill is within reach of children, secure the greenery instead of simply laying it there.
Note: Faux greenery is especially practical in a bathroom because it won’t wilt or dry out. Even so, keep it out of the shower spray and check behind it for condensation. If you’re using real greenery, don’t let damp branches sit against painted trim, wallpaper, or fabric.
5. Garland or a Wreath Along a Stair Wall
You can decorate a staircase with garland without putting it on the banister at all. Instead, look at the wall beside the stairs and see whether the greenery can follow the frames, hooks, art, or ledges that are already there.
Almost every staircase garland idea shows greenery wrapped around the railing. I do love that look, but our stair banister is not open, so the wall gave me a more interesting option. I hung a wreath on the landing halfway up our stairs, where it works with the painting and our architecture instead of using the banister. When you’re walking up or down the stairs, you have a perfect view of the greenery.
I used ribbon to hold up the wreath and nailed it to the wall behind the painting. If you don’t want to make any holes, use removable hooks rated for the wreath’s weight.
If you have an open banister, wrapping or swagging garland along the railing is still the classic option!
6. Garland Draped Across a Console, Dresser, or Credenza
Credenzas, consoles, and dressers are practically begging for Christmas decor! And when it comes to garlands, their flat, sturdy surfaces are ideal! Since the furniture supports the weight, this is probably the least complicated placement on the list.
For our entry credenza, I laid the cedar across the surface first and then nestled the rest of the decorations into it—wooden trees, little village houses, or a nativity all work well. The greenery fills the gaps between separate objects and makes them read as one arrangement instead of several small things lined up on a dresser.
I like to vary the heights and let the garland spill over one edge instead of keeping everything perfectly centered. That little bit of movement keeps the display from turning into one long, flat line.
One advantage of faux cedar is that I don’t have to clean up dried needles from the credenza! Since this is an antique pine cabinet from the 19th century, I was extra careful to make sure that the wired stems wouldn’t scratch anything. If you’re worried about a delicate surface, a narrow runner or a few small felt pads under the thicker sections can protect the furniture without changing the look.
7. Garland Over Kitchen Cabinets
If your kitchen cabinets don’t reach all the way to the ceiling, the tops of kitchen cabinets create a long horizontal ledge that is practically made for Christmas garland. Historically, this has been one of the biggest gaps in my Christmas decorating. Now, adding greenery here makes the entire kitchen feel included without taking up any counter space.
I draped my garlands loosely across the upper cabinets, letting a few branches fall slightly lower instead of keeping everything in one perfectly straight line. The greenery draws your eye upward and adds softness to a room with so many hard surfaces.
Note: Be sure to keep garland away from the stove, small appliances, vents, and anything else that produces heat. I would also secure it in a few places rather than relying on the cabinet edge alone—especially anywhere a door might brush against it. One time my husband opened a cabinet door and accidentally brought one whole section down. He dramatically said he felt like his whole life flashed before his eyes… (insert eye roll).
8. Garland or Wreaths on the Backs of Chairs
The backs of chairs are an unexpected place to repeat Christmas greenery in the kitchen or dining room.
Unlike our green upholstered dining chairs, our wooden counter stools have firm backs that make it easy to attach something without worrying about damaging thick fabric.
I hung a small wreath on the back of each counter stool using velvet ribbon. These are wreaths—not garland—but short pieces of garland could create the same effect. Bend each piece into a shallow swag and tie it to the top corners or center of the stool back with ribbon.
Keep the wreath or garland proportional to the stool so it doesn’t interfere when someone sits down.
Note: This idea works best on wooden, metal, or open-frame backs with a secure place to tie the ribbon; I would skip it on delicate upholstery or thick fabric backs like our dining chairs.
9. Garland Around a Doorway
A cased doorway gives garland a natural route to follow without requiring a mantel, shelf, or piece of furniture. It also lets the greenery be seen from both rooms, so one strand can make a surprisingly big difference.
If you don’t have enough to frame the entire doorway, you can simply decorate the top half like I did!
I attached the garland at the upper corners and allowed it to dip slightly across the top rather than pulling it into a rigid outline around the opening. That looser shape looks more natural with the faux cedar and relates to the asymmetrical garland I used on the mirrors elsewhere in our home.
Before attaching anything, if you have a door in your doorway, check the door swing and make sure the garland will not hang low enough to catch on someone walking through.
Removable hooks work well here, but use enough anchor points to support the full weight instead of placing all the tension on two hooks.
How I Made the Garlands Feel Connected From Room to Room
I didn’t make every strand match, and I don’t think you need to. The repeat is what matters. I used the same realistic faux cedar and rust-brown velvet ribbon around our home, then changed the shape of each arrangement to fit the mirror, shelf, window, or piece of furniture.
I also repeated the cedar in wreath form above the bathroom window, on the stair landing, in another window, and on the backs of our counter stools. Those pieces are wreaths rather than garlands, but the similar greenery and ribbon connect them to the garland used throughout the rest of the house.
It also helped that those colors already made sense in our house (read more about color theory in interior design). The cedar repeated the greens I use year-round, while the brown velvet related to our wood furniture and warmer fabrics. The Christmas decor felt special, but it didn’t suddenly turn our home into a completely different color palette for a month.
Christmas Garland FAQs
How do you make garland look expensive?
Start with faux cedar that has varied coloring and irregular branch tips rather than one perfectly uniform shade of green. Layer two thinner strands if it looks sparse, then bend and pull individual branches forward so the greenery doesn’t look flat. Wired velvet ribbon and finished ends also make a surprisingly big difference.
Where should you not hang garland?
Don’t place faux garland against radiators, candles, hot light bulbs, or other heat sources. Avoid spots where a door will swing into it or where it narrows a walkway. I would also keep wired garland off valuable art or delicate finishes that could be scratched.
How do you hang garland without damaging walls?
Use removable hooks rated for the garland’s weight and follow the manufacturer’s directions for the surface. On mirrors and framed art, loop ribbon over a secure edge instead of putting adhesive on the frame. Floral wire can connect greenery to existing hardware, but add a little padding anywhere it could rub.
How long does fresh garland last indoors?
The cedar shown throughout this post is faux, so I can leave it up all season and reuse it for years. Fresh garland generally looks its best indoors for about one to three weeks, although direct sun, heat, and dry air can shorten that window.
Final Thoughts on Where to Hang Christmas Garland
I hope this has helped you figure out where to hang Christmas garland in your own home!
Once you start noticing the edges, openings, and anchor points already in your home, figuring out where to put Christmas garland gets much easier.
And I love that the same two materials can have a completely different personality depending on where they go. Realistic faux cedar and brown velvet ribbon feel relaxed over a bedroom mirror, collected on a dresser, and a little unexpected around a bathroom window. The repeated materials tie the house together, while each placement still gets to be its own little moment.
Now go make your home like a Hallmark Christmas movie!
Happy decorating!
Jasmine
