HG Openhouse Blog

I’m working my way through the house, adding a bit of “Christmas Cheer” here and there ( it will more “cheery” when everything is done).

I have a very small multi level landing on my stairs (3 1/2 ’ by 7 1/2 ‘). It can be seen from my entry and living room. I thought I’d add some interest to this transitional area.  Just because it’s a small pass-through area doesn’t mean it’s not a very valuable piece of real estate for decorating. I’ve been in others homes like mine and not much attention is paid to this space, (too bad…add  lots of bang for the buck here). So, don’t ignore those landings, it’s a great space to make a big statement.

Here’s what I did to the stairway…( click on pictures to enlarge)

I tore up the old carpet, (it had to go) and sanded and painted the subfloor (this was going to be temporary fix but, I liked it so much, it stayed). I painted the stair treads black, with white risers, and painted a black and white checkerboard with a small red diamond detail on the landing. I added 3 coats of polyurethane for durability, and it’s held up well for many years now ( I often touch up scratches with a black magic marker).

I also had to extend the two side legs of the console table (actually I talked my husband into this…pleeese) to level it with the step change on the landing (don’t look too close).  Also two benches fit under nicely for extra seating in the living room when needed, and, for the ceramic cat to curl up on (my kind of cat).

I added a very large mirror to expand the space, reflect light and add interest to a large wall (also to check out your outfit as you run out the door).

Then a few accessories, lamps, sconces with branches, and seasonal stuff.

Since I’m decorating for Christmas with a coastal theme, I added starfish, shells, and lights to a big wreath hung in front of the mirror. To hang this easily, I bent a wire hanger into an elongated “S” shape and attached one end onto the wreath and the other hooked up over the top of the mirror (works great). Then I covered it with a garland of shells. You can use ribbon, raffia, cording, whatever you want to cover the hanger. I added in some “faux” coral stems in the sconces, some shells and “coral” on a crystal plate, some candles set in sand. It seemed to add the festive touch there, and to the rooms below.

So, that’s the landing ( I used to wrap the railings with garland…too lazy this year, and most of that went into my “tomato cage topiaries”.  I just tell myself “Less Is More”… that’s my story and I’m sticking to it).

Are any of you done decorating  (you O.C.D. people…”Organized Christmas Decorators” will have everything done by now)?  The rest of us…we still have a few more weeks…ahhhh!