How to Hang Christmas Garland on Your Mantel

I always say, if your mantel looks good, the rest of your Christmas decor will follow.

But if you’ve ever tried to get that Pinterest-worthy garland drape, you know it’s not always as easy as it looks. Let’s take a look at how to hang garland on your mantel like a designer.

Tis the season!

Before you even start hanging, you’ve got to choose your garland style. There are so many great styles to choose from!

• Traditional pine: Classic, timeless, works with almost every theme.
• Mixed greenery: Eucalyptus, cedar, and pine all together. Looks fuller and festive.
• Flocked: Snow-dusted garland gives that soft wintry look, but it sheds a bit, so keep that in mind.
• Pre-lit: If you want the lighting but don’t want to actually mess with stringing lights.
• Beaded, ribboned, or ornamented: Already comes with extras so you don’t have to decorate it yourself.

You can also mix faux and real. A faux base garland gives structure, and you can tuck in fresh greens for scent and texture.

I recommend you measure your mantel before anything else. You’ll need at least the full length of your mantel, plus some extra if you want it to hang down on the sides.

Fluff your garland out before you even bring it to the mantel. That’s what adds fullness. Don’t skip this! It’s like fluffing a Christmas tree. Same rules apply.

Now we move on to getting this thing to stay up. Here are some of my easiest, renter-friendly, no-damage-needed methods.

Command hooks: Clear ones work best. Use the large size and place them along the top of your mantel, one on each end and one or two in the middle.

• Garland ties or twist ties: These are great for looping around objects, like candlesticks or stocking holders.
• Adhesive hooks (for heavier garlands): These hold more weight but still come off clean.
• Mantel clips: These are made just for this, and they grip the edge of the mantel without damaging it.
• Nails (only if you're okay with tiny holes!): If this is your forever home and you're not worried about a few nail holes, I say go for it.

Pro tip: If your garland is super heavy, double up on hooks or combine above methods.

Now that it’s up, let’s make it pretty.

If you like clean lines and balance, drape the garland evenly on both sides. But if you’re going for something a little more whimsical, a dramatic swoop to one side can look so good.

Once the base garland is hung, start adding in extras like ornaments or berries, ribbon, or string lights if it’s not pre-lit. Weave in extra greenery like magnolia leaves, eucalyptus, or even faux poinsettias.

Don’t be afraid to go full-on Christmas here. If there’s ever a time to add sparkle and shine, this is it.

Step back and look at it from across the room. If it looks sparse in spots, fill those with mini ornaments, pinecones, or more greenery.

You’ve got options for how to hang your stockings, and they can go under, over, or even through the garland.

If your garland is thick and sturdy, you can hook stockings directly onto it using ribbon, ornament hooks, or small zip ties (hide them with greenery).

Or, use stocking holders and nestle them right into the garland so they blend in. Bonus points for picking holders that match your overall style. Metal, wood, or even ceramic will work.

The mantel is rarely a one-and-done. Once the garland’s up, now it’s time to add in the rest of your holiday decor.

Need some ideas? Well here you go!

• Candles in staggered heights
• Mini Christmas trees
• Lanterns
• Framed holiday prints
• Nutcrackers or vintage figurines
• Wrapped boxes for a "gifted mantel" look

Just remember to balance heights and shapes. You want it to look styled but not stuffed.

If you’re using real greenery, I advise you mist it with water every few days to prevent it from drying out. Try not to place it directly above a working fireplace, it’ll crisp up fast.

For faux garland, dust give it a dust now and then. And when you’re packing it away, store it in a way that protects the shape. Next-year-you will thank you.

Here are some extra tricks I’ve learned from years of holiday decorating. I hope you find them helpful!

• Use floral wire to attach add-ons. It disappears into the greenery and keeps everything locked in.
• Layer two garlands together. One pine, one cedar? Chef’s kiss.
• Command hooks under the mantel can be used to secure sagging ends or help hide extension cords.
• Pre-lit garland with a battery pack means no fighting for an outlet.
• Drape a few ornaments from ribbon below the garland for that hanging bauble look.
• Avoid glitter garland near electronics if you don’t want sparkly speaker grills in July.
• Make it smell like Christmas by adding in a few sprigs of fresh pine, rosemary, or cinnamon sticks for a little holiday scent.

And voila! You’re mantel is ready for Christmas. Want some more holiday decorating ideas? Take a look at some of my other Christmas decor styling tips.

Happy decorating and be sure to snap a pic before Santa swings by!