A wreath on the front door and a garland over the fireplace are two of the quickest ways to make a home feel ready for Christmas. Artificial versions have come a long way: the best now look convincing up close, last for years and can be pre-lit for an instant glow. This guide covers how to choose the right style and size, where to use them and how to store them so they look good next year too.

Artificial or Real?

Real wreaths smell wonderful but dry out within a few weeks, drop needles and go on the compost heap in January. A good artificial wreath or garland costs more up front but comes out year after year, does not shed and can go up as early as you like. For a garland over a warm fireplace or along a banister that gets brushed past every day, artificial is by far the more practical choice.

Choosing a Style

Traditional green

Classic fir and pine foliage suits almost any home and works as a base you can add to each year with ribbon, baubles or pine cones.

Frosted and snowy

Frosted tips give a wintry look that works particularly well on a dark front door or against a stone fireplace. See the Bosk Jack Frost and Snowy Winterfold ranges.

Natural and botanical

Eucalyptus, magnolia and berry designs give a softer, more contemporary feel and can stay up well into winter. Browse the Bosk Eucalyptus and Bosk Magnolia collections.

Matching sets

Many ranges come as a matching tree, wreath and garland, which is the easiest way to get a coordinated look from the front door through to the living room.

Getting the Size Right

Measure before you buy. As a rough guide:

• Front doors: a wreath between roughly a half and two-thirds of the door's width looks balanced. On a standard UK front door that usually means somewhere around 50–65cm across. Smaller wreaths can look lost; very large ones can catch on the door frame.
• Fireplaces: measure the length of the mantelpiece. For a garland that drapes down at the ends, allow extra length on top of the mantel measurement.
• Staircases: measure the banister and add extra for swags if you want the garland to dip between ties. Two shorter garlands joined together are easier to handle than one very long one.
• Windows and mirrors: a smaller wreath of around 30–45cm suits an inside window, mirror or kitchen door.

Pre-Lit or Unlit?

Pre-lit wreaths and garlands save the fiddle of wrapping fairy lights through the foliage and give an even glow. Before you buy, check:

• Power: whether the lights are battery-operated or mains-powered. Battery lights are far easier on a front door; mains lights suit a fireplace or staircase near a socket.
• Indoor or outdoor: not every pre-lit design is suitable for outdoor use. Each product page says where it can be used.
• Timer: a built-in timer saves batteries and means the lights come on at the same time every evening.

An unlit wreath or garland gives you more freedom to add your own lights and decorations, and is often the better buy if you like to change the look each year.

Styling Ideas

• Front door: hang the wreath at eye level with an over-door hanger so you do not need to drill or use nails. Add a matching garland around the door frame for a bigger welcome.
• Fireplace: lay the garland along the mantel and weave in candles in glass hurricanes, small decorations or a few pine cones. Keep real flames well away from the foliage, or use LED candles.
• Table centrepiece: a wreath laid flat with a hurricane lantern or a cluster of LED pillar candles in the middle makes an easy centrepiece. See our Hill Interiors candles and lanterns.
• Staircase: tie the garland to the banister with ribbon or cable ties at regular intervals and finish each tie with a bow.

Storing Your Wreaths and Garlands

Looked after properly, a good artificial wreath or garland will last for many Christmases.

• Remove batteries from pre-lit designs before storing them.
• Store wreaths flat or hanging, in a box or bag that keeps the dust off and does not crush the foliage.
• Coil garlands loosely rather than folding them tightly.
• Keep them somewhere cool and dry, away from damp garages and hot lofts where possible.
• When you unpack them next year, fluff out each branch to bring back the full shape.

Shop Wreaths and Garlands

Browse our full range of Christmas wreaths and Christmas garlands, or see everything in The Christmas Shop. For trees, read our guide to choosing an artificial Christmas tree. Free delivery on orders over £100 to mainland UK.