When it comes to Christmas tree decorating, lights and baubles alone may not be enough to make your Christmas tree stand out. Add lavish loops of garland to your Christmas tree to give it a rich, elegant look. Choose from hundreds of different types, including homemade paper chains, thick tinsel ropes and delicate blown-glass bead garlands.
Whatever kind you choose, hang the garland on the tree with care. The symmetrical background you create gives your tree added depth, dimension and visual appeal.
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Check out this step-by-step tutorial to make your tree look spectacular this holiday season!
Things You'll Need
Thin florist wire
Wire snips
Stool or stepladder
Garland of your choice
Prepare the materials and work area
Pull the tree far enough away from any walls or furniture that you can walk around it unobstructed. Make sure you have enough garland. A good rule of thumb is to have around 9 to 10 feet of garland per each foot of the tree. Cut a 2-inch piece of florist wire and set it within easy reach. Loop the garland loosely and let it hang from your non-dominant hand. Unless it's prelit, if you want strings of lights, put them on before you hang the garland on the tree. Don't put tree ornaments on the Christmas tree until the garland is in place.
Tip
For an average artificial Christmas tree, plan for about 10 feet of garland per foot of height. Add more garland if it’s a large tree, it’s exceptionally full, or if you like deep swags.
Fasten the end in place
Place one end of the garland on the topmost branch at the back top of your tree. Fasten the garland about 1 inch from the tip of the branch with the florist's wire; twist the wire firmly around the garland and the branch for one or two turns. Tuck the wire ends back to avoid scratches.
Use the ladder or step stool if the top of the tree is out of your reach. Move the ladder with you as you move around the tree—do not attempt to lean off the ladder to reach around the tree.
Swag garland over the next branch
Unravel a bit of the garland from the loop and swag it gently over the main tip of the next branch. Continue this way around the tree, unraveling garland as you go until you have come back around to your starting point in the back. Adjust the garland so that all the swags are approximately the same width and depth.
Tip
It's easier to drape garland on a tree if you have a partner. Stand on opposite sides of the tree and loop a row of garland on your side; then pass the unused garland to your partner to loop on their side. If you reach the end of one length of garland and need to add another, overlap the ends and twist them together or fasten them with a short length of florist wire.
Commence to the next level of branches
Loop the garland down to the next level of tree branches, and swag it around the tree. Swag the garland so that the high points of the new level fall under the lowest parts of the swags of the previous level. Continue spiraling the garland in this way, staggering the swags and dropping to lower levels at the back of the tree until you reach the back of the bottom level.
Finish putting garland on the tree
Adjust the garland so that all the swags on each level are about the same size and hang freely. Fasten the garland to the tree where it loops over the tree branches, using twists of florist wire about an inch from the branch tips. You may choose to have the swags get gradually deeper and wider as you move down the tree or make them all the same size.
For a different DIY look, hang overlapping layers of different colors and types of garland. You can also loop several layers of garland together, separating them slightly where they sag between the tree branches to hang the garland on the tree.
Tip
Leave the ends long so you can remove the garland without damaging it when you take down the tree.
The added touch of a Christmas tree garland takes your holiday decor to a whole new level. Learn how to decorate a Christmas tree like a pro with garland and add some pine cones and sparkling LED lights. Transform your space and entire tree for an unforgettable home decor setting. With these decorating tips, your Christmas tree will quickly be the focal point of the neighborhood.