Christmas is just around the corner, and if you're anything like me, you can’t wait to break out the decorations and create something simple yet stunning.
My holiday style has never followed a strict theme; it’s more a mix of pieces I’ve collected and loved over the years. But this season, I’m hoping to bring in more natural decorative elements – think fresh foliage, foraged branches, and clusters of winter berries.
Kourtney Kardashian did this beautifully with her greenery-draped, twinkle-lit banister. I love how the lights climb the staircase and glow softly through the foliage – it feels effortless and magical.
To better understand from a gardener's perspective why the blend of Christmas magic and greenery works so well together, I spoke to some plant pros. They shared their thoughts with me on Kourtney's banister, as well as on how to get the look using real plants.
Why is Staircase Greenery so Effective?
In Kourtney's post, her twinkling faux greenery appears to continuously wind around the banister and travel up the stairs. When you pause to think about it, it's honestly the perfect place to add decoration, as it's a high-traffic area people pass and see but don't tend to linger by, so the decor won't get in the way.
As Oliver Burgess of Oliver Burgess Garden Design explains: "A staircase is a great place for Christmas decor because everyone passes it, it gives impact from every angle, and the greenery stays out of the way from seating and surfaces."
Speaking more specifically about the beauty foliage adds to a staircase, Oliver explained how effortlessly touches of the natural world can bring elegance and softness to a space, embracing the classy coziness of the holidays.
"Wrapping foliage around a banister creates a flowing green ribbon that runs throughout the house. It softens the hard lines of the staircase and gently leads your eye up (or down) the stairs. It's effective because it follows the architecture instead of looking out of place.
"It looks great because the garland is generous and full, with enough length to drape and pool slightly at the base. The colour palette of deep green and warm lights feels luxurious and calm."
Get the Look with Garden Greenery
The key to recreating Kourtney's chic stairwell is to pick long, flexible stems of plants to work with, as well as to consider layering.
Faux foliage is often more bushy than the real plants you'll be using to decorate, so it's important to think about what other elements you could incorporate to fill in any gaps.
Perhaps larger lights could do the trick, or maybe you wish to add in faux clip-on pinecones or wild berries for a pop of colour.
"If you're seeking to recreate Kourtney's banister with real greenery, I recommend beginning by using long and flexible stems of fir, pine, or cedar as the base, then layering it with ivy, laurel, eucalyptus, and holly for texture and depth."
Not only will these plants complement one another beautifully, but just imagine the lovely woody scents lingering in your home.
Making an Impact
In a conversation with Adrian Aviles of Athletic Club Flower Shop, he noted how it's important to strike the right balance between artificial and natural with the plants and lights – and I couldn't agree more with his wisdom.
"Kourtney’s garland works because it isn’t timid. It’s full, drapey, and confident. The greenery has enough volume to make an impact, and the warm lights create a soft glow that plays nicely against the dark wood and modern lines of the house. It strikes a balance between being intentional and feeling natural."
If you're unsure whether your balance is off, try taking a step back and looking at it from a distance. From there, you can always make tweaks. Happy decorating!
Shop the Look
Elevate your greenery with some beautiful sparkling lights. These ones are a classic color that will work beautifully with any other surrounding decor.
These natural pine cones are snow tipped and have wired picks to make them easy to attach to festive wreaths and garlands.
This pack of 16 assorted pine berry branches is perfect for adding a festive pop of color to your natural decorations.
