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Holiday Decorating

Christmas inside, tree, mantel and stairs.

The short answerFor a designer Christmas interior, start with a realistic tree and put lights on first (about 100 per vertical foot), then ribbon, then ornaments from largest to smallest, and finish with a tree collar or skirt. On the mantel, drape a full garland and hang matching stockings. Wrap the staircase banister with garland tied at each post. Repeat one palette (green, red velvet, brass) in every room.

The Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma look comes from repetition: the same greens, ribbon and metal finish on the tree, the mantel and the stairs.

OccasionChristmasChristmas Interior
Styling time2–4 hrsestimate
DifficultyEasy
Pieces8shoppable

Williams Sonoma prices are the lowest listed price as of Oct 15, 2026 and change often. Many seasonal pieces have few or no public reviews, so we pick on materials, craftsmanship and retailer reputation and show star ratings only when we could verify them.

Christmas Interior: Tree, Mantel & Staircase
6 stepsCurated from premium retailers. Prices verified and dated.
Photo: Jocelyn Allen on Unsplash
The Look

Palette & mood.

Heirloom velvet. Realistic fir, red velvet and tartan, aged brass and glass ornaments, cream wool and warm-white light.

Balsam fir
Red velvet
Tartan green
Aged brass
Cream wool
Shop the Look

The pieces, curated.

Tick items off as you shop. Links and prices were checked on 2026-10-15. Seasonal décor sells out; if a piece is gone, match the material and color.

The statement pieces

3 items

Layers & finishing

5 items
The Styling

Style it, step by step.

  1. 01

    Set the tree

    Fluff every branch tip from the inside out. It's the step that makes faux look real.

  2. 02

    Lights first

    Weave lights deep into the branches, about 100 bulbs per vertical foot.

  3. 03

    Ribbon

    Tuck ribbon in loose vertical cascades or diagonal swags.

  4. 04

    Ornaments, big to small

    Hang large ornaments deep inside, then medium, then small at the tips.

  5. 05

    Mantel & stockings

    Drape garland, layer in candles and greens, and hang matching stockings on weighted holders.

  6. 06

    Wrap the staircase

    Zip-tie garland to the banister and add a bow at each post or every few feet.

Watch First

See it done, then do it.

Our picks of the clearest inspiration and how-to videos. Credit and copyright belong to the creators.

Jennifer Decorates

8 Steps to Decorating a Christmas Tree Like a Designer

Designer tree method, step by step.

Visit channel ↗
Lisa Robertson

What You Need to Hang a Garland on Your Mantel for Christmas (Part 1 of 9)

Mantel garland from a QVC home designer.

Visit channel ↗
Good Questions

Before you start.

How many lights does a Christmas tree need?

A common designer rule is about 100 lights per vertical foot, so roughly 750 for a 7.5 ft tree, more for a fuller look.

In what order should I decorate the tree?

Lights, then garland or ribbon, then ornaments from largest to smallest, then the topper and the skirt or collar.

How do I attach garland to a staircase without damage?

Use zip ties or soft velvet ties around the balusters instead of nails or tape, and cover them with bows.

The Monthly Punch List

One email a month. What to fix, before it breaks.

Seasonal maintenance, the tools worth buying, and a new guide each month.

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