How to Decorate Stairways and Railings for Christmas

The Christmas holiday season is a time for celebration and frolicking festivities for all ages. Decorating for these gatherings is the most fun of all. Adjusting each light to perfection, hanging every ornament in just the right spot are rituals that go on for generations. Most people decorate their living rooms, dining rooms and kitchens, even the bathroom gets lavished in bright red and green just as soon if not before we finish our Thanksgiving dinner. So many beautiful decorations to be had and so little spaces to decorate, but what about the most overlooked space of them all; the stairway and railing.

How many times have you decorated for the holidays and left out the stairway and/or railing, whether it is the steps leading to your front, back or side door or the main staircase inside your home the staircase is the only way to maneuver hour home.

There are safety issues that come to mind when it comes to stairs and clutter, so you may want to factor in all the potential downsides to actually placing decorations on the steps themselves. Unless your staircase is wide enough to accommodate people of all shapes and sizes without the decorations blocking a clear path I don't suggest you place anything on the steps themselves.

Instead, you can swag ribbon or garland from the top to the bottom of the railing. Swagging is very easy to do. First you need to measure your railing and add enough extra length to your actual length to allow for swagging.

Swags should be even in length so be sure to get enough materials to create the look you are going for. You can connect your swag with an array of hooks and clips that are available at your local hardware store choose the one that is right for you. I prefer to use the self adhesive kind that is removable and reusable.

You can mask the hooks and clips with your materials by bunching at the clip section of decorations. I like to use natural evergreen branches for the steps outside of the house; it stays fresh from the cold and smells nice as ascend the stairway.

If you would like to incorporate light into your decorating scheme I suggest you purchase a set that is battery operated to prevent unsightly wires from being seen. Self contained wiring is safety on stairways than using and extension cord.

Run the lights around the garland but be sure the garland is flame retardant, any item that is not flame retardant may catch fire from excessive heat, so know the materials you are working with before you incorporate your decorations.

Christmas wouldn't be a winter holiday without bows, bows are inviting and festive. Clip some bows in between the swags to also assist in camouflaging any clips or hooks you may be using to attach your Christmas Holiday decorations to the railing.

At the bottom of the staircase your hand rail should have a main focal point. I place a very large bow here and let the ribbon from the bow hang all the way down till it is just about to touch the floor. Remember to be careful not to block the stairs where people could fall or trip.

If your steps are wide enough to put a potted plant there are many holiday flowers and plants that can withstand the cold weather so take a trip to your local garden center for some life plants and flowers.

No matter how you decide to decorate your home this Christmas holiday season. Don't forget about your staircase. Bringing the decorations above eye level will help to make your holiday decorations bigger and more beautiful than ever. A railing adorned with beautiful Christmas decorations is appealing to the eye and fills your heart with warm feelings of family.

I hope this guide on how to decorate stairways and railings for the Christmas holiday season assists stairways and railings all over the world to become festive and beautiful. Happy Decorating and remember safety first, you can decorate safe and beautiful all at the same time.