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What to consider when choosing Christmas porch decor, ideas for adding color and coziness, and how to use items in unexpected ways.
Where To Start
OK…let’s get this Christmas decorating party started! If you haven’t begun yet, that’s perfectly fine, because everyone still has plenty of time. There are two things to consider when it’s time to choose your outdoor decor for Christmas. First, make sure to reflect your own personal style when making your design choices. This is where I sometimes struggle, because I tend to go for the same look every year. In order to makes things look fresh and updated, your goal should always be to keep the main elements (furniture, door color, etc.) and change the accessories.
Even then, it seems like my accessory categories are always the same. I change my pillow covers, table decor, door wreath, the planter contents, and the doormat. Sometimes I wonder if that’s enough, but like most of you, I can’t reinvent the wheel every time the seasons change. So I choose what I love, do my very best to make it all look festive, and leave it at that!
Second, think about the overall aesthetics of your home. If you have a farmhouse or cottage style home, don’t decorate with bright metallics and neon colors. If you have a home with modern architecture, choose understated and natural decorations. No matter what your style, there are so many possibilities to make your porch look stunning for the holiday season.
Trees + Lights In Planters
You might remember when I shared my holiday decor plan that I fell in love with these expensive faux basket planters. Since they were not in the budget, I looked for something similar, but affordable. After quite a bit of looking, I found large hyacinth baskets, and decided to see if I could make them work. Even I was surprised when they actually did!
How To Assemble the Planters
- The trunks of my mini faux trees are in small planters instead of a normal stand. But I knew I needed to raise the trees up in the baskets, so the first step was finding a way to do that.
- I had 16 inch round planters left over from summer, and they still had the potting soil in them. I placed these planters in the baskets. They helped weigh down the baskets, and they provided a way to raise up the trees.
- I basically “planted” the tree containers in the potting soil. After that, I placed pinecones under the trees so the potting soil wouldn’t be visible.
- The last step was adding lights.
- This whole process took less than 30 minutes, and I love the way these baskets look!
The Front Door
After the planters were in place, I turned my attention to the rest of the front door area. Even though this is the third year I’ve used this particular wreath, I love it as much as the first day I hung it shortly after we moved into this house.
To change the wreath up a little and make it look new, I added a multi-ribbon bow, and some vintage-style gold bells. The wreath and the bells are hung on a Command hook, which made the whole process super simple.
The last must-have item for the door area is a new doormat. My favorite Christmas saying is “home for the holidays,” and I was lucky enough to find a doormat with those sentiments. There was no hesitation when I added it to my cart, and checked out!
OUR TWO BLUE
FRONT DOORS
Get all the paint color information for our blue front doors…at the house on Sutton Place, and at our current home on Sugar Maple Court.
Cozy Seating
This holiday season, our porch sitting area was decked out with items I already had, with the exception of the inexpensive green pillow covers, and the holiday greens buckets. (Which I couldn’t resist!)
Festive Accessories
I used galvanized metal to add a vintage vibe to the sitting area. Fresh pine fills the watering can that’s on the wooden garden stool, and the holiday greens bucket set holds birch logs, faux greenery, and a string of rusty bells.
Other Christmas Porch Decorating Ideas
- Add fresh or faux pine garland to railings, porch posts, or the light post. Include string lights for an added bit of twinkle.
- Incorporate vintage sleds or sleighs as decorative elements. You can place them on your porch and adorn them with wreaths or greenery.
- Hang or display Christmas signs with welcoming messages or holiday-themed sayings.
- Place nutcrackers or toy soldier figurines on your porch for a nod to the classics.
- Stack oversized wrapped boxes or faux presents near the entrance for a charming touch. Coordinate the wrapping paper and bows with your overall color scheme.
- Place battery operated candles in lanterns.
- A budget-friendly idea is to pile pinecones in galvanized buckets or baskets.
- Add fresh greenery to large mason jars. A very fun extra step is to float fresh cranberries or faux red berries in the water.
- For an asymmetrical look, place a grouping of mini trees on one side of your front door.
- Use faux reindeer in various sizes as accessories.
Dressing up your porch with festive Christmas decorations not only transforms the exterior of your home into a warm and inviting space, but also captures the spirit of the season. Whether it’s a classic wreath, twinkling lights, or a cozy sitting area, the simple act of decorating your porch adds joy to your surroundings, and creates a welcoming atmosphere for anyone who visits your home.
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- White Polywood rockers
- Red plaid throw blanket (similar)
- Green snowflake pillows
- Wood garden stool
- Galvanized watering can
- Set of 3 buckets (sold out–here is a similar set of 2)
- Birch logs
- Rusted bells
- Door wreath
- Plaid ribbon
- Gold bells
- Baskets
- Mini trees
- Doormat
More Christmas Porch Decor Ideas
- Our Last Christmas on Sutton Place
- Our First Christmas on Sugar Maple Court
- Christmas Porch 2022
- Christmas Porch 2024
Wrapped With A Bow
Unlock the art of beautiful gift wrapping with this free guide,
and turn every present into a magical moment this Christmas!
Your Holiday Ideas Hub
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- 10 DIY Christmas Tree Garland + Ornament Ideas
- How To Downsize Your Christmas Tree
- Air Dry Clay Christmas Ornaments
- Cinnamon Applesauce Christmas Ornaments
- How To Make Dried Orange Slices
- Traditional Pecan Tassies
- How to Make Sugared Cranberries
I’m planning on simplifying this year. I always say that…lol. We had a great year of rain so I’m going to trim my cedar, arborvitae, and boxwood for the holidays…and I love how all your trimmings are natural. Very pretty and I bet it smells fabulous. And we have had a deep freeze so there will be no bugs…Happy Holidays, Sandi
Love your front porch especially the little trees. It all looks so inviting. I agree, don’t reinvent the wheel!!
Your mini trees in the baskets are absolutely adorable! I love the texture and color they bring. Festive without being “over the top”. Just lovely! Merry Christmas!
Love this porch it looks amazing and welcoming. Some great pieces that could be used through winter too. Thank you.
Best Christmas porch I’ve seen this year! Especially love the tins and the type of evergreen in the mini trees and wreath.
Ann this is so beautiful! I love how cozy your porch is and I absolutely adore the trees in the basket. Super chic.
I always love seeing your porch Ann! The blue of your door looks so good with all of the greenery! Great porch decorating tips – I’ll be working on ours this weekend! Wishing you a very merry holiday season!
So welcoming! I love the colors you used. It is breathtaking!
I just love your porch decorated for the holidays, it’s so welcoming and beautiful!!! Merry Christmas.
What a beautiful Christmas porch! I need those little trees. Happy Holidays
Charming Ann. A wonderful welcome for guests. Good helpful tips and reminders.
Good morning Ann
I love reading and now watching your inspirational ideas
Although I live in Brisbane Australia where it is summer many of your ideas are easily transferable to the hotter climate
Thank you
So fresh and simple! Love it!
The front porch looks very nice and festive! Love the wreaths you put on the chairs!
Have a great week!!
Your front porch is so inviting! :)
That is my challenge to myself every year, use the same things in fresh ways. Your porch is lovely.
Your porch is one of my favorite spaces! Thank you for sharing!
Ann,
Everything you share is beautiful. Whenever I need some inspiration or want to look at lovely things/ideas, I visit you, including your older posts. You share great tips to help jump start my own decorating.
Hope you are having a wonderful holiday season… your decor looks like it.
Judith
Simple, crisp, festive
Always great ideas. Looks really good.
Since I lived in sorta your area for a long time you need to go to
Ashland Ohio and go to the Parsley Pot on Middle Rowsburg in Ashland. You would love it. Great products and just a fun locally owned store.
Gorgeous, and i adore the pillows.
Jane
You have definitely inspired me to do something different on my porch this year. Thanks. I love your porch. Pine is something we have an abundance of in Northeast Florida!
Love this, simple and classic!!!
Love your porch.it looks so welcoming.
I love the classic colors of Christmas and the fresh pines in the watering can made my heart smile:).
Kathleen in Az
It is indeed a warm, inviting look. I always appreciate how you keep things simple yet beautiful, without a lot of overdone-fussiness! And I completely concur with your outlook that favorite things can be used from one year to the next just by arranging them in different combinations, or adding one or two new elements. Thank you so much for the inspiration!
Beautiful as always!
Red and green,so classic and pretty.