How to Dress Up a Faux Pine Garland (For Cheap!)

Creating beautiful Christmas decor doesn’t have to break the bank! I hope this DIY inspires you to create your own faux pine Christmas garland.

I love admiring the Christmas decorations as they grace the department store shelves every year. There are traditional decorations, like red and black buffalo check or the classic red Christmas truck. And there are modern decorations, like pastels and even black ornaments!

No matter the decor you use, a faux pine garland is a great way to accentuate banisters, fireplaces, and stairwells. We use ours to dress up doorways and our entertainment center in our living room!

What’s even better is my artificial garland has held up, year after year! If you’re looking for a holiday decoration that will make it through more than one holiday season, fake garland is a great option to consider!

Here is how I dress up my faux pine garland every year.

How to Dress Up a Faux Pine Garland (For Cheap!)

Despite popular belief, you don’t need much money to make your home beautiful for the holidays. An easy way to save a few bucks is to make your faux pine garland!

A great option to save money is to hit the holiday sales at Hobby Lobby. That’s where I picked up my garlands!

While you’re at Hobby Lobby, don’t forget to pick up floral wire and some embellishments. Your embellishments will differ based on your color palette.

Are you going for a traditional look? Consider red berries and pine cones. Are you going for a modern look? Consider wooden beads and ornaments.

Step by Step – Assembling Your Garland

1 Gather your supplies.

2 Find the middle of your garland. If you’re decorating a doorway or a fireplace, this will be key!

3 Begin placing embellishments along your garland, being sure to balance your design if you need a center point.

4 When you’re satisfied with where your embellishments are, take a piece of floral wire and cut it to three to six inches.

5 Secure your embellishments to the garland with your floral wire.

6 Gently lift, and maybe even lightly shake, your garland to make sure your embellishments are properly secured.

Adjust the tightness of your floral wire where necessary.

7 Secure your garland to your appropriate surface.

We love using command hooks, more floral wire, or zip ties.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I use as a base for a Christmas garland?
There are several options you can use as a base for your Christmas garland. And each depends on what aesthetic you’re hoping to achieve! You can consider real greenery over faux greenery.

In faux greenery, you can also consider eucalyptus garland over faux pine garland.

What can you use instead of garland?
You can easily swap a garland for a wreath. You can also opt for flower arrangements, Christmas trees, lanterns, or single pieces of Christmas art.

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Different Types of Greenery

There are several different types of greenery you can use, both real and faux. You can even consider a pre-lit garland for an added touch at your dinner parties!

Instead of faux pine garland, you could use pine tree branches. Instead of pine, you could use eucalyptus leaves or magnolia leaves.

Instead of a garland, you could use a wreath! A faux magnolia wreath is incredibly versatile and can be used for beautiful summer decor, too.

DIY Garland Hacks

If you’re looking for a fuller look, consider layering your garland! Intertwine your garland with another strand of garland and plump the leaves. Ta-da! A fuller garland!

If you want to jazz up a faux pine garland, consider adding live elements! You can make a dehydrated orange garland and weave it within your pine garland, or simply hang it in front of your garland.

If you’re looking to spend no money on a garland, forage for small pine tree branches and make your own! This is the best of both saving money and incorporating live elements into your decor. You can also throw your spent garland into a fire pit or backyard holler when the season is over. No storage to worry about!

Best Ways to Decorate Using Garland

One of my favorite ways to use a garland is as a centerpiece in my dining room. I grab a rectangular serving dish with sides and use floral wire to wrap my garland around it. In my serving dish, I put my salt and pepper shakers, a floral arrangement, napkins, and other Christmas tchotchkes I may have.

I also love decorating doorways. There’s something so grand about it! I also think it makes a huge difference in my home.

You can also decorate a staircase banister, console table, front porch, your front door, and fireplace mantel. What other great places can you use a garland? Comment on this blog post and let me know!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use zip ties instead of floral wire?
I recommend against using zip ties for floral wire for interior decor. Zip ties may damage your garland, and are a more permanent decor decision. Floral wires are gentle, and won’t damage your garland or your embellishments. They’re also easier to remove, making redecorating much easier.

If you are decorating the outside of your home, I recommend using zip ties. They’re stronger than floral wire and will ensure your decorations stay put against everyday wind and snow.

Are there different types of evergreen?
Yes! There are several different types of evergreen trees. For this blog post, we talked about the most popular design element, faux pine.

But there are different types of garland! Fake garland can also be found in varieties from cedar to pine.

Your holiday decor can be one-of-a-kind! The best places to find other types of decor may be craft stores. For the real thing, take a drive around your neighborhood and see what you can forage!

Other Great Holiday Tips

As you’re decorating your home for the holidays, you may be looking forward to hosting guests! You want your home to look beautiful, but you also want your guests to feel comfortable.

During the holidays, I encourage hosts to have meals prepared in advance. Whether that’s a quick casserole for dinner or breakfast items like pancakes and waffles, having quick food options may be helpful!

I also encourage hosts to prepare a welcome basket before their guests arrive. You can include things like gifts your company will enjoy, post-travel snacks, and toiletries they may have forgotten to pack.

All of this planning will pay off! Meals, outings, and activities don’t just happen. Have a few things planned so you and your guests are prepared to have a great time!

For more tips on preparing for overnight guests, check out my blog post Helpful Tips for Hosting Overnight Guests. It’s full of other things to put in your welcome basket, holiday tips, and my favorite tips for hosting!

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