The Most Realistic Fake Garland + How to Make It Even Better

I’m a greenery snob. I’ll be the first to admit it. When it comes to Christmas trees, faux flowers, and fall stems, I want the low maintenance, mess-free convenience of fake while still looking like the real deal.

And since we like to decorate early for Christmas, the real, fresh greenery becomes a crispy fire hazard by December 25th anyway. I’ve bought enough pipe cleaner looking fake garland in my day to know the realistic garland is worth the splurge, at least to me.

So I’m rounding up a few in this post along with some tricks to make your fake garland (even the lower quality kinds) look super real!

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Best Faux Garlands Ever

I’ve gradually added to our garland stash a little at a time every year, have tried many different ones, and found several of my favorite realistic garlands to round up.

All of these not only look real; they feel realistic to the touch. They have the right weight, pliability, softness, and draping quality very much like fresh garland.

I’ve had some of these garlands for over 6 years, and they come out of storage looking beautiful every single time. (I can’t say the same for the cheaper fake garlands I’ve bought in the past that come out of storage bins looking completely mangled.)

So even though these fresh look artificial garlands do cost a bit more, I’ve found they pay for themselves in longevity and require fewer embellishments when I’m decorating our doorways and mantels.

Related: How to Hang Garland Over a Doorway

Best Faux Pine Garland

I’ve had this Norfolk Pine garland since 2021 and have been a fan ever since. I love that it is available in multiple different lengths, so I can use one long enough to span our large doorway between the breakfast nook and living room.

This faux sugar pine garland with pinecones mixed in is another very realistic alternative.

Related: How to Hang Wreaths on Windows

Best Artificial Cedar Garland

This cedar garland is soft and pliable with a weight and real touch feel very much like fresh cedar garland.

I attached two 6′ strands from two Command hooks anchored in the center of our breakfast nook wall above my winter landscape art. I added this burgundy velvet ribbon tied into a bow to hide the hooks where the garlands are attached.

Best Juniper Garland

This juniper garland is my favorite when you want a whisper of blue in your decor or want to weave through pillar candles as a simple Christmas table centerpiece.

Best Eucalyptus Garland

I love having eucalyptus garland on hand because you can get away with using it any time of year. But at Christmas, it’s beautiful when woven through evergreen garland. I’ve even used it with the cheapest of cheap fake garland before to help it appear more realistic.

Related: How to Hang Garland on Stairs

How to Add Garland Embellishments

To give my garlands some character and add a pop of color, I like to snip fake fruit, flowers, or leaves from artificial stems. Then, I twist each clipping with florist wire to attach to garland strands.

I cut up these stems of artificial pomegranates to embellish our pine garland just a little bit and still had plenty leftover to make an arrangement.

I use florist wire to attach ribbons and bows to garlands to keep them secure too.

Related: Vintage Christmas Decor Favorites That Never Go Out of Style

How to Add Lights to Garland

Many of my favorites aren’t available as pre lit garlands, so I add battery powered fairy lights by attaching the battery pack to a wall or mantel with a Command hanging strip.

Just cover the battery pack with a few garland stems and you won’t even notice it.

Related: The Most Realistic Christmas Trees for All Budgets

How to Add Dried Fruit to Garland

I’ve shared before how to dry fruit and preserve leaves that you can weave into garlands as well.

My favorite thing is to add dried orange slices to strands with wire ornament hooks poked through the orange flesh and attached to leaves.

More Realistic Garland Picks

Here are a few more realistic Christmas garlands from Wayfair that look beautiful all on their own or with embellishments.

I styled up our breakfast nook with a vase of faux winter greenery, brass candlesticks, and ribbed taper candles.

So now one room is fully decked, and we have who knows how many more to go.

We’ve never really fully dressed this doorway with so much garland before, but I have to say, it’s my new favorite thing that we definitely plan to continue for all other Christmases year after year in the future.

Robert said the only thing missing is a ball of mistletoe hanging in the very middle (as an excuse to kiss in front of the kids and fully gross them out, you know).

So I guess I’ll have to add that as the last finishing touch. And maybe some fairy lights? The joy of starting to decorate early is we’re able to take our time.

Decor Sources

You can find all of our breakfast nook Christmas decor sources below.

• Faux pine garland
• Faux cedar garland
• Burgundy ribbon
• Fake pomegranate stems
• Faux winter stems
• Spode tea cups
• Brass candlesticks
• Ribbed taper candles

More Christmas Decorating Resources

• Best Realistic Christmas Trees for All Budgets
• 18 Simple Natural Christmas Decor Ideas You Can Do Yourself
• How to Make Beautiful DIY Mantel Garland for Christmas
• How to Hang Garland on Stairs + Entryway Christmas Decor