CHRISTMAS GARLAND IDEAS TO SAVE YOU MONEY
I love Christmas garland and after a few costly purchases, I have a few garland tips to save money.
During the pandemic, I decided I needed yards of garland for the upcoming Christmas season.
It was March.
It was on clearance, and the online photos looked amazing.
That should have been my first clue!
When the holiday garland arrived, it was kind of crunchy like Cheetos, but it was garland. I used it the first year and tried to fluff it and add wired ribbon, but nothing could disguise its shiny shortcomings.
I nicknamed her Tammy Fay- big personality but short on style.
So I waited and persevered through my annual January no-spend month (besides toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and boxed wine).
And then I found House by JSD. I Their garland was as soft as feathers.
It was bendy and hugged the mantel corners and entry tables.
It was also a bit pricey. So being the frugal one I bought one to two strands when the online shop offered a coupon and free shipping.
I stored the boxed garland under the stairs with plans of garland on every solid surface on the main level of our brownstone in the suburbs.
It was a fun way to prep for Christmas in …April.
My family does not ask questions when a Christmas Tree from Front Gate shows up on the front porch in January (clearance for the win).
So here is the highly anticipated tip that I cannot believe I did not think of until I achieved empty nest status. Did you know you can cut garland in half?
I know it sounds silly to just discover this idea. But, I have always used the six foot garland and wrestled it around staircases and mantels.
And more than once watching the entire six feet of garland slide off the mantel taking a few Homegoods ornaments with it to the floor.
Here is what I discovered wen I took a pair of wire cutters and cut my garland in half
- Garland is more manageable at a length that measures 3 feet versus five or six feet.
- cutting the garland allows for more options to display
- is is lighter to lift or hang
- you can add garland to more spaces when you cut it in half.
- I add smaller strands to corners and tabletops without overwhelming the table.
- Here is an example before I cut the garland in half.
I know. It is a bit much for my console table. It looks like a garland blanket.
Or maybe a Macy’s Parade pine needle theme garland float.
So I cut one in half. And do you know what I realized?
Less is more.
3 feet is a great length for the interiors. It is easier to manage. If you need a longer strand, you can still add the cut garland to the other end of the mantel or side table.
If you want to layer your garland, consider adding grapevine garland. It is one of my favorite year-round decor staples!
I cannot believe I never thought to do this. I love it. Please pin for others to find on your Christmas boards!
SHOP DIY + CRAFT FINDS
Thank you for stopping by today! Please pin this idea to your Christmas boards!
This is a great tip Laura! I also buy garland when it’s on sale & cut it up for fillers in baskets, bowls & trays. It’s much less expensive than buying a single pick for $3-$5!
It’s quite surprising how much “ filler” you can get from one strand of garland. The difficult part is taking the first cut with your scissors, if you know what I mean.