There’s nothing quite like an expertly curated display of Christmas decor to wow your guests during the holidays – except perhaps with handmade ones. To really pull out the stops and wow the family at a festive dinner, why not try your hand at a pretty branch chandelier on your dining room ceiling?
If you’re not familiar with them, branch chandeliers are a type of floral decoration suspended from wire and usually hung across the ceiling above your dining table (not to be confused with a branch-shaped chandelier light). Natural arrangements like these make a great alternative to plain bouquets and have become a popular choice for showing off your artistic talents while bringing completely unique décor to your space. As such, they make a great addition to your Christmas decorating ideas.
“Creating a holiday-inspired chandelier really adds to the Christmas buildup and is a lovely activity to get you in the mood for the season,” says Mary Ann D’Marzo, founder of SoHo’s Preserved Flower Shop for the latest collection. People can wind up and venture out to their local park or forest and look for sticks or greenery for this. You can also change it up seasonally! “
If you want to add a little something special to your festive decor regularly, let it be a homemade branch chandelier. To help you along the way, we asked some home decorators and florists for their best tips on how to make one at home, and you might be happy to know that it’s easier than you think!
Lilith is an expert in following news and trends in the world of interior design. She is committed to helping readers make the best choices in their homes by sharing tips and practical guides for all of their decorating ideas. With Christmas just around the corner, I spoke with home decorators to learn how to make a festive branch chandelier that will wow your dinner guests this holiday.
How to make a DIY festive branch chandelier
1. Be prepared
As with any DIY decor job, you’ll need to be prepared if you want to create a show-stopping chandelier. Although it’s a great way to decorate for Christmas on the cheap, this isn’t the kind of craft you can do without the right equipment. Before you begin, make sure you have: ceiling hooks or adhesive replacement; tree branch; chicken wire; wire tie tape; Series; tree leaves. dried flowers; glass ornaments
2. Forage for foliage
(Image credit: Mary Ann Da March)
While there’s nothing stopping you from buying the foliage you use from florists, one of the most fun parts of this DIY project is sourcing the items yourself.
For an authentic seasonal chandelier branch, head to your local park or forest to get your own foliage. Start by finding a branch large enough for your room, but not too heavy to hang. If you plan to place it above the dining table, look for one that is the same length. Make sure it has twigs sticking out at different points as this will help with its structure when it comes to decorating it.
Next, get some seasonal greenery like holly, mistletoe, or sprigs of berries to decorate your branch with. It’s a good idea to choose sturdier stems or longer-lasting flowers that will be able to withstand the warmer temperatures in your home.
3. Drill hooks into the ceiling (or walls)
Once you have found the foliage you want, you will then need to attach the branch to the ceiling. If you have a smaller branch in a smaller room, you may want to secure it with hooks on opposite walls, which run from one side to the other.
“The inspiration behind these floating centerpieces is to draw the eyes upward while providing room for food, serveware, and decor,” says Anastasia Casey, designer and blogger at The Identité Collective. (Opens in a new tab). Plus it allows conversation to flow across the table organically.
Drill hooks (or the adhesive equivalent if it’s a smaller installation) into the ceiling or wall. Make sure to measure your branch on each end so you will know where to drill the holes if you are hanging the chandelier branch from the ceiling. If you use walls instead, watch the height because this dining table idea can be very significant.
4. Wrap your branch with chicken wire
(Image credit: Mary Ann Da March)
Before you can hang your branch or decorate it with any flowers, you’ll need to wrap it with chicken wire, like this roll from Amazon (Opens in a new tab). Make sure the entire branch is covered, then use ties or string to attach it to the chicken wire and then the hook to the ceiling. Use two pieces of string on both sides.
If you want your chandelier branch to float by attaching it to the walls instead, you will need to thread some wire through the branch, in and out of chicken wire, and then thread it into the hooks on either side of the room. This is only recommended if you have a lighter branch and smaller room because the weight of the branch will inevitably weigh it down.
As an alternative, we came across this tabletop bar by Terrain (Opens in a new tab) It would work beautifully for a hanging floral arrangement, both indoors and out, says Anastasia. “An adjustable rod (available in matte black and gold) that clips directly to your table, which simplifies the DIY process even more.”
5. Arrange your flowers
(Image credit: Mary Ann Da March)
Now that your branch is suspended, you can start testing your flower arranging skills. Start by tucking the leaves around the outside, using the chicken wire to hold the stems in place. Use different pieces of leaf to give it lots of texture and keep building until you’re happy with the look – camphor is perfect for this because it’s malleable and will last for months.
When you’ve created the desired base, add dried flowers for some variety. Gypsophilia will last forever and give delicate flowers the appearance of snow. For a more traditional, festive feel, try adding marigold stems among lots of holly. This creative way to decorate the Christmas table should now start to take shape.
6. Add Christmas decorations
(Image credit: Mary Ann Da March)
If you’re ready to take it a step further, you can start decorating with ornaments, tinsel, or string lights at this point, hanging them from the branch. We love these gleaming silver charms from Amazon (Opens in a new tab). “You can hang just about anything from your foliage, giving your branch chandelier a seasonal update,” says Mary Ann of The Last Bunch. (Opens in a new tab). “I love using glass ornaments with tea lights for my Christmas table, and mixing them with simple yarn and linen can add a contemporary feel to this season.”
Is this the perfect weekend project in the run-up to December? We’ll say that.
