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23 Beautiful Staircase Decorations For Christmas

Updated on 12/14/21

christmas bannister — Design by Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

'Tis the season to deck the halls and enjoy all that the holidays have to offer. There's far more to decorating your home for Christmas than stringing lights on the tree or hanging a wreath on the front door, though. Keep in mind that the staircase and its surrounding area is also an excellent place to incorporate some festive touches.

No matter whether your staircase is on the smaller side or is relatively expansive, you can get ultra creative with garlands, ornaments, and other decorative accents. Below are 23 of our favorite staircase setups all decked out for December. Just looking at these creative setups is sure to make you feel holly and jolly in no time.

01 of 23

String Some Lights

@gems_home_

Zhush up your garland by layering in other festive touches, such as pinecone shaped string lights and little village houses, like we see here. This setup is excellent for those who prefer a more subdued color scheme (there's no bold red to be found here!) but still are all about embracing holiday spirit.
02 of 23

Add Some Extras

@dailefarrell

Have fun with the area in front of your staircase, too—incorporating a small basket, stool, or both will allow you to display additional seasonal accent pieces that will make you smile every time you walk in the door.
03 of 23

Spell It Out

@sagelantern

Oversized letters can be used to spell out a seasonal phrase like "joy" or "noel," and we love the idea of placing a wreath where the letter "O" should go for a little extra holiday spirit. These letters can easily be found at craft stores and can be painted or customized yo your liking.
04 of 23

Hang Those Stockings

@shellysfarmhouse

No chimney? No problem! Hang stockings by the staircase with care for a fun spin on tradition. Bonus points if you include one for your furry friend, too.

The 14 Best Stocking Stuffers of 2022

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05 of 23

Go for the Gold

@sweetzuzudesigns

For a glam take on holiday decor, go for white and gold accents. This household also chose to display stockings on the stairwell, keeping the display a bit more simple.
06 of 23

Transform Your Table

@decoratinglife.ca

Have a small table that lives at the bottom of your stairwell? Give it a makeover for the holidays and display mini trees, candles, ornaments, you name it on top! Adding small doses of Christmas decor throughout the home doesn't have to be complicated.
07 of 23

Do a DIY

@hilltown_house

If you're in the mood for a DIY, construct your own garland using dried orange slices and sprigs of greenery. Bring on the festivity and yummy scents!
08 of 23

Bring on the Bells

@sweetcarolinefarmhous

Bells always look so elegant and pop against the garland wrapped around this black banister. It's easy to jazz up plain garland with festive touches—ribbon is a no-fail addition, too.

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09 of 23

Make a Statement

@tiatalula

Paper decorations are ultra timeless and look fantastic paired with greenery. If you're looking to make a garland look more full and intricate, try weaving in strands of eucalyptus, as seen here.
10 of 23

Hang a Sunburst

@designbydama

Here we see more gorgeous paper decorations in the form of DIY sunbursts. Sans garland, these decorations don't scream "Christmas" and therefore can be kept on display all winter long.
11 of 23

Try Some Ivy

@edwardian_seaside_home

If you're looking to add more greenery beyond just a garland, think about displaying ivy on the staircase, too, and weave in some berries. To add some extra color, place berry branches in a vase, and you're golden.
12 of 23

Love Olive

@thatfunkymonkeysb

You don't need to go overboard on Christmas trees when decorating for the season—if you wish to incorporate year round plants into your staircase design, go for it! Here, an olive tree pairs perfectly with an olive branch style garland.

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13 of 23

Be Classic

@rumfieldhomestead

If you're a traditionalist, there's nothing better than a classic garland with some dried orange slices and of course, plenty of big red bows. This setup is super budget-friendly, too.
14 of 23

Tie a Bow

@ivorylanehome

If your decor already leans more vintage-looking or shabby chic, you can create a similar setup but with white bows. Keeping ribbons nice and long adds elegance, as we see above.
15 of 23

Collect Some Pinecones

@moxieandmint

Add an additional natural touch to your garland with pretty pinecones. Whether you purchase some or go foraging in your own backyard, they're gorgeous to display in various ways all winter long.
16 of 23

Trim the Tree

@bloom_jennybrooks

If you don't wish to disrupt your living room or family room setup too much, you can always place your tree in the stairwell. This display brings so much joy with the addition of garland, bows, and beads going up the banister.

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17 of 23

Think Tall

@handmadeforeverhome

Climbing this garland-filled staircase is just half the fun... the real reward is at the top! Hanging ornaments from the ceiling is a great way to keep the spirit going all throughout the house.
18 of 23

Light it Up

@thehousethatbrumbuilt

You don't need a long banister that winds all around to make your staircase look pretty. Even a simple railing can be jazzed up with decor—and lining the steps with cute flameless candles really adds some oomph.
19 of 23

Be Natural

@hannahbeaumontlaurencia

For a more rustic look, style your garland in an imperfect fashion with branches of various lengths popping out. This is an excellent way to achieve the cozy, secluded cabin look at home.
20 of 23

Enjoy Eucalyptus

@firstsenseinteriors

Skip the regular garland and opt for eucalyptus if you like. Scattering ornaments throughout is a simple way to elevate a classic setup.

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21 of 23

Get Crafty

@dwellaware

For an ultra-cute DIY, make mini Christmas trees out of wooden dowels and attach them to your garland, like Dwell Aware did here. These decorations would also look adorable lining the mantel or standing atop a dresser.
22 of 23

Make a Major Statement

@showpiece_events

Go big or go home! If you're all about larger than life cheer, display nutcracker statues that will command guests' attention, ASAP—these certainly steal the show.
23 of 23

Embrace the Basics

@riveroakhome

Not into adding bits and bobs galore to your garland? There's nothing wrong with simply sticking with the basics. We can imagine this stairwell smells pretty darn amazing, too, thanks to all the evergreen.