3 Fresh Ways to Decorate with Garlands

“There’s nothing like having the fresh fragrance of evergreens filling your home over the holidays,” says Elle Worsham, owner of Austin, Texas-based online greenery boutique Gracious Garlands. In addition to the pleasant scent, holiday greenery adds a lovely festive look to any space, which inspired us to seek out ways to incorporate garlands outside of the traditional areas. Here, Worsham shares a few of her favorite ways to get creative with greenery, from trimming your bar cart to taking your doorway décor to the next level.

Start with the basics—and add a special touch. We’re all about getting creative and putting new spins on a holiday tradition (more on that in a minute), but certain decorating tricks become classics for a reason. “Hanging a garland over a doorway brings such life and joy to a room,” Worsham says. For extra magic, she suggests wrapping your garland with lights and a wood-beaded garland before hanging, which will create added depth and dimension.

Drape your table. Adding greenery to your tablescape will make your gathering feel fresh and festive in an instant. Gracious Garlands offers a variety of garlands, including a magnolia and seeded eucalyptus garland from their fall collection that has wonderful color and texture and a Leyland cypress garland from their holiday collection that has a minimal and organic feel, that are perfect for dressing up your dining table or buffet. Once you’ve determined the look you’re going for, simply select a length of greenery that will fit with your table (you can read Worsham’s tips for doing that here), and then add other elements to the mix, like candles, fruit, or feathers.

Get creative with extras. Chances are, after you’ve hung your garlands in the traditional areas (around the front door, over an interior doorway, on your staircase), you’ll have lengths of greenery left over. Rather than tossing them out, Worsham recommends using these pieces to spruce up other places around the home. Here are some of her favorite ways to incorporate extras:

  • Snake garland along an entryway sideboard to welcome your guests
  • Tuck pieces into the nooks and crannies in your bar cart
  • Place garland over the mirror in the guest bath
  • Weave extra pieces into your light fixture over your dining table
  • Dress up your mailbox with greenery, tree trimmings, and more

Photography by Brandon Hill. TSG Tip 338 from Elle Worsham, owner of Gracious Garlands in Austin, Texas. Gracious Garlands is featured in The Scout Guide Austin.