Fresh greenery is one of my favorite holiday accents. It’s a simple, natural way to make a home feel warm and festive. I usually rely on high-quality faux garland because it lasts through the season and stays tidy, but I like to mix in a little real greenery from the yard or the garden center for scent and texture. This year I’m planning to drape fresh cedar garland around our kitchen window.
Faux greenery is a smart investment: it can remain in place from November through the winter months, is versatile for many spaces, and keeps a classic look year after year. Preserved greenery is another great option if you want the realism of fresh greens without the maintenance.
Below are ideas and photos that inspire how to use garland throughout the home — on mantels, stair banisters, doorways, windows, and even as a backdrop for holiday cards.
If stores are hard to visit, here are a couple of garland options I like:
This fresh olive leaf and myrtle garland
This preserved boxwood garland
Find more in my Christmas Decor Shop (I rounded up lots of favorite pieces)
The top photo shows a gorgeous kitchen display using draped cedar garland with preserved orange slices tied on pink and green ribbon — a cheerful, slightly unexpected mix that feels both classic and playful.
A charming way to display holiday cards is to clip them onto garland framed around a doorway. It turns seasonal mail into decor and adds a personal, lived-in feel to your entryways.
We hung faux garland over our living room-to-dining room doorway last year and loved the cohesive, welcoming look — we’ll be repeating it this season.
We once placed preserved boxwood garland over a guest room window — such a simple touch that instantly felt festive without overwhelming the space.
One year we made a DIY boxwood wreath chandelier and suspended it over the doorway. It felt welcoming and festive — a slightly unexpected focal point that received many compliments.
I loved tying cedar garland to our stair banister with rope and ribbon. It’s an easy way to carry the decorating theme through multiple levels of the home while keeping a casual, homey vibe.
We added ornaments to the front of the garland, which gave it just the right amount of sparkle without feeling fussy.
For more ideas on decorating stairways with greenery, explore additional inspiration.
Our doodles, Jack and Lily, have always been curious about fresh greenery — they’ve been caught tugging it down more than once. The scent and texture seem irresistible to them, and honestly, who can stay mad at those faces?
If you’re looking for Christmas decor, I’ve gathered many favorites in a curated Christmas Shop to make it easier to find garlands, wreaths, and coordinating pieces for a cohesive holiday look.
Shop my favorite Christmas decor for simple, beautiful seasonal decorating.
More Christmas inspiration:
Tips for how to hang garland, wreaths, and stockings without nails
Simple and beautiful Christmas decorating ideas
Blue and white holiday decorating inspiration
Effortless Christmas decorating ideas
25 creative ideas for Christmas decorating
15 charming ideas for seasonal decorating
A collection of DIY garlands for many styles and budgets
My curated Christmas decor shop
Gift guides with ideas for everyone