How to Hang Garland on a Staircase (My Exact Garland Recipe)

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For our staircase garland, I used eight Draping Norfolk Pine garlands, two Draping Lebanon Cedars and two regular Norfolk Pines, then tucked in pinecone stems and seeded eucalyptus pod picks and finished with two sets of hanging bells. Layering two or three garland types is what makes it look full and natural. Here's my exact recipe.

1. Plan your staircase garland count

Every garland in this recipe is from Darby Creek, and the draping garlands come in 4-foot lengths. So I'd start by measuring the railing and counting how many 4-foot pieces it takes to run from the bottom post to the top, then add a little extra for the swoop at the bottom. If you're dressing both sides, like we do, double it. My full mix for both railings was eight draping Norfolk, two draping cedar and two regular Norfolk, plus 12 pine cone stems and 20 seeded eucalyptus pod stems.

2. Start with the fullest garland

If I could only decorate with one thing every Christmas, it would be garlands, and this is the one I build on. The Draping Norfolk Pine is so full and so lush and thick. If you don't want to buy multiple garlands and layer them together, this is the one I'd get. I'd lay it along the handrail first and let the ends hang long at the bottom post so it cascades toward the floor.

3. Layer in a second texture

Once the base is on, I add the draping Lebanon cedar and a couple of regular Norfolk pine garlands on top. The cedar adds a softer, dripping texture, and the Norfolk Collection comes in lengths from 5 to 30 feet, so it's easy to fill a long run. This mix of textures and greenery gives the stairs a luxury holiday look, while still feeling natural and classic. If you're deciding between garland types, I compared them in my faux Christmas garland guide.

4. Secure it without damaging the railing

I hung the holiday swags on our barstools with 3M Command hooks and zip ties for a clean, damage-free way to secure garland without hardware or drilling, and I'd highly recommend it for railings too. Here's how I'd do it on stairs: stick a few adhesive zip tie mounts along the underside of the handrail, run a zip tie through each one and around the garland, then trim the tails and fluff the greenery over them. The barstool version is in my Christmas kitchen decor post.

5. Tuck in pinecones and picks

Picks are what make a staircase garland look finished instead of flat. I used pinecone stems and seeded eucalyptus pod picks. The pinecone spray is 40 inches tall and comes as a bundle of three wired stems, and the mixed cedar pick is 14 inches tall with a wired stem. Both bend or cut with wire cutters, so I'd cut them down and tuck them in where the garland dips, at each post and in any thin spots. The retailer notes that the snow flocking and glitter on the pinecone spray may shed when you handle it.

6. Finish with bells

Two sets of hanging bells finish it off with the perfect warm holiday charm. The gold bells I linked with this staircase have changed on Darby Creek's site, and the listing now shows a different painted bell, so I left that link out. If you want the same little-bells look, Darby's antique bronze mini bell trio is a fresh find that's in stock right now. It comes as a set of three, with three bells on each jute hanger. I'd hang one near the bottom post and one partway up. For ribbon and bow ideas, see my Christmas decor trends for 2026.

7. Add battery lights (optional)

Battery string lights mean there's no cord running down the stairs to an outlet. These are the battery string lights I linked with the greenery and soft twinkle lights on our mantel. I'd weave them deep into the garland so you see the glow, not the wire, and tuck the battery pack behind a thick spot near the top. For my full lighting and mantel layering, see how I decorate a Christmas mantel with garland.

Frequently asked questions

Does staircase garland work on a floating staircase?

Yes. Ours is a floating staircase with a slim black handrail and cable railing, and the garland runs along the handrail and hangs down past the treads. The bottom post is where I let it pool and cascade the most.

Every piece is on my Shop page, and you can see more of our rooms on Shop the Look. If you're just getting started this weekend, begin with where to start decorating for Christmas and my budget Christmas decor finds.