Christmas Tinsel

Tinsel: The Fastest Way to Add Colour and Texture

Tinsel is the oldest decorative trick in the Christmas playbook — thin strands of reflective material that catch and scatter light from every angle. Our range covers fine-cut tinsel by the metre in multiple ply weights and colours, through shaped tinsel pieces (stars, trees, garlands) and decorative tinsel door banners. It's the most cost-effective way to add volume to a mantel, staircase or tree, and unlike baubles, tinsel fills visual space continuously rather than at points.

Tinsel Categories

Fine-Cut Tinsel by Metre

Individual tinsel strands sold by length. Available in 12-ply weights in gold, silver, red, blue, champagne gold and snowflake white.

Shaped Tinsel Decorations

Pre-formed star and tree tinsel shapes that hang as standalone ornaments or sit on a table.

Tinsel Banners & Belts

Wide tinsel banners with printed messages and Santa-belt tree base wraps for doorway and tree-base decoration.

Tinsel Garlands

Continuous tinsel ropes for wrapping staircases, mantels and banisters. Dense, fluffy and self-supporting.

Ply Weight and Coverage

The "ply" rating on fine-cut tinsel refers to the thickness of the strand bundle. Our standard range runs 12-ply, which gives a good balance of coverage and drape. Higher ply means more strands per bundle and a fuller, fluffier appearance. For tree wrapping, fine-cut tinsel in gold or silver is the traditional base layer that catches fairy-light sparkle; for garland use on staircases, a heavier ply tinsel or tinsel garland rope will hold its shape better along a banister.

Colour Selection

The search data shows gold tinsel as the consistent favourite, followed by silver, red and blue. Gold and silver read as neutral metallics that work with any theme — pair gold with Gilded Noel or Kingdom and silver with Plum Poetry or Glam of Nature. Red tinsel makes a bolder statement suited to traditional Kingdom-themed trees. Champagne gold is a warmer alternative to bright gold that pairs well with ivory and burgundy themes.

Using Tinsel Around the Home

On the Tree

Fine-cut tinsel is the classic top layer after lights and baubles. Drape individual strands loosely from branch to branch — don't wrap tightly. The tinsel should hang in gentle curves and catch the fairy light underneath. A single 3m strand covers roughly a third of a 2.1m tree, so budget accordingly.

On the Mantel and Staircase

For mantels, a tinsel garland rope draped the length of the ledge with a few picks or bauble clusters tucked in gives instant impact. For staircases, wrap a garland around the banister railing, adding ribbon bows at intervals.

Door Banners and Tree Bases

Printed tinsel banners with "Merry Christmas" or "Let It Snow" are an easy door decoration that pairs with a wreath. The Santa-belt tinsel wrap sits around the base of the tree as a decorative alternative to a skirt.

What Pairs With Tinsel

• Fairy lights underneath tinsel on the tree create the sparkle effect that makes the strands glow.
• Baubles in the same metallic finish tie the tree together.
• Tinsel wreaths on the front door echo the staircase garland.

How Much Tinsel Do You Need?

Coverage depends on where the tinsel is going. As a rule of thumb, a 1.8m tree needs roughly 15 to 20 metres of fine-cut tinsel for traditional drape, wrapped in a downward spiral with a little slack between branches. A mantel display takes about 4 to 6 metres, and a staircase banister absorbs 2 to 3 metres per metre of rail — a five-step banister easily takes 10 metres when you allow for the wrap. Buy a little more than the estimate: tinsel has no expiry, and offcuts make great filler for wreaths and table settings.

The All-Tinsel Christmas Tree

There is a difference between decorating a tree with tinsel and building a tinsel tree. The all-tinsel look skips foliage entirely — it uses a cone-shaped tinsel tree, or a wire frame wrapped densely in tinsel, as the whole tree. It suits apartments, offices and kids' rooms because it collapses down at season's end and never drops needles. If you prefer a real or artificial tree but love the texture, keep tinsel as the accent layer instead: one colour of fine-cut tinsel wrapped loosely over lights, with matching baubles in two sizes, gives a coordinated finish without the full commitment.

Tinsel Curtains and Doorway Coverage

Tinsel curtains are sold by the strip and hung from a doorway or window head. They are the quickest way to make a party space feel finished, and at Christmas they double as a shimmering entry point — hang one across a hallway arch or a rumpus-room door and let people walk through it. Measure the doorway width first and buy enough strips to run edge to edge with light overlap, and expect some shedding on the first few passes. A doorway curtain in gold or silver also photographs well behind family portraits.

Storing Tinsel After Christmas

Tinsel is one of the most reusable decorations in the box if it is stored right. Take it down in lengths rather than balling it up, keep it dry, and lay it flat or loosely rolled in a storage tub — crushed tinsel never fully recovers its loft. Keep colours separated so dye transfer and glitter cross-contamination do not ruin next year's palette. Stored properly, quality tinsel easily does three to five seasons, which makes it one of the best value-per-dollar decorations you will buy.

A Quick Note on Tinsel and Lights

Tinsel and electricity need a small amount of respect for each other. Keep strands clear of fairy-light transformers, battery packs and plug packs, because tinsel is not fire-rated the way display materials are, and shed fibres can work into connections. The same rule applies near heaters, candles and anything else that runs warm. Tinsel on the tree itself is fine — it has sat alongside lights on Australian trees for generations — just keep it away from the plug end where heat concentrates.

Frequently Asked Questions — Tinsel

How much tinsel do I need for a 7ft tree?

For a 2.1m (7ft) tree, roughly 9 metres of fine-cut tinsel gives full coverage — three 3m strands draped loosely across branch layers. If you're using a heavier tinsel garland rope instead, 6m is generally enough as it drapes fuller.

What is the difference between fine-cut tinsel and tinsel garland?

Fine-cut tinsel is loose individual strands sold by length, designed to drape on tree branches. Tinsel garland is a continuous rope with the strands held together — it's structural and holds its shape along mantels and staircases without sagging.

Can tinsel be used outdoors?

Fine-cut tinsel is designed for indoor use — moisture and wind will quickly separate and degrade the strands. For outdoor applications, look at our outdoor decorations range which includes weatherproof display pieces.

Does the glitter transfer from tinsel?

Fine-cut tinsel is metallic film rather than coated glitter, so there's no significant transfer. Glitter-finish shaped tinsel pieces will shed some glitter during handling, as with any glitter decoration.

What colour tinsel is most popular?

Gold is consistently our top seller, followed by silver, red and champagne gold. Gold and silver are neutral enough to work with any tree theme, while red makes a bolder traditional statement.