I’ve got two game-changing secrets for decorating with Christmas garland on a staircase! Secret number one… always go for high-quality, realistic garland. Trust me, you can’t achieve this look with cheap, basic garlands. I’ve found the best, most realistic garlands, and I’ll link them below so you can recreate this in your home. They’re full, stunning, and honestly look like the real deal! As for secret number two… keep reading to find out!
After completely rebuilding our staircase and installing a new railing, and a stair runner, I couldn’t wait to dress it up for Christmas. Here’s everything I used to bring holiday magic to my staircase!
What You’ll Need for Hanging Christmas Garland on a Staircase
- Pine garland
- Eucalyptus garland
- Orange slice garland
- Ribbon
- Bells
- Battery-operated lights
- Zip ties
- Scissors
Using the Best Ever Pine Garland
To make your Christmas garland on a staircase look full and magical, layering is key! I’m starting with this super realistic pine garland—it’s high quality, looks great, and will last for years.
So, how do we hang all this Christmas garland on a staircase? That’s where secret number two comes in. Believe it or not, zip ties are my secret weapon! They’re affordable, secure, won’t damage your railing, and are easy to hide in the thick garland.
I used zip ties to attach the pine garland at the far end of the stair railing, letting it drape as much or as little as I liked. I secured it at each post at the top and bottom of the stairs. Easy peasy! These pine garlands are 15 ft long, so there’s plenty for draping and even a bit of pooling at the end.
Zip ties are definitely the way to go. Once everything’s tightened and the excess cut off, you can easily adjust the garland to hide the ties.
To make the garland look thicker and fuller, I zip-tied another layer right on top.
Mixing in Eucalyptus
When hanging Christmas garland on a staircase, you don’t want it to look flat or boring. For more texture and interest, I recommend mixing in another type of greenery. I love adding eucalyptus garlands.
Each eucalyptus garland is about 5.5 feet long, so I used three for my staircase. I layered them with the pine garland, tucking the ends in and securing with zip ties where needed.
These are the same eucalyptus garlands I used for my Thanksgiving tablescape—so versatile for seasonal decor year-round!
See how good the pine and eucalyptus look mixed together? Way better than just using one type.
Hanging Embellishments With Your Christmas Garland
As much as I love Christmas garland on a staircase, you need more than just greenery. I found these bells, and I’m so happy with them! They have a rustic yet classic look and are the perfect length to hang by the stair posts.
I picked up three sets of bells—one for each post—and zip-tied them in place, making sure to hide the zip tie and rope in the garland.
Incorporate a Dried Orange Slice Garland
Why stop at two garlands? The next one I’m using is a real dried orange slice garland I made myself. I have a full tutorial if you want to make your own orange slice garland.
After zip-tying the end of the orange slice garland to the stair railing, I wrapped it around the greenery. When hanging Christmas garland on a staircase, don’t be afraid to let it puddle on the floor. If you don’t like the extra length, you can always cut your garlands shorter, but I love the look.
Making Bows
As I mentioned, don’t shy away from adding embellishments to your Christmas garland on a staircase. I’m adding bows for a pop of red that looks great against the greenery. The chiffon ribbon with frayed edges adds a nice, soft texture.
I made big, droopy bows using long ribbon (almost as tall as me). I formed two bunny ears, knotted them together, and adjusted until perfect.
I slipped a zip tie through the knot and tied the bows above each set of bells. They look amazing!
With all the zip ties you’ll be using when hanging Christmas garland on a staircase, don’t forget to cut off the excess. No one wants to see the plastic tails sticking out!
Mingle in Tiny Christmas Lights
The final touch—Christmas lights! I bought battery-operated lights that can be set on a timer. It’s so easy to wrap them into the garland.
As expected, the lights look magical with the garland when the room is dark, but they also add a nice glow in a well-lit room, like when I hung them with garland by my kitchen sink.
Look how great this staircase turned out! I just love it.
Here’s a closeup so you can see how beautiful the orange slice garland is and how real the pine and eucalyptus garlands look. They’re stunning individually, but amazing together.
Want to see how I decorated my small front porch for Christmas? I’ve got all the details, along with links to everything, right here.
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