How do I decorate my mantel and staircase with holiday flowers and greenery?
The Short Answer
Mantels and staircases come alive with fresh garland as the base, then layered accents like berries, candles, ornaments, and a few bold blooms. Anchor the garland securely, build in loose focal clusters rather than spreading everything evenly, and repeat one or two colors for a cohesive, magazine-worthy look.
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Start with a strong green base
Every great holiday mantel or staircase begins with garland doing the heavy lifting. Fresh mixed-evergreen garland, cedar, pine, and fir, gives you fragrance and a full, natural drape that faux greenery cannot quite match. On a mantel, let it swag gently and trail off the ends; on a staircase, drape it along the rail and secure it every couple of feet with floral wire or zip ties hidden beneath the greens so it stays put through the season. Fullness is your friend here, so err toward more garland than you think you need. A dense green base makes every accent you add look intentional.
Layer accents and focal points
Once the greens are set, layer in texture and color. Rather than sprinkling accents evenly, build two or three focal clusters, gathering berries, pinecones, ribbon loops, ornaments, and a few statement blooms like amaryllis, roses, or magnolia at those spots. This creates rhythm and keeps the eye moving. Tuck water-tubed fresh flowers into the garland for pops of living color, and weave in ribbon that threads through the whole run to tie it together. On a mantel, flank the arrangement with candles or lanterns for height and glow, especially welcome during Michigan’s early winter dusk.
Keep it fresh and safe
Fresh greenery on a mantel sits near heat and candles, so play it safe. Keep real greens back from active flames and consider flameless candles right against the garland, saving open flames for glass hurricanes with clearance. Mist the greens every few days and keep them out of direct sun to slow drying in our heated homes. Refresh any fresh blooms in water tubes as needed. Building a lush mantel or staircase takes materials and time, so many people have our designers create custom garland to their measurements. Use these ideas to plan, then order at bentleyflorist.com.
Planning Tips From Our Designers
- Use full, fresh mixed-evergreen garland as your base layer.
- Secure garland every couple of feet with hidden wire or ties.
- Build two or three focal clusters instead of spreading accents evenly.
- Add height and glow with lanterns or flameless candles.
- Keep fresh greens away from open flame, heat vents, and direct sun.
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