Tips & Tricks For Decorating With Colorful Garlands
Let’s talk garland, specifically garlands with a splash of color.
We asked our readers for their favorites and got an earful! Folks love using garlands to decorate tables for family dinners. And special occasions like weddings are another popular use. Of course, stringing a garland on a mantle piece is a great way to add a dash of color.
When it comes to colorful garlands, keep in mind these tips:
• You may have to buy multiple strands for a fuller, lush look. For example, garlands with wisteria are popular for archways in a garden:
However, to achieve that look, you’ll need several strands (three or four), not just one!
• Colors may not be exactly as pictured. Colorful garlands in real-life may not be as bright as you see online, thanks to different ways computer monitors display colors. If you are trying to match a specific color scheme, you may need to be flexible.
• Lighted garlands feature subtle, dim lights. These garlands are typically battery-powered, which is convenient—but often, the lights are on the dimmer side. That’s fine for adding subtle accents for a fireplace mantle, but don’t expect the lights to be super bright!
After gathering feedback from our readers about their favorite garlands, here are the ones we think are best:
About the Authors
Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.
The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.
As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.
How We Pick Products To Recommend
We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.
When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.
We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.
In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.
To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).
Why Trust Us
We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.
We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.
Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.
Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!