I recently created this imagery for the Laura Ashley blog and had so many questions about the DIY fireplace garland, I decided to dedicate a post on how to create it yourself here! This garland is made up from a mix of fresh foliage and dried flowers, so should last a good 2-3 weeks over the Christmas period if you keep topping up the water regularly.

Everything that I needed to create this garland was purchased from my local floral wholesalers. Check to see if you have a local flower market, floristry supplier or wholesaler that sells to the public near you. If you cannot find anything locally, you can purchase long bars of floral oasis in a tray on Amazon, or request that a florist gets some in for you.

For the foliage, I used two large bunches of Eucalyptus, one a large bunch of Ruscus and some Limonium Sinensis for decoration. Eucalyptus is vital to giving a great display as it often curves around the stem, which will give your garland a nice shape at the ends. Eucalyptus also smells amazing, so it will fill your room with scent.

For your dried, I used two stems of Pampas Grass, some dried daisy flowers, some ‘bunny tails’ and some sprayed wild grasses.

To start, you need to soak your oasis in water in either a bath or a large sink. Fill your bath or sink with enough water to cover the depth of the oasis, then simply float the oasis on top of the water and wait for it to sink naturally. If you try and submerge the oasis it will not absorb the water properly and your foliage will dry out very quickly. Once completely sunk, remove from the water, dry off the base of the tray with an old cloth, then place your oasis on your mantel.

Start with the Eucalyptus and pick out long, curvy stems to add to either end of the display to give it some shape. Cut smaller pieces to add in the middle at both the top and the front. Cut Eucalyptus close to the petals so the stem doesn’t look like it has been cut in two, then you can use all the stems you have available. Cut each stem base at an angle and slot it into your oasis until it is secure. Keep going until your design starts to take shape.

With a good Eucalyptus base, start to add in sprigs of Ruscus to add another layer to the foliage. Use larger pieces at the ends and cut smaller pieces for the middle. Fill in any areas where you can see the green oasis and tray, so that these disappear from view.

Now that you have your foliage base, you can start to add in your decorative flowers. Cut and insert your dried flowers where you think they will look most appropriate, making sure the garland looks ‘balanced’ with an even spread of the dried. With the Pampas, I twisted off chunks of the grass in small sections and added them in, as a whole stem feels too heavy for the overall look.

To give the garland some sparkle, I draped across this LED beaded garland and secured it with large metal paperclips, twisted apart to make a grip that could be slotted into the oasis. I also added in these Gold LED DInner Candles, simply propping them up in the oasis block.

Every couple of days I’ll add a touch of water to the oasis, then once a week remove it back to the sink to give it a good soak. If your fire is on a lot of the time, you need to keep an eager eye to make sure the oasis does not dry out. To add a touch more scent, tuck some small mini diffusers in behind the back of the display.

I am now offering a floristry service for seasonal home decor, parties and events. Please click here to find out more.