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As the holiday season approaches, it’s time to transform our homes with the magic of Christmas decor! And what better way to kick off the season than with a beautifully swagged garland draped across your mantel, adding the perfect touch of festive elegance.
While real garland and real greenery are of course beautiful, they are messy and don’t last very long. Around here, I’m a huge fan of artificial garlands. Invest once, and they last forever!
Related: These are the best Christmas garlands to add to your cart now!
There’s a few steps you’ll need to take to get a truly elegant look for your holiday mantel. Once you’ve been through the steps once, you’ll be a pro with this aspect of Christmas decorating every year in the future!
What You’ll Need
To achieve the same look as my mantel this holiday season, you’ll need:
- 4 Norfolk Pine garlands (but any type of garland works)
- 1 Cedar garland
- 3M Wire Toggle Hooks or Medium Sized Command Hooks
- Green Floral Wire or zip ties
- Wire cutters
- Ribbon of your choice (I used this gold velvet ribbon in the 1 inch size)
- Battery operated string lights
Caveats
If you choose to only use two pieces of artificial garland you’ll get a sparser look, but it’ll still look very pretty. Two pieces alone can be laid right on top of the mantel without the use of command hooks, but if you want to drape them, you’ll still need the hooks.
Make sure before you hit “buy now” that you’re buying enough garland (2 or more), and buy them long enough to cover the length of your mantel and still be able to drape down the sides. I have two 5-foot garlands for a total length of 10 feet. You can also choose to just buy a 15-foot piece if you have a large mantel and want it to drape significantly.
The best garlands sell out quickly every year, so don’t be kicking yourself when you go to buy another piece and they’re already gone and you have to wait until next year!!
Step by Step Guide
- I’ve found the best way to start is to hang any bell or ornament garlands on the front face of the fireplace using command hooks. I like to use both the wire toggle hooks and the larger plastic command hooks. Then you can move on to the garland on the mantel.
2. Place a command hook on the top center and front center of the mantel. Allow it to stick for a full hour before adding the garlands.
3. Add one large command hook on either end of the mantel, again allowing a full hour before attaching garland. Heavy garlands may need additional support.
4. Attach the end of the first piece of faux garland to the top center hook, then secure the end of the garland around the large command hook on the end of the mantel. Attach the second piece of garland to the command hook on the front of the mantel.
5. When adding the next two pieces of garland, stick the ends into the garland that’s already secured. You can use wire or zip ties to secure it further if your garland is particularly heavy.
Make sure that the garland is positioned so that it drapes over the side of the mantel.
This is two pieces of garland on the left and just one piece on the right side.
This is with two pieces added to each side, which you can see creates a fuller look.
6. Position and maneuver the branches to cover all the command hooks.
7. Use green floral wire or green zip ties to secure the garlands together otherwise, they will eventually sag and fall down.
8. Adding a fifth piece of garland on top in a different type adds color and texture interest.
I like to use Norfolk Pine for the main garland and then one piece of cedar on top. This also helps to cover any bare spots or spots where the ties or command hooks are slightly visible.
9. Make two bows with your favorite ribbon (I like velvet) and attach some green floral wire to the back of the bow.
10. Attach the bows to the garland and secure.
11 Finish with some pretty battery-operated lights woven through the garland.
Other items you can add to personalize the look of your garland are pinecones, faux berries or any other decorative picks you like.
Want to watch me hang the garland on video? I shared a video on Instagram that will show you the process from start to finish!
Final Thoughts
Adding a garland to your mantel is such a simple way to infuse your home with holiday cheer. With the ease of artificial garlands and a few well-placed command hooks, you can create a beautiful, fuss-free look—no pine needles required! The result? A cozy, festive fireplace that’s ready to be the heart of your holiday gatherings. So why not give it a try? You’ll love the touch of magic it brings to your decor!
Beautiful‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️