How To Hang Garland on Stairs
Has the snow arrived where you are? We've had some very chilly weather here in Toronto and I expect to see snowflakes very soon. That has put me in the mood to start decorating for Christmas. As soon as Halloween is over, you can bet I'll be pulling out the decor boxes!
How To Hang Garland On Staircase
One area I always look forward to decorating is the stairwell. Have you wondered how to hang garland on stairs? It's very easy to do provided you have the right materials and tools. I took these photos last Christmas but forgot to share them but now the time is right. Bookmark this info for when you're ready to decorate your staircase with a Christmas garland!
Note: this post contains affiliate links for shopping convenience.
I love decorating
the interior of our home for Christmas. There are a few areas that seem to get all of the attention. The
mantel, the
tree, even the
front porch and exterior - they seem like obvious places to decorate but the staircase at
Christmas? Not the first place that comes to mind!
So why should you decorate your staircase banister for Christmas?
Many homes have the stairs situated near the front door of the home. For that
reason, you can decorate this unexpected spot and welcome your guests with
holiday cheer as soon as they step inside. A stairway garland is a great way
to carry your Christmas decor to other floors of your home. Decor on the
staircase ties the main floor and upstairs or downstairs together and gives
your entire house a Christmas feeling.
I've used a faux garland but you can definitely use fresh garlands as well. Be
aware that live garlands won't stay fresh throughout the holiday season (maybe
two weeks at most indoors) and they will drop their needs on your stairs which
could be a falling hazard.
Stair Christmas Decorations
I started
decorating the stairs for Christmas in our last home
and learned some valuable tips over the years. But before I share the method I
used to hang my Christmas staircase garland, there are a few questions to
consider:
How much garland do I need for a staircase?
This depends on three things: (1) the length of your stair handrail or
bannister, (2) the length of the garland, and (3) whether you will swag the
garland or not.
You will want to have garland at least as long as your handrail. As
well, if you want to have your long garland swagged like
in the first image above, your garland should be 1.5 times the length of your banister. Finally, if
you want to have some of the garland hanging down at the beginning or end of
the bannister, add about 3' to that length for either end. For example,
for an 8' long bannister, with swagged garland hanging to the floor at the
bottom of the stairs, you will need (8 x 1.5) + 3 = 15' of garland.
Can I combine garlands?
Absolutely! Layering two or more garlands will create a lush and full look.
Additionally, you can combine real and faux garlands, or an evergreen garland
with other materials such as beads, pine cones or berries, and string lights.
It depends on the festive look you want to achieve. Here are some garland
pairings that I think would work well together:
- Juniper and silver dollar eucalyptus
- Magnolia leaf garland and real touch Norfolk Pine
- White Ilex berry and lambs ear garland
- Flocked artificial pine and white berry and eucalyptus
SHOP TOP GARLANDS OF 2022
How do you attach garland to a staircase railing?
There are a variety of products you can use to attach a garland to a stair
rail. You can find these products and faux greenery readily available in
craft stores. These include:
- garland ties
- zip ties or cable ties
- green Velcro plant ties
- 3M clear medium hooks
- floral wire
- ribbon
The product you should use will depend on what you're affixing to the
handrail, how heavy it weighs, and where on the stairs you want to affix
the garland.
Read on for the products I used to affix a garland swagged below a hand
rail.
The Damage-Free Way to Hang Garland On Stairs
Now you're ready to decorate. Note that I've shown this garland hanging off
the banister and against a wall. If your stairs are more open, with balusters
(also known as spindles or pickets) on one or both sides, the installation is
the same.
You can make your garland as simple or as elaborate as you like. Keep in mind
the size of your stairwell. For narrow stairs, you won't want to have a
garland that's too full or wide that makes it difficult to walk up the stairs.
For a grand staircase, go for a lush and full look!
Step 1: Gather needed supplies to hang your garland
You can personalize your Christmas staircase garland to match your color
palette and other holiday decorations. The most basic garland will require
these materials:
- Garland
- Embellishments like pinecones, bells or stems
- One of the products mentioned above to tie the garland to the handrail. I like to use garland twist ties. With faux needles and a deep green colour, they blend in with your garland. They also twist very tightly and leave no damage on your handrail. For heavier or multiple garlands, I will use green Velcro plant ties or green zip ties (though you may need to connect two zip ties together depending on the thickness of your handrail
- floral wire (22 gauge works well) to attach smaller accessories
Step 2: Wire garlands together if needed
Depending on the full length of garland you need, you may need to string two
or more garlands together. This is best done before you attach the garland to
the bannister. Connect the two garlands using either the zip ties or the
floral wire.
Step 3: Attach garland to the handrail
Starting at one end of the handrail, use the garland twist ties to affix the garland to the handrail. If you have a newel post at the
bottom of your stairs, affix your garland to it. Space the ties evenly
around 2.5' apart. Use any brackets or spindles to your advantage, attaching
the ties to them, so that the garland doesn't fall or slide down.
Be sure to attach the garland so it hangs on the side or bottom of the
handrail, not the top, so that you can still hold the handrail when walking
up or down the stairs.
Step 4: Attach the largest and heaviest accessories
Use additional twist ties to connect the largest and heaviest elements. I like
to attach these directly to the handrail and not the garland, so there is not
extra weight bringing the garland down. Spread out the leaves or needles of
the garland to hide where the accessories are attached.
Step 5: Insert smaller picks, sprays and branches
Tuck these smaller accents in and around the garland. You should be able to
secure them by tucking them behind or along the handrail. Add additional
twist ties if needed.
Step 6: Create clusters and attach as a group
You might want to use clusters of pinecones, berries, or ornaments to bring
colour and texture to the garland. Cut a piece of floral wire about two feet
long. Use the wire to create the cluster and hold the pinecones together.
Then use the excess wire to attach the cluster to the garland.
Step 7: Add singular elements
Finish off the garland by adding in singular elements like bows or
ornaments. I find
satin ribbon (use at
least 1.5" wide) especially pretty against the more textured elements. You
can also use a simple bow to hide wires and twist ties.
And just like that, you've created a pretty and eye catching stair garland.
Get creative with your beautiful garland. Decorate it with colours in your
scheme. Make it modern or traditional. Here's a few supplies you might
consider using.
Looking for more holiday decor tips? Check out these posts:
 How To Hang Wreaths on Windows |
 How to Hang Garland on a Mantel |
 How to Make an Outdoor Urn |
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