How to DIY a Casually Elegant Garland

Time Several Hours

Budget $ $$$

Skill Level

WORDS BY Gillian Grefe

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Published on November 14, 2018

A garland that’s anything but basic— bring some twinkle and greenery to your fireplace mantel with our DIY version of a holiday classic.

  • Micro LED string lights
  • Assorted greenery: silver dollar or seeded eucalyptus, lemon leaf, bay leaf, and evergreens are classic options for the season, but get creative with what you can find locally and in season!
  • Florist’s wire
  • Rope or twine
  • Scissors
  • Cut your rope or twine to the desired length for your garland — remember if you’re draping this across a mantel, you’ll want enough length to give it a bit of drape, so be sure to account for that!
  • Trim your greenery to manageable pieces and remove small leaves or branches from the lower part of the stems.
  • Using your wire, wrap the branch to the rope base, making sure it’s secure.
  • Repeat these steps along the rope’s full length, ensuring you’re overlapping the branches so you get full coverage over the rope.
  • When you’re satisfied w/ the greenery coverage, intertwine your micro LED string lights around the rope + greenery.
  • Take a step back and admire your handiwork!
  • Hang with Command hooks, or lay it down the center of a long dining table for a dramatic and fragrant tablescape.

Words by Kate Connors