All Things Holiday Garlands

All Things Holiday Garlands

Jump on the dry fruit bandwagon with us!


While we tend to emphasize the importance of unique creativity and one-of-a-kind home decor, there are some trends that are just a no brainer for every style! DIYing dried fruit garlands to add to your holiday furnishings create a natural and personalized element to your overall aesthetic.

Our fearless leader, Linda Schacht, recently taught a Holiday Garland Class in our local shop in Lancaster, Wisconsin. We’re bringing her tips & tricks to the comfort of your home, so that you, too, can create these works of art!



Make It

Let’s start with the how-to, shall we? Gather your supplies!

You’ll need:

Citrus Fruits (think: oranges, lemons, limes, blood oranges, etc.)

Knife

Cookie Sheet

Paper Towels

  • Cut your fruit into slices about .5” thick.

  • Lay them out on a cookie sheet and dab them with a paper towel to dry up excess liquid.

  • Bake in the oven at 200 degrees for about 4 hours. Flip slices every 30 minutes or so.

  • Once the slices are hard and no longer sticky, they are ready to be taken out!

  • You can begin stringing them as soon as they are cool. Upholstery thread or thin twine works great!

Style It

The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to styling your dry fruit garlands. Strung from your mantle, woven through your tree, or draped sporadically throughout your home, they are a beautiful way to tie your other holiday decor together.

Choose Your Base

We love to start with a greenery base when designing a mantle or garland. Adding the fruit to the decor you already know and love in your home ties everything together. The greenery with the colors of the fruit are this year’s trendy holiday color palette must-have!

Move Around

The mantle is not the only perfect location for your garland. Be sure and dehydrate plenty of fruit in order to drape your garlands from other shelves, hang from doorways, and thread into your wreaths. 

Get Creative

Are there other colors in your holiday decor that you want to bring in? Add some cranberries to your garland for a pop of red! Grab some dried branches from the yard to incorporate your neutrals. Pop some popcorn for a pop of white!

Layers on Layers

We are typically big fans of simplicity in design, but when it comes to these garlands, we vote MORE is more! Layer your garlands with any other beading or florals you can find. The sky's the limit, and the proof is in the pudding.


The best part about this trend is that there are endless ways to personalize it. We can’t wait to see the masterpieces you create in your own homes. Tag us on Instagram @eastmancartwrighthome when you try it! Happy holidays!






Susie Flores