How many metres of garland you need

Formulas by location

The allowance for drape is not a measuring error but part of the look: a loosely hung garland gives the same soft, curving line as fresh greenery on a mantelpiece.

How to measure with string

The formulas give you a starting point, but a mock-up in place is more accurate than any formula. All it takes is a piece of string and a tape measure.

• Lay an ordinary string exactly where the garland will go, with its swags, drops and detours around handles or hooks
• Tape the string in place and look at the line from a distance — the swag should look intentional, not accidental
• Take the string down and measure it — that is the length you need
• If you land between two sizes, take the longer one: extra length hides easily in a swag, while a shortfall cannot be hidden

Stairs are a special case

On stairs, the garland is fixed to the handrail at several points and left to swag freely between them. The closer the fixing points, the more swags — and the more length you need. Use cable ties or soft wire in the colour of the needles rather than tape: tape holds weight poorly and can leave marks on the rail.

One long garland or several short ones

A long run — a handrail, mantel or arch — is easy to build from several garlands: the joins hide at the fixing points or under a bow. It also makes storage simpler and lets you move the decor somewhere else next season.

Mantel, doorway and table

On a mantelpiece a garland can lie flat with drops at the ends or swag in an arc across the front. For a flat line, use the formula from the table; for an arc, add slack as you would on stairs and fix the ends with adhesive hooks under the shelf. Put candles on the mantel in tall holders so the flame sits above the greenery.

Around a doorway the garland is fixed at the top centre and in both top corners, with the sides running down. They do not have to reach the floor: anything lying on the floor gets kicked, so the side drops can end at handle height — and then a shorter garland will do.

On a table the garland runs down the centre like a runner. Leave space from the edges so plates and glasses do not sit on the greenery, and put candles in holders between the sprigs rather than on them. On a round table the garland can be coiled into a ring around a centrepiece.

The same material as the trees

The branches are cast, so the garland holds its shape and does not shed over a table or fireplace — unlike cut PVC tape, which creases at the bends over time.

Preparing the garland before hanging

Straight out of the box a garland lies flat. Lay it on the floor and work along its whole length: bend each sprig away from the central stem in different directions — a little up, sideways and down. This gives the line volume, and the garland looks fuller once hung. Do it before fixing it in place — fluffing at height is awkward.

A greenery garland and a light string are not the same thing

This guide is about a greenery garland — a long branch of cast needles. A light string is often run over the top: fix the greenery first, then lay the lights along it, tucking the wire between the tips. Measure the light string with the same piece of string, but along the finished greenery line.

For lights on a tree the approach is the same: wrap string around the crown the way the lights will go and measure the string. There is no universal “this many metres for this height” rule — how dense the lights are is a matter of taste.

Green or flocked

• Paired with a tree — choose the same needles so the decor reads as one set
• Dark interior — flocked adds light
• Warm lighting — green looks best under warm lamps

Common mistakes

• Pulling the garland taut — it looks sparse and strains the fixing points
• Measuring a straight line with a tape instead of the real line with string
• Fixing it with tape or drawing pins — the garland slips and leaves marks on the surface
• Placing the garland right next to candles, a fire or a heater
• Skipping the fluffing before hanging — straight out of the box a garland looks thinner than it is

What if the garland is too short?

Do not stretch it. Change the line instead: fewer swags, shorter drops on the mantel, or add a second garland and hide the join under a bow. If the garland does not suit you, it can be returned within 14 days under the terms on the “Exchanges and returns” page.

How should a garland be stored after the holidays?

Coil it in loose loops without sharp bends and lay it in a box with nothing pressing on top. Put it away only when dry. Before the next season, fluff the tips again and it is ready to hang.