No garland? According to Sean Symington, no problem. “Sometimes simplicity is best when decorating for the holidays,” says the designer, who splits his time between London and Toronto. “I opted to ditch the traditional railing garland for elegant green bows up the stairs. I found this beautiful mossy green velvet ribbon and tied simple bows for a dramatic and festive look.”
38 Christmas Stairway Decor Ideas That Are the Epitome of Elevated
We can hear the pitter-patter of little feet already.
By Camille Okhio and Kelsey Mulvey Published: Oct 17, 2023
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We all remember tiptoeing down the stairs on Christmas Eve in the hopes we might spy Santa adding the finishing touches to our gifts. Anticipation, of course, is the central ingredient to the holidays and nothing adds to the effect like decorating the stairway for Christmas. Stairs are, after all, where the Christmas story begins at home, from our bedrooms and our dreams down to our living room, where we convene with our loved ones around a glittering tree.
But what’s the best way to approach your holiday staircase decor? Perhaps you go the conspicuous route, with jingle bells up and down the railings to warn of sneaking children, or you go fragrant and traditional, with holly, thistle, and sumptuous red ribbons. Whatever your style—whether you like to go all out and deck the halls within an inch of their life, or whether you are more of the silent-night type—we have a suggestion for you. Read on for ideas to make your Christmas stairs the grandest of entrances as the season approaches.
Strike a Balance
MOLLY ROSE PHOTO
There’s more to a beautiful staircase idea than covering the railing in something seasonal. “Adding a few decorative items on the steps is always fun as well,” says designer Kate Lester, who offset her garland with festive figurines. “Just be sure to keep the palette neutral so it doesn’t take away from the real show stopper—the garland!
Full Stop!
Courtesy Gregory Blake Sams
You don’t need to cover your entire staircase from top to bottom for a powerful look, as top event planner Gregory Blake Sams proves here in this festive scheme. In an entry where the front door faces the stairway, the bottom of the railing becomes the focal point. Here, garlands, tassels, berries, and magnolia leaves mix to create a heavy, layered decorative statement at the point that matters most.
What will I learn?
During the course you will learn how to:
- Identify materials used to construct a Christmas wreath, for example sundries, dried materials, and fresh materials
- Create a wreath using moss, a wire frame, wreath wrap, mossing pins
- Design a wreath using different materials to include colour harmony, balance, and proportion, following a Christmas theme
- Create a wreath by adding your own distinction into the finished design by using suitable accessories
- Record the costing of the Christmas wreath design for selling purposes, showing a breakdown of materials used and labour charge.
If you would like more information on the learning outcomes, please email [email protected].
During the course you will be observed and coached by your tutor.
What will the course lead on to?
The college offers different themed floristry courses throughout the academic year including, spring, summer, and wedding flowers, along with introduction and next steps courses.
These courses will give you the basic skills required to enable you to progress on to an accredited course with another provider.
Are there any links with industry and university?
The course will give you basic skills and techniques which can be used if you wish to start working or volunteering in a floristry shop or market.
We have a team of staff dedicated to providing learning support if required, as well as a Welfare Team that is on hand to offer guidance, support and help when needed. Additionally, eligible students can access a wide range of finance and funding support to help them during their time at college.
Instruction for a Holiday Wreath #1 (with holly berries)
Row 1: Space 7 times, make “was”, make “with”, make 5 full cells, make “of”, make “were”, make “his”, space 2 times, make “ar”, make :gh”, make “was”, make “were”, make “with”, make 5 full cells, make “of”, make “his”.
Row 2: Space 6 times, make “with”, make “f”, space 4 times, make “was”, make “were”, make “d”, make “er”, make 1 full cell, make “ar”, make letter “l”, space 1 time, make “gh”, make “q”, make “were”, make “his”, space 4 times, make “d”, make 1 full cell, make “of”.
Row 3: Space 6 times, make 2 full cells, space 2 times, make “was”, make “with”, make 6 full cells, make “ar”, make letter “l”, space 1 time, make 4 full cells, make “of”, make “his”, space 2 times, make 2 full cells
Row 4: Space 1 time, make “d”, make 1 full cell, make “of”, space 1 time, make “was”, make “er”, make “f”, make “was”, make “with”, make 4 full cells, make “f”, make “c”2 times, make “er”, make “i”, make “c”, make “f”, make “c” 2 times, make “d”, make 4 full cells, make “of”, make “his”, make “d”, make “q”, make “his”, space 1 time, make “with, make 1 full cell, make “f”.
Row 5: Space 2 times, make “d”, make 1 full cell, make “q”, make ”f”, make “was”, make “with, make 6 full cells, space 3 times, make cell(4, 5, 6), make “c”, make “e”, make letter “l”, space 3 times, make 6 full cells, make “of”, make “his”, make “d”, make “er”, make 1 full cell, make “f”.
Row 6: Space 4 times, make “was”, make “with”, make 5 full cells, make “q”, make “f”, space 1 time, make “e”, make “hyphen” 2 times, make “i”, space 2 times, make “e”, make “hyphen 2 times, make “i”, make, space 1 time, make 7 full cells, make “of”, make “his”.
Row 7: Space 3 times, make “with”, make 6 full cells, make “q”, make “f”, make “e”, make “hyphen 2 times, make “i”, make “gh”, make “e”, make “hyphen 2 times, make “i”, make “ar”, space 1 time, make letter “l”, make “gh”, space 1 time, make “d”, make “er”, make 6, full cells, make “of”.
Row 8: Space 2 times, make “with”, make 7 full cells, make “f”, space 4 times, make “ar”, space 1 time, make letter “l”, make “gh”, space 2 times, make “wh”, space 1 time, make letter “l”, make “s”, space 2 times, “d”, make 7 full cells, make “of”.
Row 9: Space 1 times, make “with”, make 7 full cells, make “f”, space 5 times, make “wh”, space 1 time, make letter “l”, make “s”, space 3 times, make “wh”, make “s”, space 4 times, make “d”, make 7 full cells, make “of”.
Row 10: Make cell dots (5, 6), make 7 full cells, make “f”, space 7 times, make “wh”, make “s”, space 11 times, make “d”, make 7 full cells, make “semicolon”.
Row 11: Make “with”, make 7 full cells, space 22 times, make 7 full cells, make “of”.
Row 12: Make 8 full cells, space 22 times, make 8 full cells.
Row 13: Make 8 full cells, space 22 times, make 8 full cells.
Row 14: Make “er”, make 7 full cells, space 22 times, make 7 full cells, make “q”.
Row 15: Make cell dots (4, 5), make 7 full cells, make “his”, space 20 times, make “was”, make 7 full cells, make “b”.
Row 16: Space 1 time, make “er”, make 7 full cells, make “his”, space 18 times, make “was”, make 7 full cells, make “q”.
Row 17: Space 2 times, make “er”, make 6 full cells, make “of”, make “his”, space 16 times, make “was”, make “with”, make 6 full cells, make “q”.
Row 18: Space 3 times, make “er”, make 7 full cells, make “of”, make “his”, space 12 times, make “was”, make “with”, make 7 full cells, make “q”.
Row 19: Space 4 times, make “d”, make “er”, make 7 full cells, make “of”, make “his”, space 8 times, make “was”, make “with”, make 7 full cells, make “q”, make “f”.
Row 20: Space 6 times, make “d”, make “er”, make 22 full cells, make “q”, make “f”.
Row 21: Space 8 times, make “d”, make “er”, make 18 full cells, make “q”, make “f”.
Row 22: Space 10 times, make “d”, make “er”, make 14 full cells, make “q”, make “f”.
Row 23: Space 13 times, make “d”, make “g”, make “er”, make 6 full cells, make “q”, make “g”, make “f”.
Looks like this:
Instruction for a Holiday Wreath #2 (with bell)
Row 1: Space 7 times, make “was”, make “with”, make 5 full cells, make “of”, make “were”, make “his”, space 4 times, make “was”, make “were”, make “with”, make 5 full cells, make “of”, make “his”.
Row 2: Space 6 times, make “with”, make “f”, space 6 times, make “d”, make “er”, make 1 full cell, make “of”, make “with”, make 1 full cell, make “q”, make “f”, space 6 times, make “d”, make 1 full cell, make “of”.
Row 3: Space 6 times, make 2 full cells, space 2 times, make “was”, make “with”, make 14 full cells, make “of”, make “his”, space 2 times, make 2 full cells
Row 4: Space 1 time, make “d”, make 1 full cell, make “of”, space 1 time, make “was”, make “er”, make “f”, make “was”, make “with”, make 18 full cells, make “of”, make “his”, make “d”, make “q”, make “his”, space 1 time, make “with, make 1 full cell, make “f”.
Row 5: Space 2 times, make “d”, make 1 full cell, make “q”, make ”f”, make “was”, make “with, make 7 full cells, make “q”, make 1 full cell, make “q”, make 2 “c”, make “er”, make 1 full cell, make “er”, make 7 full cells, make “of”, make “his”, make “d”, make “er”, make 1 full cell, make “f”.
Row 6: Space 4 times, make “was”, make “with”, make 5 full cells, make “q”, make “g”, make “f”, make “a”, make “f”, make 1 full cell, make “f”, space 2 times, make “d”, make 1 full cell, make “d”, make cell dot (3), make “d”, make “g”, make “er”, 5 full cells, make “of”, make “his”.
Row 7: Space 3 times, make “was”, make “with”, make 5 full cells, make “q”, make “f”, space 3 times, make “was”, make “q”, space 4 times, make “er”, make “his”, space 3 times, make “d”, make “er”, make 5 full cells, make “of”, make “his”.
Row 8: Space 2 times, make “was”, make “with”, make 6 full cells, make “f”, space 4 times, make 1 full cell, space 6 times, make 1 full cell, space 4 times, make “d”, make 6 full cells, make “of”, make “his”.
Row 9: Space 1 times, make “was”, make “with”, make 6 full cells, make “f”, space 5 times, make 1 full cell, space 6 times, make 1 full cell, space 5 times, make “d”, make 6 full cells, make “of”, make “his”.
Row 10: Make cell dots (5, 6), make 7 full cells, make “f”, space 4 times, make “was”, make 1 full cell, make “f”, space 6 times, make “d”, make 1 full cell, make “his”, space 4 times, make “d”, make 7 full cells, make “semicolon”.
Row 11: Make “with”, make 7 full cells, space 5 times, make 1 full cell, make “of”, Make “were” 8 times, make “with”, make 1 full cell, space 5 times, make 7 full cells, make “of”.
Row 12: Make 8 full cells, space 10 times, make “er”, make “q”, space 10 times, make 8 full cells.
Row 13: Make 8 full cells, space 22 times, make 8 full cells.
Row 14: Make “er”, make 7 full cells, space 22 times, make 7 full cells, make “q”.
Row 15: Make cell dots (4, 5), make 7 full cells, make “his”, space 20 times, make “was”, make 7 full cells, make “b”.
Row 16: Space 1 time, make “er”, make 7 full cells, make “his”, space 18 times, make “was”, make 7 full cells, make “q”.
Row 17: Space 2 times, make “er”, make 6 full cells, make “of”, make “his”, space 16 times, make “was”, make “with”, make 6 full cells, make “q”.
Row 18: Space 3 times, make “er”, make 7 full cells, make “of”, make “his”, space 12 times, make “was”, make “with”, make 7 full cells, make “q”.
Row 19: Space 4 times, make “d”, make “er”, make 7 full cells, make “of”, make “his”, space 8 times, make “was”, make “with”, make 7 full cells, make “q”, make “f”.
Row 20: Space 6 times, make “d”, make “er”, make 22 full cells, make “q”, make “f”.
Row 21: Space 8 times, make “d”, make “er”, make 18 full cells, make “q”, make “f”.
Row 22: Space 10 times, make “d”, make “er”, make 14 full cells, make “q”, make “f”.
Row 23: Space 13 times, make “d”, make “g”, make “er”, make 6 full cells, make “q”, make “g”, make “f”.
Instruction for a Holiday Wreath #3 (with bell and berries)
Row 1: Space 7 times, make “was”, make “with”, make 5 full cells, make “of”, make “were”, make “his”, space 2 times, make “ar”, make :gh”, make “was”, make “were”, make “with”, make 5 full cells, make “of”, make “his”.
Row 2: Space 6 times, make “with”, make “f”, space 4 times, make “was”, make “were”, make “d”, make “er”, make 1 full cell, make “ar”, make letter “l”, space 1 time, make “gh”, make “q”, make “were”, make “his”, space 4 times, make “d”, make 1 full cell, make “of”.
Row 3: Space 6 times, make 2 full cells, space 2 times, make “was”, make “with”, make 6 full cells, make “ar”, make letter “l”, space 1 time, make 4 full cells, make “of”, make “his”, space 2 times, make 2 full cells
Row 4: Space 1 time, make “d”, make 1 full cell, make “of”, space 1 time, make “was”, make “er”, make “f”, make “was”, make “with”, make 4 full cells, make “f”, make “c” 2 times, make “er”, make “i”, make “c”, make “f”, make “c” 2 times, make “d”, make 4 full cells, make “of”, make “his”, make “d”, make “q”, make “his”, space 1 time, make “with”, make 1 full cell, make “f”.
Row 5: Space 2 times, make “d”, make 1 full cell, make “q”, make ”f”, make “was”, make “with, make 6 full cells, space 3 times, make cell(4, 5, 6), make “c”, make “e”, make letter “l”, space 3 times, make 6 full cells, make “of”, make “his”, make “d”, make “er”, make 1 full cell, make “f”.
Row 6: Space 4 times, make “was”, make “with”, make 5 full cells, make “q”, make “f”, space 1 time, make “e”, make “hyphen” 2 times, make “i”, space 2 times, make “e”, make “hyphen” 2 times, make “i”, make, space 1 time, make 7 full cells, make “of”, make “his”.
Row 7: Space 3 times, make “with”, make 6 full cells, make “q”, make “f”, make “e”, make “hyphen” 2 times, make “i”, make “st”, make “e”, make “hyphen” 2 times, make “i”, space 1 time, make “e”, make “hyphen” 2 times, make “i”, make “d”, make “er”, make 6 full cells, make “of”.
Row 8: Space 2 times, make “with”, make 7 full cells, make “f”, space 1 times, make “gh”, make letter “l”, make “ar”, make 1 full cell, make “gh”, make cell (4, 5, 6,), space 1 time, make “gh”, space 2 times, make full cell, space 4 times, “d”, make 7 full cells, make “of”.
Row 9: Space 1 times, make “with”, make 7 full cells, make “f”, space 5 times, make full cell, space 1 time, make “e”, make “i”, space 3 times, make full cell, space 5 times, make “d”, make 7 full cells, make “of”.
Row 10: Make cell dots (5, 6), make 7 full cells, make “f”, space 4 times, make “was”, make 1 full cell, make “f”, space 6 times, make “d”, make 1 full cell, make “his”, space 4 times, make “d”, make 7 full cells, make “semicolon”.
Row 11: Make “with”, make 7 full cells, space 5 times, make 1 full cell, make “of”, Make “were” 8 times, make “with”, make 1 full cell, space 5 times, make 7 full cells, make “of”.
Row 12: Make 8 full cells, space 10 times, make “er”, make “q”, space 10 times, make 8 full cells.
Row 13: Make 8 full cells, space 22 times, make 8 full cells.
Row 14: Make “er”, make 7 full cells, space 22 times, make 7 full cells, make “q”.
Row 15: Make cell dots (4, 5), make 7 full cells, make “his”, space 20 times, make “was”, make 7 full cells, make “b”.
Row 16: Space 1 time, make “er”, make 7 full cells, make “his”, space 18 times, make “was”, make 7 full cells, make “q”.
Row 17: Space 2 times, make “er”, make 6 full cells, make “of”, make “his”, space 16 times, make “was”, make “with”, make 6 full cells, make “q”.
Row 18: Space 3 times, make “er”, make 7 full cells, make “of”, make “his”, space 12 times, make “was”, make “with”, make 7 full cells, make “q”.
Row 19: Space 4 times, make “d”, make “er”, make 7 full cells, make “of”, make “his”, space 8 times, make “was”, make “with”, make 7 full cells, make “q”, make “f”.
Row 20: Space 6 times, make “d”, make “er”, make 22 full cells, make “q”, make “f”.
Row 21: Space 8 times, make “d”, make “er”, make 18 full cells, make “q”, make “f”.
Row 22: Space 10 times, make “d”, make “er”, make 14 full cells, make “q”, make “f”.
Row 23: Space 13 times, make “d”, make “g”, make “er”, make 6 full cells, make “q”, make “g”, make “f”.
