Add a festive flourish with wreaths and garlands

Wreaths and garlands can offer a speedy out-of-the-box solution to any festive shortfall, even challenging your tree for seasonal attention. Clip on decorations, wire in baubles and weave through extra lights to turn them into real style statements. You can instantly transform a Christmas table with some garlands, for example, while a wreath placed around a glass vase filled with baubles will bring a side table to festive life.

Draping a garland along your mantelpiece is a classic, but why not go big and hang one underneath too? Choose two garlands from the same collection to create a bigger impact – here we‘ve used a leaf garland from our Post-Impressionism collection alongside a more traditional faux fir garland then added clip-on birds in eye-catching brights. Just make sure the decoration hanging below is well clear of any lit fire and that it’s properly secured. Look for a pre-lit garland or weave in a string of micro LED lights. 

Instead of just winding around a single garland, why not turn your banister into a garland tree? Stylist Lucy Gough, who decorated this seasonal stairway, says, ‘Take a long garland and embellish it with decorations. Wire or cable ties will secure everything perfectly.’ Our Pop Art theme is perfect for expressing your funky side, with some of the best novelty decorations out there. For extra bulk, add a few larger baubles – glittered ones, of course.

Don't stop at the stairs, garlands are great for bringing a little festive spirit into the bedrooms too. As Lucy says, ‘Dress up your headboard with trimmings.’ Go for a more rustic look, reserving the glitz for more public rooms. Our Bloomsbury theme has hints of copper, which lend a lovely warm touch, especially when teamed with rich velvet.

Internal doors are perfect for a wreath, but why stop at one? Go for a set of two, hung one below the other with a wide ribbon – these striking red berry wreaths from our Art of Japan theme look great against contrasting grey doors. Wreaths work especially well on doors that are usually kept open, where the decoration can be appreciated from both sides. 

Hang a beautiful wreath from our Impressionism theme against a mirror, so that the reflection doubles its impact. Lay a matching pre-decorated garland along your mantelpiece, with votive holders placed at intervals, for a speedy display full of Christmas glam.

Who says garlands and strings of pretty lights need to be hung horizontally? Try vertical ones for a change. Make your own garland by threading different-sized baubles onto a length of ribbon, cost effectively filling out the spaces between hero items with simpler decorations – our Art Nouveau theme is perfect for this look. Vine lights can also make a twinkly garland – why not run a set along your sideboard or drinks trolley?

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