Looking for the best Christmas garland hack? Here’s a fun way to save money on your garland decor this holiday season.
// rug in foyer // lambs ear garland //
The BEST Thing To Use To Decorate For the Holidays
This is the entrance from last Christmas.
I pulled it up to give myself a little inspiration this year.
This staircase is right by the back door. There’s a staircase that wraps all the way around the center of the house with the prettiest paneled wall on the staircase and a 100-year-old newel post and wooden stair treads and banisters.
Last year, I did something with this staircase that I’ve never done before.
I added garland and then I added lights.
Are you thinking this isn’t that revolutionary? I get it. If I were reading this post, I would be shrugging my shoulders, too.
But here’s the thing.
If you are decorating for Christmas right now, you understand.
Sometimes there are places you want to add lights, but you can’t. Whether it’s circumstances or challenges or you live in a house built in 1908 that doesn’t have plugs where you need them.
And then?
In Christmas miracle news, I discovered these (and I used them in our Vintage Market Day booth, too).
// lambs ear garland //
Let’s start with a little before and after.
I just wanted you to see the difference a little light can make.
Here’s the before in the morning.
And here’s the after at night.
I wish you could see it in person.
It’s seriously next level.
The staircase is twinkling and glowing, and I set the lights to go on at dusk and go off at about 11:00 (I am a late-nighter).
(total aside: I’m just curious. Are you a night person or a morning person? I’m a night person married to a morning person and over the years we’ve compromised and now I’m a nightmorn person. 🙂
// lambs ear garland //
I’ve decorated the staircase for years, but I never added lights like this because I couldn’t plug anything in.
Has that ever happened to you?
You want to light up a space for the holidays, but you don’t have a plug.
Well—I have the SOLUTION for you.
// battery-operated lights //
I found these amazing battery-operated lights that have a timer. I ordered them in warm white (make sure to get warm white because it’s so much cozier).
And they are on Black Friday deal. I paid so much more for them and now they are UNDER $10.
It’s another Christmas miracle.
// lambs ear garland //
Here’s how the lights work.
I strung them through the entire garland (there are two strands on this garland.
Y’ALL.
These are a game-changer.
Think decorating for staircases and tops of hutches and wreaths and garland on top of doors. Anywhere you can add garland, you can add these lights.
Here’s a close-up of all the options you have for different light patterns.
You can set the garland to have the lights wave or blink on and off or slowly fade on and off or several other patterns.
This timer lasts for six hours so you can just set it and have it go off and on without ever thinking about it. I usually set our timer for 5:00 when it starts getting dark.
Now here’s a mini tour of the garland and the back staircase.
// lambs ear garland //
And before we go? I have one more tip for you.
(total aside: are you thinking I’m full of tips this year? Just call me super helpful KariAnne.)
I always get asked how I hang my garland in the house.
I have another amazing hack for that.
// Command Strip hanger //
It’s a Command Strip loop hanger.
Yep.
Have you ever seen anything like it?
Oh, good.
I hadn’t either.
But it is the most perfect invention for Christmas and the holidays that I’ve ever seen.
// Command Strip hanger //
Here’s what it looks like when it’s looped around.
You just slide the end in and attach.
It holds up to two pounds.
Just wrap around your garland and click in place.
Here’s the garland hanger in action.
They are super hard to find–but they are on Black Friday deal right now on Amazon.
You can see them here.
// white battery-operated lights //
We used the battery-operated garlands in our booth—but in white (so I didn’t have to pay for electricity because I am VERY thrifty).
You can see them on the white Christmas tree behind us.
The white lights are on Black Friday deal, too. You can see them here.
A GIANT shout out to everyone who came by the booth to say hello!!!!! It was so so so so so so so so (can I add 20 more “so’s) EPIC.
And everything that didn’t sell (including tons of vintage items and these aprons) will be in our shop for our GIANT BLACK FRIDAY SALE on Friday (of course).
Wishing you all the joy and extra merry on top today.
disclosure: affiliate links are used in this post.
Your decorating skills are beyond impressive. You definitely have a talent. I am so jealout.
I was inspired by the Lamb’s ear garland when you first mentioned it. I did it again this year. For me, it’s a challenging work of art, but it sure is beautiful. I wasn’t able to figure out how to share a photo! Thanks for all of the inspiration!!!
I love how your excitement shines through on your blog, KariAnne! The lights are not only beautiful, they are inexpensive, $15 for a set of two! Amazing! I have passed up items I loved in stores because they only have an on/off switch. Nope! It must have a timer. 😋
I love your staircase and mirror wall! I enjoy your blog, you give a lot of helpful hints
Such a gorgeous entry and stairwell. Im in love with the wood jingle bells, where did you get them? Congratulations on a successful bazaar/shop weekend. Big Hugs
Absolutely beautiful KariAnne!!! I loved getting to see you again on Saturday and meeting your family. The booth was perfect, so you! I loved seeing Liese again too and her beautiful paintings and of course her little must have houses! I think I have 7 now. Happy Christmas to all of you!
Your entrance is stunning. Generally I prefer a little more color in Christmas decorating, but the neutrals are perfect here. Thanks for the tips!
Kari Anne. The banister looks fab. I have used those lights for a few years now. I love them. You all look adorable all striped out. Have fun.
Thank you SUPER HELPFUL KARRIANNE!!!!!!!! I love your posts and your photos. I would have loved to come by your booth and meet you, but we do live far apart, me being in Arizona and you in Texas. I'm going to check out your shop and see what I can find. Happy Thanksgiving
Your garland looks amazing! I have those same lights on my mantle and on a dining table. I love them! By the way, I am a night, owl and a morning person. I go to bed late and wake up early.😳
I bought and copied EVERYTHING from KariAnne’s staircase garland last year - greens, lights, wooden bells, white cow bells, velvet bows, etc. and loved it in my house! When I packed it away, I printed a picture of it and put it in the storage tub, so I knew how to replicate it again this year!!
Hi KariAnne, Congratulations you survived the show, I'm glad it was so successful for all of you. The picture is darling, like the aprons. You must be totally pooped, to pooped to pop right? KariAnne, your banister looks beautiful, and lights add so much to the feel. At night time it's paceful and magical,
Those are great hacks, KA. I was fortunate enough the builders of this house (well the lady b/c I ended up knowing her and could ask, as she was the builder of our house) had the foresight to add a pretty brass inlaid electrical outlet at the top of the stairs for garland to be lit up!!! This was before the battery kinds were a thing. As of 23 years here I have yet to ever do garland on my beautiful stair rail. Not sure why. Lazy I guess. I LOVE yours. Doesn't that flocking drive you insane on a dark wooden floor though? I'd have to just get real touch and not get too fancy. Glitter and flocking made OCD clean freaks like me get anxiety attacks haha. SO happy your booth did well. Those aprons are ADORBZ. So are you 4 beautiful gals. Have a great week of Thanksgiving. I am sitting ready blogs and should really be cleaning for company. I don't want to. (insert the worse whining you ever heard in the history of ever, haha.)
Getting some of those must have command hooks for my staircase garland!! Thank you!!
Beautiful!
KariAnne, Your foyer looks amazing. The Lamb's Ear garland it beautiful. I love battery operated lights and use them all over the house at Christmas. I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving and then Christmas. What fun! Karen B.
All beautiful and ready to be admired and feel all Christmasy. Your booth was adorable and loved the matching aprons! May you have a wonderful nightmorn holiday season! Have a lovely Thanksgiving in the company of those you love! Dogs, too!