Stair Railing Christmas Decorating Ideas

best christmas staircase decorating ideas

Julie Blanner/Craftberry Bush

As the temperature drops and the holiday spirit fills the air, we welcome the change of seasons in many special ways. Whether you're planning a trip to pick out that perfect tree (or scoring a chic alternative) or decking out your mantel or front porch, every space in your home can benefit from the full festive treatment. But if you're running out of room to spread cheer, we suggest you take your holiday decor to new heights—starting with your stairs. You'll see that wreaths aren't just for your doors, and garlands and stockings aren't only for your mantel—so don't miss out on these creative holiday ideas. Read on for our favorite Christmas staircase decorations, and how you can get these looks to make a statement of your own this year.

1 Wreaths as Rings

Pull the garland of your choice through a simple berry wreath—or three or four—along the railing of your staircase for a simple yet festive holiday design.

2 Get the Look

Red Berry Wreaths with Ribbon

3 Decorate Only the Base

Here, Edna & Ossie decided to leave the banister empty and glammed up just the base by attaching a garland with ribbons, lights, and some ornaments—et voilà!

4 Get the Look

10-Piece Pearlized Snowflake Ornament, 4-Inch

5 Holiday Neutrals

If you're like Danielle Schaffer of City Girl Gone Mom, you'll want a neutral palette on top of a clean, minimal backdrop. Here, she simply hung some wreaths with earthy elements lining the bottom of the steps.

6 Get the Look

Christmas Burlap Poinsettia & Ornaments Artificial Pine Wreath

7 DIY Stringed Ornament Garland

If you have ornaments to spare after decorating your tree, use them to your benefit elsewhere. Diane Henkler from the In My Own Style blog got some garland ties to attach to her staircase and hung ornaments from them for an easy, festive look.

8 Get the Look

Santa's Factory

Garland Twist Ties, Set of 24

9 Strings of Light

A waterfall of lights lining your staircase makes for a dreamy backdrop to the rest of your holiday decor.

11 Light the Way With Candles

A warm, natural glow is impossible to resist with this relaxed holiday staircase look by Julie Blanner.

13 Get Crafty With DIY

Lia Griffith's DIY garland makes the case for getting crafty ahead of the holiday season. A festive palette of reds and greens are paired with crisp white stockings for a pared down look.

14 Get the Look

Assorted Felt Fabric Sheets

15 Experiment With Greenery

Sara Malek Barney of Bandd Design skipped the classic Fraser fir or pine and instead chose eucalyptus and wheat stalks for her garland. That, plus small flickers of gold, large, rust-colored feathers, cognac leather ribbon, and other natural elements give these stairs a fresh feel.

16 Get the Look

Martha Stewart Pine & Eucalyptus with Ornaments Garland

17 Give Everything a Snow Dusting

Frosty holiday stair decor assembled by Tammy Damore of The Cultivated Home has us dreaming of a white Christmas, with snow-dusted garland and white roses.

18 Get the Look

Pre-Lit Snowy Camden Artificial Christmas Garland - Clear Lights

19 Complement Your Existing Decor

A honey-colored palette in this design by Janie Molster is complemented by a natural garland that's weaved with silky ribbon.

20 Get the Look

Gold Organza Wired Sheer Ribbon

21 Let Poinsettias Lead the Way

A fuss-free entryway crafted by Ashley Brooke of Ashley Brooke Designs features signature holiday blooms with poinsettias wrapped in gold.

22 Get the Look

Silk Poinsettia Arrangement

23 Stack Presents on the Steps

Whether you're wrapping real gifts or just preparing for the excitement of Santa's bounty, nothing screams fun quite like some chicly wrapped presents.

24 Get the Look

Polka Dot Wrapping Paper, Red with White Dots

25 Keep It Simple With an All-Green Garland

Keep things natural and understated with a forest green garland to complete your earthy holiday look.

27 Line the Stairs With Warm Pillar Candles

Welcome guests with the golden light of holiday candles. Line your steps to illuminate your walkway and bring charm to your front door.

28 Get the Look

Cylinder Pillar Holder & White Pillar Candles

29 Use a Light-Up Garland

Opt for a garland that has Christmas lights weaved into it, filling the room with a traditional holiday ambience.

30 Get the Look

Decorated Berry Ornaments Garland

31 Add Marquee Lights

Give your stairs some holiday theatrics with vintage-inspired marquee letters.

32 Get the Look

LED Marquee Letter Lights, 26 Alphabet Light Up Red Letters

33 Hang a Simple Knit Stocking

Fill a simple white stocking with ornaments and hang it from the end of your banister for an easy holiday accent.

34 Get the Look

Knitted Christmas Stockings

35 Opt for Needle Pine Garland

Unlike traditional garland, needle pines are much fuller and will provide a subtly unique twist to your banister.

36 Get the Look

Pre-lit Pine Christmas Garland with Red Plaid Ribbon

37 Little Matching Trees!

Whether you're decorating your outdoor or indoor staircase, small matching trees are both fun and inviting.

39 Incorporate a Bold Ribbon

Personalize your garland by wrapping your favorite festive ribbon within it.

40 Get the Look

Red/White Candy Cane Christmas Ribbon

41 No Mantel? Hang Stockings from the Stairs

If you don't have a mantel, the stairs are a great alternative for hanging stockings. These personalized ones will get your family excited for Christmas while adding a chic holiday accent to your staircase.

42 Get the Look

Personalized Christmas Stockings, Beige Striped, Muslin

Lucia Tonelli Assistant Editor Lucia Tonelli is an Assitant Editor at Town & Country, where she writes about the royal family, culture, real estate, and more.

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