Drape Dazzling Holiday Style on Your Mantle With Prelit Garlands
The holidays are a magical time filled with cozy gatherings, festive decorations, and dazzling displays of light. One easy way to amp up your interior holiday style is by draping a gorgeous prelit garland atop your living room or bedroom mantle.
Prelit garlands feature attached LED or incandescent lights woven throughout real or artificial foliage, eliminating the need to hand-string lights yourself. Available in varied lengths and colors with sparkling embellishments, these gorgeous garlands simply plug in and instantly illuminate your space with twinkle and shine.
Enliven Your Holiday Style With Light & Color
Prelit garlands infuse indoor areas with eye-catching ambiance and old world charm. Whether you adorn an entryway, stair railing, shelving, tablescape or mantle, a pre-strung garland sets the mood with its magical glow.
For effortless opulence, showcase an embellished prelit garland on your fireplace mantle or mounted flat on a wall above. The integrated lighting and luxe textures like velvet ribbons, crystalline snowflakes or jewel-toned baubles transforms the garland into a focal point.
Design a Style That Wows
When planning your perfect holiday style featuring a glam garland, first decide on a color palette. For traditional Christmas charm, opt for classic red and forest green hues interspersed with warm white lights. Or embrace icy blue and silver tones reminiscent of a sparkling winter wonderland.
For an unexpected twist, showcase vibrant jewel tones like sapphire, emerald or amethyst accented with bright white lights and matching ornaments. Or take the whimsical route by mixing in multicolor lighting with rainbow-esque ribbons and trims for playful panache.
DIY Embellishments Take It to the Next Level
While prelit garlands feature their own built-in shine, you can amplify the glitter and glam by adding your own creative touches.
For natural enhancement, tuck in sprigs of holly, pinecones, frosted winter berries and fragrant evergreen stems. Metallic gold and silver ball ornaments offer classic luxe, while a smattering of colorful baubles ups the whimsy factor.
For textural interest, wrap satin ribbons around your garland, allowing the trims to cascade here and there. Or add frosty pine picks dusted with glittering "snow" for subtle sparkle and dimension.
Brighten Any Room With Festive Ambiance
While the mantle takes center stage during the holidays, also decorate other areas to spread seasonal cheer throughout your home. Drape a prelit garland along a stair banister or shape into a lush, glowing wreath over an interior entryway.
Wind garlands atop open shelving in living rooms, libraries and kitchens to spotlight displayed decor. For dining spaces, a garland runner down a table's center adds shimmer to holiday meals and sophisticated soirees.
In cozier spaces like bedrooms, a short prelit garland on a dresser, headboard or mantel creates a relaxing glow conducive to hibernating through the winter months.
Size It Right for Showstopping Mantles
Properly measured and displayed garlands maximizes visual appeal along your treasured mantle. Avoid skimpy strands that fail to fill the space or overstuffed garlands that bunch unattractively.
For the average mantle spanning four to five feet, a six to eight foot garland allows ample length. Customize sizing based on your specific mantle measurements to determine ideal garland length.
Plan for extra drape on both ends not just for aesthetics but also to prevent tangling, damage and bulbs knocking loose if feet brush past too closely.
Getting the Look: Arrangement Tips & Tricks
Skillfully arranges garlands make that sought-after visual statement. Fluff and gently shape to prevent matted, knotty areas and fill out thinner patches for even fulness throughout..
Drape your garland attractively across the mantle's entire length, allowing equal portions left loose on either side. Avoid straight lines or flat positioning against the wall. The key is relaxed yet intentional droops and curves for organic allure.
Placing your arrangement slightly forward cast shadows against the wall to amplify dimension and depth. Vary heights layering sections atop one another while allowing others to dip gracefully. Edit out pieces detracting from the overall look.
Power Up With Proper Electrical
Prelit garlands require an electrical outlet, so place wisely to prevent unsightly cords stretched across walkways. Check for existing outlets strategically behind furnishings where extension cords can hide.
For easier access, install new outlets discreetly behind wall art or add interior outlet extenders. Battery pack timers offer wireless convenience turning garlands on/off automatically.
Handle With Care
Prelit garlands often feature delicate embellishments prone to damage if roughly handled. During hanging, watch for snags tugging loose the lights and ornaments gingerly nestled within.
Rather than bunching up garlands, wind them round empty wrapping paper rolls for compact storage. Crisp folds and tight twists strain wired connections and displace baubles over time.
Before reusing, inspect thoroughly, straightening bent branches and replacing burned out bulbs to restore original beauty. Test lights ensure all is in working order before displaying.
Shop Smart: What to Look For
Today's prelit garlands now come in such variety that options exist at nearly every budget. As with most products, higher quality garlands perform better long-term but deals abound if you know where to look.
Retailers like JoAnn Fabric, Michael's and Hobby Lobby offer online specials and printable coupons so garlands with lovely embellishments need not break the bank.
Before buying, read reviews checking for top-rated picks praised for durability, impressive realism and ease of assembly. Consider after-holiday sales for extreme savings on luxury styles with realistic needles and long-lasting LEDs.
DIY Options
For crafty types aiming to personalize their garland style, create your own starting with a basic prelit artificial garland ordered online or sourced affordably after Christmas when deeply discounted.
Embellish strands with wide velvet ribbons, crystal sprays, oversized floral picks and battery-operated candle lights clipped strategically throughout. The possibilities are endless when Do-It-Yourselfing something signature!
Incorporate Supporting Holiday Decor
Well-appointed holiday mantles artfully blend gorgeous garlands with complementary accents for showstopping style. Strategically hung art prints introduce color and pattern palettes echoed elsewhere in the carefully curated vignette.
Groupings of glittering candle holders, nature-inspired elements like birch logs or pinecones and cozy winter textiles such as plaids and faux fur pulls the look together holistically.
Create Mini-Scenes
Use decorative tabletop trees, faux gift boxes and ceramic buildings along the mantle to create nostalgic holiday scenes. Showcase beloved Santas handing out toys, cookie and hot cocoa boutiques or snow-covered churches straight from the North Pole!
For fanciful woodland style, populate your mantle with charming critters like owls, foxes, deer and cardinals. Or opt for nutcrackers, carolers and skating figurines that harken back to Currier & Ives.
By artfully blending garlands with thoughtful figurines and accessories, your fireplace mantle becomes a festive focal point showcasing your favorite visual tales.
Prelit garlands often feature delicate trims prone to snagging, so take care when hanging them to avoid pulling loose any lights or ornaments nestled within.
When putting away garlands after the holiday season, gently wind them round empty wrapping paper rolls or cardboard tubes to prevent tangling during storage.
Crisp folds and tight twists may strain wired connections and displace integrated baubles over time, so handle carefully.
Before displaying prelit garlands again the following holiday season, inspect each strand thoroughly. Straighten any bent branches, replace any burned out bulbs, and ensure the lights are still in good working order.