The invention relates to a method and a transfer strip for decorating surfaces, in particular for decorating outer packagings. A transfer strip comprising a strip-like backing film (11), a decorative layer (13) and a release layer (12) arranged between the decorative layer (13) and the backing film is provided. The decorative layer (13) has a multiplicity of identical optically variable decorative elements, which are arranged in first area regions, which are separate from one another and spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the transfer strip. The decorative layer (13) has second area regions, which are separate from one another and spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the transfer strip and in which the decorative layer (13) has one or more individualizable layers for providing respectively different machine-readable optical markings. A first area region or a subregion of a first area region and a second area region or a subregion of a second area region of the decorative layer (13) is respectively transferred to a surface to be decorated. The one or more individualizable layers of the respective second area region are individualized before or during the transfer, so that, in addition to one of the optically variable decorative elements, an individualized machine-readable optical marking is transferred from the transfer strip to the surface to be decorated.