Last Updated on September 16, 2024 by lindseymahoney
Every year I create a classic garland look on the staircase of our grand, two-story foyer. Our entryway is one of my favorite rooms in our home because of the high ceilings, sweeping staircase, and beautiful chandelier. This space was made for the holidays and really shows off in November and December. While I love to give this space some holiday cheer, I do not like to spend a fortune doing it!
Check out how I created this beautiful staircase garland for $20 this year! I am a firm believer that you don’t have to drain your bank account on Christmas decorations every year to create a cozy holiday atmosphere.
The last few Christmases, I have created a holiday garland that swags down the staircase with a pop of red ribbons throughout.
I am excited to try something a little new and take you along throughout the process.
Let’s get started!
Materials Needed
The amount of materials you will need really depends on the size of your staircase. Our banister is 25 feet long, so I needed enough material to wrap around the entire handrail.
- Artificial garland (owned) – similar
- Fresh garlands (25′ from Costco) – $20
- Floral wire (owned)
- 2 strands of warm white Christmas lights (owned)
- Extension cord (owned)
How to Create Christmas Garland and Hang on Stairs
[Affiliate links are included in this blog post! When purchases are made through these links I receive a small commission at no additional cost to the buyer. Thanks for supporting Building Bluebird!]
1 | Attach the Base Garland
A few years ago I bought a bag of old fake garland strands for $10 at a local estate sale. On their own, they are not my favorite, but they look great when combined with other garland strands that I want to look fuller.
Instead of doing the swag garland down the banister, I decided to attach the garland straight to the top of the banister.
Luckily, I had just enough of this faux garland to create a great base layer for the Christmas garland design. Beginning at the top of the staircase, I attached the strand of garland to the stair railing using floral wire. Zip ties are another great option if they are long enough to wrap around the staircase banister.
2 | Fluff the Faux Garland
Once the Christmas garland was secure on the staircase, I straightened the branches to give the garland a more realistic and full look.
Straightening the branches in all directions creates maximum volume.
3 | Attach the Cedar Garland
For the second garland layer, I used live cedar garland from our local Costco. This year’s Christmas garland staircase design included fresh greenery draped to the floor.
To guarantee that the base of the staircase looked exactly how I wanted it to look, I started attaching the real greenery at the bottom of the stairs and worked my way up.
The same technique was used to attach the cedar garland to the grand staircase. Using floral wire, I secured the cedar garland to the banister.
Once I attach the second layer of garland, I spent some time arranging the fake garland branches to blend with the cedar garland on top.
4 | Weave Lights into the Christmas Garland
The final touch of this year’s Christmas garland staircase design is twinkle lights!
I started at the top of the staircase and weaved two strands of warm white string lights through the greenery to really make the garland shine this holiday season.
2023 Christmas Garland Staircase REVEAL
A simple green and red color palette with soft glowing lights is a classic look for the holidays.
I love the traditional look of this inexpensive Christmas garland DIY on our staircase. This style of garland can be tweaked in many ways depending on the look you want for the holidays.
Here are a few ideas if you want to embellish your DIY garland:
- Dried orange slices hanging from the greenery would really be breathtaking.
- Consider adding more natural elements like twigs, pine cones, and magnolia leaves for added dimension
- For a “more is more” garland, add Christmas ornaments (attach ornaments in 3’s for a balanced look) and winding colorful Christmas ribbon throughout the garland.
The best part about this Christmas garland design is that you can keep it as simple or make it as ornate as you want!
The pop of red from the poinsettia plant adds that traditional feel that I love during the Christmas season.
Thanks for checking out my 2023 Christmas garland staircase DIY! I hope these Christmas garland ideas inspire you to create your own Christmas garland this year in your home.
Merry Christmas!
More Content You Will Love
- Create a Beautiful Christmas Mantel with Asymmetrical Garland | Affordable DIY
- How to Hang Christmas Garland Outdoors with Lights
- Stunning Blue and White Christmas Decor Ideas
- 10 Unique Ways to Decorate with Christmas Tree Trimmings
- How to Make Art Prints Look Like a Vintage Painting
- 15+ Thrifted Christmas Decor Items to Buy This Year
- How to Make a Stunning Gift Bow Out of Ribbon
- How to Flock a Christmas Tree | Trendy Holiday DIY