How To Hang Garland On A Mantle (Or Mantel)
Learn how to hang garland on a mantel the easy way, and make your indoor
decorations look beautiful this holiday season!
Earlier this week, I shared my Christmas fireplace mantel garland. It's a
textured and layered look and I wanted to share my step by step guide on how
to hang garland on a mantle (or mantel). It's the time of year when you update
your winter mantel decor and hanging garland is a task I struggled with so I
thought I'd share how I addressed this problem.
But first: I'm convinced mantel is the most misspelled word ever. "Mantel" is the correct spelling though I see it more commonly spelled as "mantle" which is why I've included it here. If you're wondering how to hang a garland on a mantle, I want you to be able to find that information here ;)
Ok, enough of the English lesson!
Decorating a Mantel With Garland
Hanging garland on a mantel is a classic Christmas look. There are many
different varieties of garland you can use -
eucalyptus,
magnolia, and cedar
are my favourites - and you can go with real or faux greenery. Of course, faux
garland will last much longer and it is easier to manipulate, shape, and adorn
with accessories.
You'll need to choose where you're placing your garland. You have three options:
You'll need to choose where you're placing your garland. You have three options:
- Sitting flat across the top of the mantel, along the seam where the mantel and wall meet. If this is your placement, then you will not need to secure the garland and just need to lay the garland on top of the mantel.
- Have part of the garland cascading over the front of the mantel. If some of your garland overhangs the front of the mantel, then you might need to secure it somehow. Depending on the weight of your garland, it might be at risk at slipping and falling off the mantel
- Swag or scallop the garland on the front of the mantel. With this option, large and heavy half-moon swags will need to be secured at the ends and middle of the mantel
Updated for 2024:
Wondering where to buy artificial garland? READ
THIS POST
How To Hang Garland in 10 Easy Steps
To do this project, you'll need just a few simple tools and supplies:
- Garland (1 or more, depending on the length)
- Greenery accents (branches, sprays, and stems)
- Decorative accents (such as pinecones, ornaments, lights, and picks)
- Command mini hooks
- Floral wire (22 gauge)
- Wire cutter
Step 1: Gather your mantel decorations
TOP GARLANDS FOR 2024
Step 2: Clean the mantel
Next you'll want to clean your mantel. Just wipe it down with a clean dry or slightly damp rag but don't use any cleaning product. I'll explain why in the next step.
Step 3: Affix Command hooks to the mantel
3M Command hooks are what you need to hang the garland. Before you adhere Command hooks to any surface, clean that surface with rubbing alcohol. This allows for better adhesion. This is why you don't want to use cleaning product beforehand, as it will make the rubbing alcohol less effective.
It is important to use the right size hook for your situation. As my garland was only slightly overhanging the front of the mantel (option 2), and because my garland was fairly lightweight, these Command mini hooks were sufficient for the job. I use clear hooks to ensure they won't be seen in the arrangement.
How to hang a heavy garland
If you want to hang a very heavy garland, you can either use larger Command hooks, ones with larger toggle hooks, Command Cord bundlers, or use two or more smaller hooks in the same spot to distribute the weight. Ensure you follow the Command hook directions exactly, allowing for sufficient time for the hook to adhere to the surface before you hang anything on it.
Place the hooks at least an inch back from the front of the mantel. Affix at least one in each corner and one in the middle of the mantel top. If your garland will be swagged on the front of the mantel and will have multiple scallops (option 3), then you'll want to place additional hooks as needed, one at each end of the scallops.
Step 4: Lay the garland on the mantel to determine length
In this step, your aim is determine how far your garland will extend down the sides of the mantel. My garland was only 5' and I knew I wanted to go at least a foot down each side so this meant I needed to use two garlands.
Step 5: Wire multiple garlands together
If you are weaving different types of garlands together one on top of the other, or using different materials (like the plaid scarf and magnolia garland I used in this mantel from 2018), now is the time to combine them and hold them together with floral wire as well.
Step 6: Secure the garland to the Command hooks
With your garland in the correct place and at the correct length, now you can secure the garland to the hooks. You can do this in one of two ways: you can tuck a branch of the garland into the "u" of the hook, ensuring it fits snugly. Or, if you want to make things more secure, wrap one end of floral wire around the garland (just around a thick branch or two) and then create a loop and place that onto the hook.
Here's an example of how I hung a very heavy garland. I used a
toggle hook that was capable of holding more weight.
Step 7: Fluff out the garland
Use your fingers to gently spread out the the leaves and branches of the garland. Give the garland volume and shape. Don't worry about it looking perfect. A more natural look is charming.Step 8: Add in branches and sprays
You can add additional branches and sprays to give your garland dimension and texture and extra fullness. Tuck in the branches and secure them using floral wire. Ensure they lay in the same direction as your garland.
Step 9: Add in decorative accents
TOP PICKS FOR BRANCHES AND ACCENTS
Once the larger branches and sprays are in place, you can then add in the
smaller accents. Work by type. Here, I added all of the magnolia leaves first,
placing five clusters along the length of the garland. Then, I added the red
seeded eucalyptus berries. Spread out your accents in random placements.
Anything too orderly will look fake and unnatural.
If you are using ornaments on your garland, this is when they should be added as well. You can add your ornaments individually but it will have more impact if you place the ornaments in clusters. To create a cluster, wire the ornaments together first (odd numbers look best) before wiring them to the garland.
Step 10: Add in accessories
For the final step, add in anything that isn't secured or affixed to the garland. You can see where I've added the stocking holders and stockings, candles, birds and an owl, above and below the garland.
And that's it, your garland is complete. I hope this helps you to create and hang your garland and create a beautiful mantel display!
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For more Christmas mantel decor ideas and holiday How To's, check out:
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