Christmas Garland for Staircases and Mantels

How to choose a Christmas garland

Start with where the garland will hang. A staircase rail, a mantel and a doorway each ask for a different look and length. Greenery reads traditional and works well outdoors under a porch roof or along a fence. Tinsel and fringe read festive and catch indoor light. Bead strands add a dressy line for a table or a mirror frame.

Next, decide between a single long piece and a bundle you fluff and shape. A garland on a bendable wire core holds a curve, so it drapes over a rail without sagging. A bundle of loose strands is lighter and better for swagging in short loops.

Sizes and measuring

Measure the run you want to cover, then add extra for the drape. A staircase rail often needs more length than the straight distance because the garland dips between posts. As a rule, plan on about one and a half times the straight length for a soft swag.

Lengths in this category:

• The Cypress Garland: 71 in (180 cm) long
• The Norfolk Pine Garland: 70.87 in (180 cm) long
• The Snowflocked Tinsel Garland: 79 in (2 m) long
• The Tinsel Cascade Garland: 2 m (6.6 ft), 6 m (19.7 ft), 10 m (32.8 ft) and 20 m (65.6 ft)
• The Pearl Cascade Garland Roll: 393 in (1000 cm)
• The Iridescent Tinsel Fringe Garland: about 39 in (100 cm) long
• The Iridescent Fringe Garland: bundle of 3000 strands

For a full staircase, two or three Cypress or Norfolk Pine garlands twisted together give a thick, even line. For a long porch rail, the Tinsel Cascade Garland in 10 m (32.8 ft) or 20 m (65.6 ft) covers the run in one pass. The Pearl Cascade Garland Roll at 393 in (1000 cm) suits a long table or a wide doorway.

Materials and finishes

Greenery garlands use plastic foliage on a bendable wire core. The Cypress Garland has fine feathery cypress-like foliage in army green. The Norfolk Pine Garland has a loop at one end for hanging, which helps when you mount it on a hook or a nail.

Tinsel garlands use plastic tinsel or metallic foil strands. The Snowflocked Tinsel Garland is snow-flocked green tinsel with red fabric bows, and it comes as 1 garland and 12 bows. The Tinsel Cascade Garland has dense fluffy strands on a wire core and comes in white and black. The Iridescent Tinsel Fringe Garland has 5000 metallic foil strands per bundle with an iridescent finish that shifts color in light. The Iridescent Fringe Garland has 3000 metallic foil strands tied at one end with a twist tie.

Bead garlands use plastic beads on a string. The Pearl Cascade Garland Roll has round beads in mixed sizes and comes in champagne, gold, white, red, rose gold or silver.

Care and storage

Shake each garland out before you hang it, then shape the branches or strands by hand. Keep greenery away from open flames and hot lights. Dust collects in tinsel and fringe, so a soft brush or a low setting on a hair dryer held at a distance helps between seasons.

Store garlands loosely coiled in a box or a bag. Do not crush tinsel or fringe under heavy items, since the strands hold a crease. Keep bead rolls wound on the roll they arrive on so the string does not kink. Label each box by length so next year's setup goes faster.

Mixing garlands for a fuller look

A single garland can look thin on a wide mantel. Pair a greenery garland with a tinsel or bead strand and twist them together. The Cypress Garland at 71 in (180 cm) plus the Snowflocked Tinsel Garland at 79 in (2 m) gives a full, layered line with bows already in place. For a bright indoor look, run the Iridescent Tinsel Fringe Garland along a mantel edge and let the iridescent finish catch the room light.

On a staircase, wrap the rail in a greenery garland first, then add a bead roll or a fringe bundle on top. Use the loop on the Norfolk Pine Garland to anchor the start, then work down the rail and tie the end with a twist tie or a small clip.