Chances are you decorate your entry door and windows over the holidays. If you have a fireplace mantle, you most certainly take advantage of hanging your stockings and showing off your Christmas collectibles. So don't give up the opportunity to decorate one of the grandest architectural features of a home: the stair banister! If you got it, flaunt it!
Measure your staircase from top to bottom and plan your materials accordingly. If you are draping ribbon, you'll need to use at least double the length of the banister. The same goes for lights and garland. It's always better to have more than less, so a little excess can simply be used somewhere else in your home!
Instead of the usual evergreen garland and red ribbon or bows, try a bright citrus color like orange or a regal color such as fuchsia. Layer a translucent ribbon in the same shade to add depth. A great evergreen alternative is thick wire ribbon draped in loops up the banister. Add large pinecones (we always seem to forget these great accents!) and berry, floral or holly sprays at the top of the loops to make it festive yet natural looking.
Everyone places wreaths on their doors, but what about wreaths attached side by side on the banister? What a great way to showcase them! You can get more creative with the wreath accents then accents on a garland and create a banister that is simply stunning.
Sometimes simple equals elegant. One way to add more floral accent to a simple evergreen garland is to attach white, pink or red silk poinsettias. These gorgeous and traditional Christmas plants have often been resigned to a pot or silk arrangement. Not anymore! Add large bows and berry/pearl sprays in coordinating colors at the top and bottom of the staircase to complete the creation.
Another great take on the Christmas tree is to gather large evergreen boughs and stagger them up the banister. Then take large round ornaments on satin ribbons and hang them from the boughs at different lengths.