Fall garlands can effortlessly turn any space into a seasonal wonderland.
As one of the most adaptable fall decor options, these garlands can be tailored to fit your home's aesthetic, the color schemes of different rooms, and even the atmosphere you wish to create. The best garlands may incorporate aromatic spices, foliage, and herbs, ensuring your home not only looks like fall but also fills the air with delightful seasonal aromas.
Our specialists have shared their best advice for choosing, displaying, and styling fall garlands.
Expert-Recommended Fall Garland Ideas
'As the leaves change into a vibrant array of warm colors, it's the perfect time to invite the essence of fall into your home with beautifully arranged garlands,' says Elizabeth Grace, an interior designer and founder of the Dream Homemaker Blog. 'These charming decorations drape your home in nature's most striking hues, adding a touch of rustic elegance that resonates through the season.'
By thoughtfully considering where to place your fall garlands and focusing on color, texture, and how they fit with your overall decor, you can easily infuse your home with the cozy and inviting spirit of autumn.
Elizabeth Grace is an Interior Designer, Furniture and Home Expert. She holds a degree in Interior Design from the University of Notre Dame. Elizabeth began her career with an internship at a top firm in New York City, learning from some of the city's leading designers. She currently works as an interior designer for both residential and commercial clients.
1. Choose the Perfect Fall Garland
Before figuring out how to display your fall garlands, it's crucial to explore the various styles, materials, and colors available to find the right fit for your decor.
'Fall garlands feature a wide range of materials, styles, and themes, making it essential to select one that aligns with your room's aesthetic. For a warm and traditional feel, consider garlands embellished with dried leaves, faux pumpkins, and acorns. For a more sophisticated ambiance, metallic accents like copper or gold can add elegance. Burlap and jute garlands impart a rustic charm, ideal for farmhouse or cottage-inspired settings,' advises Elizabeth Grace.
Nature-inspired garlands: These may include typical autumn elements like pine cone decorations, berries, twigs, and leaves such as eucalyptus. You could even craft a dried orange garland. Whether made from real or artificial materials, these can create a refreshing natural ambiance.
Leaf garlands: These offer a more understated way to decorate for fall, featuring minimal embellishments. Opt for leaf garlands showcasing seasonal colors like deep reds, oranges, and earthy browns. These shades capture the beauty of changing leaves and reflect nature's transitions.
Pumpkin garlands: Constructed from real or faux pumpkins, these garlands provide a vibrant pop of color to your home. This year, they are among the top fall trends.
Below, we've curated a selection of our favorite fall garlands.
$41.29
This fall garland is ideal for creating autumn themes inside or outside your home, featuring seasonal colors like red, orange, yellow, and green. The blend of twigs, berries, and leaves gives this artificial garland a natural appearance, bringing a touch of nature into your decor.
$35.86
This carnation garland is an attractive option featuring a variety of flowers in shades of pink and leaves. It's perfect for draping around windows, mirrors, or door frames due to its flexible wire base.
$43.84
This elegant garland in shades of red, brown, and yellow adds a subtle yet striking touch to any room or outdoor area, making it perfect for mantelpieces, doorways, banisters, or as a centerpiece on a fall table.
2. Use a Fall Garland to Frame a Doorway
Welcome your guests with a fall-themed entryway by framing doors with garlands. This technique can also work well in other indoor spaces like your living or dining room, as well as outdoors to create a cozy atmosphere around a fall front door.
Consider intertwining twinkling string lights within your garland for a warm, enchanting effect.
Lucy Searle, global editor in chief, remarks, 'I adore how the fall garland in the above space has been shaped into an arch — this is a simple way to add a touch of grandeur to the space while maintaining the garland's inherent simplicity.'
Lucy Searle has over 30 years of experience writing about interiors, property, and gardens. She started in the interiors departments of women's magazines before transitioning to interiors-focused publications in the mid-1990s. In 2018, Lucy became the Global Editor in Chief for Realhomes.com, successfully elevating the site, and she has now taken on the editorship of a historic UK interiors magazine.
3. Complement Your Mantel with a Fall Garland
Draping a fall garland over your fireplace mantel is a classic way to showcase this decoration and infuse warmth into your living area.
Elizabeth Grace suggests, 'Transform your fireplace mantel into a seasonal masterpiece by adorning it with a fall garland embellished with autumn leaves, berries, and pine cones. Incorporate small LED lights for a whimsical touch during evening gatherings.'
This is an excellent opportunity to use a garland with metallic or reflective features that will sparkle when the fireplace is lit, creating a cozy glow. Wayfair's elegant metallic garland in gold and silver is a wonderful addition to a simpler garland or can be used on its own; Wayfair also offers a variety of pre-lit fall garlands.
4. Create a Staircase Display
Intertwining a fall garland around your banister is a striking way to adorn your staircase and hallway, and selecting a neutral or green garland allows for a smooth transition into Christmas after Thanksgiving.
'Enhance your staircase railings with the beautiful cascade of a fall garland. Weave it gently through the banisters, letting the colors flow harmoniously,' recommends Elizabeth Grace.
Staircases provide a perfect canvas for garlands, allowing for a 'branching out' effect by wrapping the garland around the handrail and extending with smaller leaf elements down the balusters for a stunning, natural display. You can also hang additional decorations like berries and pine cones from the handrail.
5. Adorn Your Dining Table with a Garland
Searching for fall table decor ideas? A fall-themed garland can serve as an eye-catching centerpiece that elevates your dining table, even if it's not in use. Position your garland among candle holders, pumpkins, gourds, lanterns, and other decorative items. Choose a garland that complements your dining table or tablecloth.
Another fun idea is to drape a fall garland over the chandelier hanging above the table to create a textured display.
Jen Ebert, a digital editor, notes, 'The secret to effective fall garland decorating is to use as many flowers and foliage as your budget allows. Seasonality and sustainability are key for 2023, so select fall garlands crafted with native materials. There's nothing quite like incorporating foraged rose hips, pine, and bare branches from your garden.'
You can also utilize and reuse dried flower arrangements, like the one shown above.
Jen is the Digital Editor and has a background in interior design, having completed various courses at KLC Design School and worked across multiple established interior design publications.
6. Choose Scented Garlands for the Living Room
Traditional natural garlands are a reliable choice for fall living room decor, as they harmonize with various design styles and exude a sense of grandeur.
If your space lacks typical fall color schemes, consider a garland featuring seasonal blooms in rich reds, oranges, and deep yellows to infuse warmth or enhance the color layering in a vibrant room.
Additionally, if you can acquire or harvest fresh greenery and flowers for your fall garland, you'll not only beautify the space but also fill the room with lovely scents.
7. Incorporate a Fall Garland in the Kitchen
For your kitchen fall decor, consider a garland that features items typically found in the kitchen, such as dried herbs, mini pumpkins, dried orange slice decorations, white wheat, and sunflowers. While a mantelpiece or shelving is an obvious location for a kitchen garland, there are other creative options.
Artem Kropovinsky suggests, 'Think about the kitchen, where draping garlands around windows or hanging them vertically can create a unique statement.
'In the bathroom, placing a garland on a shelf or above the mirror adds an air of luxury or autumnal charm,' he adds.
8. Cozy Up Your Bedroom with a Fall Garland
When decorating your bedroom for fall, aim to maintain a calm and cozy environment. Choose a gentle garland featuring soft hues and string lights for a dreamy ambiance.
Opt for natural foliage or colors in pastel or fall shades like mauve, burgundy, and muted greens. You can hang a bedroom garland around your bedframe, drape it over a mirror, or even suspend it from the ceiling, as shown above.
FAQs
How Can I Accessorize My Fall Garland?
There are several ways to enhance your fall garland, including adding fall flowers (or dried flowers), leaves, twigs, pumpkins, or faux candles. Winding string lights through the garland creates a warm, inviting atmosphere.
What's the Best Way to Care for My Fall Garland?
'To keep your fall garland looking beautiful all season long, avoid placing it in direct sunlight to prevent fading. Lightly mist the garland with water to retain its vibrancy. When the season changes, store your garland in a cool, dry location, ideally in a sealed container, to shield it from dust and potential damage,' advises Elizabeth Grace.
Artem Kropovinsky adds, 'Regarding maintenance, consider the longevity of natural garlands. Leaves and flowers may need gentle dusting, while sturdier, woody stems might only require an occasional wipe.'
If you're unsure how to begin your fall decorating journey, selecting a fall garland for one or all of your rooms can be a striking and easy way to enhance your space.
Start by determining the size of the garland you need for the area you're decorating, then choose your favorite garland for each space based on the style and function of the room.
You can even switch out your garlands seasonally to keep your home festive throughout the year.
