Stairway to Christmas: how to decorate stairs for the holidays

The stairway in your house is the perfect place to show off your Christmas spirit. Here’s how to dress up this oft overlooked part of your home.

Decorate the handrail
Wrap the handrail with evergreen garlands and decorate them with either berries, pinecones and burlap ribbons for a rustic look, or with Christmas baubles for a more whimsical take. Wrap a string of white or colored lights around the garlands to add some sparkle.

Alternatively, you can decorate the handrails with ribbons instead of greenery. Depending on the look you want, you can choose to use either one type of ribbon or a mix of different kinds in an assortment of colors and sizes.

Decorate the stairs
If they’re wide enough, put decorations directly on the stairs. Pillar candles (battery-operated ones are safest), wooden decorations and festive figurines can help create the holiday ambience you’re after.

Decorate the walls and ceiling
Ask the kids to make paper snowflakes and use them to decorate the wall along the stairway. You can also display holiday photos from Christmases past. As a final touch, consider suspending large ornaments from the ceiling. Make sure to hang them high enough so that no one bumps their head.

If you follow these tips, your stairway esthetic is sure to please visitors and earn their praise all season long.