Quick Natural Garlands

4 Materials
$15
2 Hours
Medium

Our old parlor is decked out for Christmas with ivy and string light garlands made from garden clippings. The best part is these are easily replaced every year with minimal effort.

We've marked this project as medium, although it is really very easy. It may be more difficult if you are hanging the garlands high—near the ceiling. Use great care when using a ladder!

Here's how they look completed. The greenery is holding up very well without water. It's beginning to wilt a bit, but was well worth the effort before the Christmas holiday.

Use the greenery you have. If I didn't have a garden or the right type of cuttings, I would ask someone with land to allow me to help with a bit of trimming. Gather enough greenery to double it up on your garlands. I used about 30 feet of greenery for two 7 foot garlands. I had all the clippings I needed in about half an hour.

Use ivy, yew, honeysuckle, Pachysandra, Euonymus, anything with twigs and lush foliage. The garden at our old house is very overgrown. The ivy is not quite this bad anymore … but there was still enough ivy overtaking the porches to gather a box of cuttings that were about 1 - 2.5 feet long each. I divided the cuttings into two stacks.

I planned to use my two garlands vertically on either side of the chimney breast. To hang them, I used two very small nails about 1/4" apart near the ceiling on some molding. You can use small screw-in hooks too, but I prefer tiny nail holes that are easy to fill when I repaint. If you don't have molding, be sure to nail into a stud … not drywall. Or use a hanger that has an anchoring mechanism hidden behind the wall.

Next, I used 100-bulb string lights hung from their half-way point on the two nails. I worked the wires between the nails and let gravity pull the string lights to the floor. Let the strands puddle on the floor for a waterfall effect. Use white or colored lights whichever you like. Plug the string lights into the nearest outlet. 

I tucked the ends of vines in and around the string light wires, letting gravity hold everything in place. I had extra greenery for the candle sconces. A handful of wired wooden berries added a dash of color. I will reuse the berries next year after discarding the ivy. 

I added long shoestring bows to the top of each garland, pressing the bow between the nails and letting the tails hang down among the ivy. 

These garlands can work almost anywhere in a home where there is a bit of woodwork … on banisters, doorways, railings. No need for floral wire. Let gravity do the work. When the season is over discard the greenery. Toss the lights, bows, and berries in a box and leave the tiny nails in place for next year. 

Of course you can use faux greenery (I use my share) but natural plant material brings an old fashioned feel to Christmas at home.

Merry Christmas, everyone! My blog has more Christmas and old house décor I think you may enjoy. To see how I made the spiral rose tree for the mantel, click here.

Suggested materials:
  • String lights, 100 bulbs   (Amazon)
  • Wooden berries on wires   (Amazon)
  • Fabric Ribbon   (Amazon)
See all materials
Stephie McCarthy
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
Go
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Comments
Join the conversation
Next