The dining room does the heavy lifting at Christmas — it's where the long lunches happen, where people linger, where the photos get taken. Garlands are the fastest way to make it feel wrapped up for the season, drawing the eye up and around the room rather than leaving all the decoration marooned on the table. Faux garlands earn their place here especially: draped near candles and hot serving dishes, they won't dry out, shed, or wilt across a week of festivities.
Want to shop as you go? Our Plants collection has plenty to choose from, all delivered across the UK.
In this guide
- Where garlands actually belong in a dining room
- Fixing them so they stay put all week
- Layering length and texture for a fuller look
- A palette that works with the whole table
- A few of our favourites
- Frequently asked questions
Where garlands actually belong in a dining room
Think about the room's lines and dress them. A sideboard or dresser is the obvious first choice — let a trailing lily or mint-leaf garland spill over the front edge and pool slightly at the ends so it looks generous, not stretched. A window frame or the top of a mirror gives you height and reflects the greenery back into the room. If you have a picture rail or beams, a garland run along them frames the whole table beneath. Avoid draping across anything you'll need to reach mid-meal; decorate the edges of the action, not the middle of it.
Fixing them so they stay put all week
Nothing spoils the look like a garland sliding off the sideboard by Boxing Day. Use adhesive hooks or small removable clips at intervals rather than trusting gravity, and tuck the fixings behind the foliage so they disappear. For a mantel or shelf edge, anchor the centre first, then arrange the drape and secure the ends. A 180cm garland gives you enough length to loop and swag rather than pull taut — a gentle scallop reads far richer than a straight line. Keep any garland a sensible distance from live candle flames; faux foliage is decorative, not flame-proof.
Layering length and texture for a fuller look
One thin garland on a big sideboard looks apologetic. The fix is doubling up — run two lengths together, or combine textures: a fine mint-leaf trail over a fuller bamboo or fern garland gives depth that a single strand can't. Nestle in a few extra elements between the greenery — candles of varying heights, a cluster of baubles, a couple of pinecones — so the eye has somewhere to land. Let some stems trail longer than others; perfect symmetry looks stiff, while a slightly wild, gathered-from-the-garden feel reads as expensive and effortless.
A palette that works with the whole table
The garland and the table should look related, not competing. Pick up one colour that appears on the table — the pink of a lily garland echoing pink in the crockery or napkins, say — so the room reads as one scheme. If your table is busy and bold, keep the garlands mostly green and let them be the calm backdrop. Warm metallics tie greenery to festive tableware beautifully: thread a little gold ribbon through the garland or add gold-toned baubles to link it to the cutlery and candlesticks. Restraint on colour is what stops a dressed dining room tipping into chaos.
Keep reading
If you found this useful, you'll enjoy Faux Wreaths Beyond Christmas: Year-Round Door Styling and Faux Garlands for the Mantel and Staircase This Christmas.
A few of our favourites
A few pieces from the Botanik range that suit this beautifully:
- 180cm Artificial Hanging Pink Lily Plant Realistic Garland Trailing
- 125cm Artificial Trailing Hanging Mint Leaf Garland Plant Realistic
- 180cm Artificial Bamboo Hanging Garland - Premium Quality
Frequently asked questions
Where should I hang garlands in a Christmas dining room?
Dress the room's lines: drape them over a sideboard or dresser so they spill over the front edge, along the top of a mirror or window frame for height, or run them across a picture rail or beam to frame the table. Decorate the edges of the room, not anything you'll need to reach during the meal.
How do I stop a faux garland sliding off the sideboard?
Don't rely on gravity. Use adhesive hooks or small removable clips at intervals along the length, hidden behind the foliage. Anchor the centre first, then arrange the drape and secure the ends. A longer 180cm garland lets you swag it gently rather than pulling it taut, which both looks richer and stays put.
How do I make a garland look fuller and more expensive?
Layer it. Run two lengths together or combine textures — a fine mint-leaf trail over a fuller fern or bamboo garland adds depth. Nestle in candles of different heights, a few baubles and pinecones, and let some stems trail longer than others. A slightly wild, uneven finish reads richer than perfect symmetry.
Are faux garlands safe to use near Christmas candles?
Keep them a sensible distance from live flames — faux foliage is decorative, not flame-proof. Position candles so foliage can't drift or drape into them, or switch to flameless LED candles for total peace of mind, which lets you tuck greenery in close for a lush look without any risk.
Fancy a refresh? Browse our Plants and the full Botanik range — lifelike, completely maintenance-free, and delivered across the UK.