A garland along the mantel and winding down the stairs is the image most of us picture when we think 'Christmas at home'. Real garlands look glorious for a week, then shed, dry out and start smelling less of pine and more of neglect by the time guests actually arrive. A faux garland gives you that same lush sweep, holds it flawlessly from the first advent Sunday to Twelfth Night, and does it all again next year.
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In this guide
- Securing a garland so it stays put
- Getting the drape and proportion right
- Layering lights, baubles and trailing stems
- Why faux wins for the long festive stretch
- A few of our favourites
- Frequently asked questions
Securing a garland so it stays put
A garland that slides off the mantel mid-party undoes all your effort, so fix it properly from the start. Along a mantel, anchor the garland at each end and the centre using discreet adhesive hooks under the lip or small weights like a couple of candlesticks holding it down. On a staircase, wind it around the outside of the banister and secure it every 30cm or so with clear cable ties or florist's wire, working from the top down so gravity helps rather than fights you. Take the extra five minutes here; a mid-December collapse is a genuinely annoying job to redo.
Getting the drape and proportion right
The elegance is all in the swag. On a mantel, let the garland dip into a gentle central swag with the ends trailing over each corner rather than lying dead straight — a soft curve reads far more luxurious than a rigid line. Measure your run first: a standard mantel usually wants a garland of around 180cm, while a full staircase may need two or three lengths joined to sweep the whole flight. Overlap where lengths meet and wire the join, then fluff the foliage over it to hide the seam. Aim for generous fullness; a thin, mean garland looks worse than none at all.
Layering lights, baubles and trailing stems
A bare garland is a base, not a finished look. Weave a string of warm-white fairy lights through the foliage first, tucking the wire in among the stems so only the glow shows, and use battery or LED lights near a mantel to keep flames and greenery well apart. Then layer on the character: clusters of baubles wired in threes, a few pine cones, a length of ribbon woven through, or trailing stems like ivy or lily left to spill down from the corners for movement. Repeat two or three elements consistently along the whole run so the mantel and staircase feel like one connected scheme.
Why faux wins for the long festive stretch
The festive season is long — most of us are decorated for a month or more — and that's exactly where real garlands fall down. Fresh evergreens start dropping needles within days, dry out in centrally heated rooms, and become a fire consideration draped near candles and a warm hearth. A faux garland looks identical in week four as in week one, sheds nothing onto your stair carpet, and packs away clean in January to reappear every Christmas. Buy quality, coil it loosely for storage rather than folding it, and one good garland dresses your home for a decade of Decembers.
Keep reading
If you found this useful, you'll enjoy Faux Wreaths Beyond Christmas: Year-Round Door Styling and Faux Greenery for Office Christmas Decorations.
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
- 160cm Artificial Ivy Garland Trailing Hanging Plant Faux Foliage - Variegated - Premium Quality
Frequently asked questions
How do I secure a garland to a mantel or staircase?
On a mantel, anchor it at both ends and the centre with discreet adhesive hooks or weights like candlesticks. On a staircase, wind it around the outside of the banister and fix it every 30cm with clear cable ties or florist's wire, working from the top down so gravity helps.
What length garland do I need for my mantel and stairs?
Measure the run first. A standard mantel usually suits a garland around 180cm, allowing for a central swag and trailing corners. A full staircase often needs two or three lengths joined together to sweep the whole flight, with the joins overlapped, wired and hidden under fluffed foliage.
Should I use real or faux garlands for Christmas?
For a display up for a month, faux wins. Real evergreens shed needles within days, dry out in heated rooms and pose a fire consideration near candles and hearths. A faux garland looks identical all season, drops nothing on your stairs, and packs away to reuse every year.
How do I add lights to a faux garland safely?
Weave warm-white fairy lights through the foliage, tucking the wire among the stems so only the glow shows. Use battery or LED lights, especially on a mantel, to keep any heat well away from the greenery and nearby candles. Layer baubles and ribbon over the lights to finish.
Ready to bring the look home? Explore our Plants and the wider Botanik range — beautifully lifelike, maintenance-free, and delivered across the UK.