It’s not that I don’t love a classic pine garland – I do. There’s probably no better way to line a staircase or lend a festive touch to a barren sideboard or mantel. But we’ve already got the Christmas tree, and that’s a lot of pine needles.
What the season needs now is something still rustic, still within that charming Christmas decor wheelhouse, but with a little more range – a brief break from the evergreen.
Lately, I’ve been into ALDI’s Wooden Beaded Garland for exactly that reason. Made by Merry Moments, it nods to the Christmas tree (wood, obviously) but transforms the material into something sculptural, almost jewelry-like. Somehow, at just $4.99, it keeps the treescape elevated but unfussy (how I prefer any holiday gathering) and adds a touch of boho-ish restraint to all the glitter and gloss.
And the tree is just the beginning. Wooden beads look just as chic swagged across a Christmas mantel, serpentine-style down a holiday table, or – my personal favorite – draped over a doorway to frame a little mistletoe. ALDI’s version runs twelve feet long, so there’s plenty of room to improvise.
They’re also ideal for layering. Christmas decor can skew a little evergreen-heavy, but pairing pine with wood lends some much-needed texture and depth. For fellow magpies, it’s the perfect counterbalance to metallics and glass. And if you’ve got a spare pedestal bowl lying around, fill it with the beads for an easy vignette that feels artful in a laissez-faire, ‘I just threw this together’ kind of way.
Every brand seems to have a take right now – some in warm, natural tones, others strung with pops of color (a micro-Christmas decor trend in its own right) – but either way, it’s hard to beat the tactile, timeless charm of carved wood this time of year.
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Wooden beads bring a cool, collected touch to the holidays – not just for trees, but for wherever you feel like adding a little texture. I’ve rounded up my favorites to drape, swag, or scatter anywhere that could use a quieter kind of sparkle.
Leaning into the beautiful irregularities of natural wood, this ALDI garland strings together beads of varying sizes – a dynamic, perfectly imperfect detail that makes any tree feel lightly quirky and more than a little bit charming.
Reading like an ultra-long strand of winter berries, Holiday Time’s nine-foot red garland delivers rich, saturated color. Don’t let the price tag fool you: it’s earned a perfect five-out-of-five stars for its versatility across mantels, shelves, and Christmas table centerpieces alike.
Left in its natural state, this wooden beaded garland has a slight bohemian energy. Add tassels, though (one of this season’s other favorite accents), and it takes on an even looser, more carefree charm. Less North Pole, more California bungalow.
GreenRow, meanwhile, leans into play. The retailer's take on the trend comes in bold tones – Magenta and the Emerald Green pictured here – each threaded in subtle ombré, hand-strung by artisans in India. Makes for a sweet, saturated splash over the fireplace.
Schoolhouse’s wooden beaded garland is so good, it belongs in a jewelry box. Each bead is smooth, substantial, and slightly oversized, giving this laid-back trend a whisper of drama. Reviewers are obsessed, with some ordering multiples (six, to be exact) just to drape across a full nine-foot fir.
Why pick between natural textures? This Walmart version pairs wood beads with a jute cord for earthy elegance – this humble garland trend at its most ornate. It’s enough to make an entryway feel festive, but subtle enough to carry a Christmas living room on its own.
Wooden garland isn't the only trend ALDI's bringing back this season. See why the retailer's clip-on Christmas bow ornaments might make for a perfect pairing.
