New and Favorite Garland Styles for Christmas 2024

Oct 7th 2024

Front porch of white center entrance colonial decorated with garland, small Christmas trees and lights

Think of your favorite Christmas movie. We’ll bet that in the background, you’ll spy garland somewhere – on stair rails, door frames, fireplaces or draped from exposed ceiling beams.

Quietly classic, garland adds style to your Christmas decor. Yet, Christmas garland is not always the first thing that comes to mind when considering Christmas decorations. Given its range and versatility, we think garland deserves more attention. That’s why we’re taking this opportunity to give garland a little love.

Read on for more information about Christmas garlands and all the ways they can add polish to your holiday decorating.

garland stretched across a table near an ornate gold framed mirror

What is Christmas Garland?

Thousands of years ago, before people understood science and astronomy, they created stories to explain why seasons changed and plants withered in winter. Not all plants died, however; some, like evergreens, remained fresh. Hanging pine branches in their homes to mark the winter solstice reminded people that the earth would yield new life in spring.

As Christianity replaced pagan beliefs, the tradition of hanging evergreen plants, symbolizing rebirth, continued.

The winter holiday of Christmas, which occurred near the solstice, grew in importance. Evergreen decorations became more elaborate, with greens braided and tied together to make wreaths and the rope-like decoration we know as garland.

garland decorating a chandelier with candle shaped lights

Styles of Garland and Where to Use Them

While garland tends to be overlooked, it can be an integral element in your decorating scheme. Wound around outdoor porch columns or laid down the center of your dining table, garland provides the perfect finishing touch to Christmas decor.

There are many styles of garland available and even more ways to decorate with them. Here’s a rundown:

Green Garland

green pine garland on a mantel with candlesticks, white ceramic decorations and gold bells

What it is: Garlands of greenery are the most traditional Christmas garland style. Garlands can be made of pine, cedar, eucalyptus and other evergreens. Artificial garland mimics these common natural materials but is more durable and longer lasting. In addition to green garland, artificial Christmas garland may feature flocked and colorful garland varieties. Pre-decorated and pre-lit garland is common. However, you can also purchase undecorated and unlit garland for a simpler look – or decorate it yourself to make it your own.

Where to use: You can use pine garland just about everywhere, including pillars, posts, columns, stair banisters, railings, fences, doorways, window frames, fireplace mantels, entry tables, dining tables, exposed ceiling beams and rooflines.

Ornament Garland

6 foot silver and seafoam green 3-finish shatterproof ball garland

What it is: Ball garland is created by stringing Christmas ornaments together on a sturdy wire or nylon filament. Frequently, shatterproof ornaments are used for durability. Christmas ball garland features a surprising variety of designs. Ornaments can be different colors, graduated sizes or differing finishes. They can be strung “single file” or clustered to create drama and depth.

Where to use: Christmas ornament garland is perfect for a spacious mantelpiece, door frame or window frame. Ball garland also would make a striking accent down the center of a dining table or buffet.

Bead Garland

15 foot shiny metallic green beaded Christmas garland

What it is: Beaded garland is typically made from small balls strung together like a necklace. While glass balls are the traditional material for beaded garlands, plastic beads are more common. Traditional beaded garland has a shiny metallic finish and comes in popular Christmas colors like gold, silver, red and green. Non-traditional beaded garlands feature plastic beads that resemble common Christmas items, such as peppermint candies, gingerbread men or gumdrops. Natural-toned wood bead garland is another option.

Where to use: Like a necklace, beaded garland is very flexible. You can string it on your Christmas tree or drape it from a chandelier, mirror or table edge. Wind it through pine garland for a festive glimmer or drape it across a fireplace mantel as you would with other garland.

Tinsel Garland

50-foot boa wide cut tinsel ommercial Christmas garland

What it is: Tinsel garland is made from thin strips of plastic, often with a metallic finish, that are wound together to create a rope-like decoration. Tinsel garlands come in many colors and lengths. Foil garlands sparkle even in low light, reflecting Christmas lights and candlelight.

Where to use: Lightweight and flexible, tinsel garland is a popular Christmas tree decoration. It can also be used around mirrors, doors and ceilings, or to trim other Christmas decorations, like wreaths and signs. A favorite in the office and school room, Christmas tree tinsel garland is also an eye-catching way to accent your kitchen cupboards. You can even use it to decorate your golf cart for your Christmas parade!

Berry Garland

5-foot iced leaves and winter berries artificial Christmas garland

What it is: Berry garland is an often delicate arrangement of leaves and foliage that can bring a natural look and pleasing texture to your Christmas decor. Bring in some Christmas color with red berry garland, or keep things neutral with garlands of white berries and soft green foliage. At Christmas, you’ll also find glitter-dusted berry garlands, along with silver or gold berries for a soft shimmer.

Where to use: Berry garlands look lovely throughout the home. Use them on a mantel, credenza or dining table in combination with your favorite tabletop decorations. Stair rails, window frames and chandeliers are other good places to use berry garland.

Novelty Garland

Advent garland with sewn stockings, Christmas trees and other objects

What it is: The broad novelty Christmas garland category encompasses a range of unique styles. It may feature shapes cut out of felt, jingle bells, wire or feather boas. You can find Christmas garlands made of tiny flags that spell out the words “Merry Christmas,” strands of plastic snowflakes, yarn pom poms and many other designs.

Where to use: As with other garland, novelty garland provides a unique look on a Christmas tree, fireplace mantel, buffet or another visible spot. Because novelty garland is often somewhat delicate and lightweight, it may not be suitable for high-traffic areas like stair banisters or doorways.

green garland hung with gold bows from a stair handrail

How to Hang Christmas Tree Garland

How you hang your garland will depend on its length, weight and where you place it.

You can easily hang garland on your Christmas tree by draping it from branch to branch. Alternatively, some people secure one end of their garland to a top branch and drape it gracefully down the length of the tree.

Fireplace garland is popular at Christmas. If you don't have a fireplace, a window, picture frame, mirror, headboard or even a blank wall are all good substitutes. Use garland to frame a doorway, or edge your ceiling crown molding or exposed beams. If your garland is pre-lit, or if you plan to add lights, be sure there is an outlet nearby.

Garland accessories are designed to make it easier to decorate with garland. You’ll find garland hangers, tension rods, banister ties and removable hooks very helpful for keeping your artificial garlands in place without damaging finishes. Consider using wires or zip ties to anchor outdoor Christmas garland. Hide them with a pretty bow!

Versatile Garland

Wherever you decorate this Christmas, garland can add a finishing touch. Garlands come in many styles to complement any decor and combine with other decorations for added dimension.

Below, we’ve highlighted some of our new and favorite garland styles for Christmas 2024. You’re welcome to browse our entire selection of garland to find the perfect accent for your Christmas decor.