When it comes to outdoor holiday decorating, your house doesn’t have to look like Clark Griswold’s in the movie “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”. Outdoor decorating can carry all of the class, elegance, and fun that your indoor decorations provide throughout the season.
Instead of decorating your entire façade in lights, why not concentrate just on your front door? To begin, start with new outdoor area rugs to literally roll out the welcome mat. You can find area rugs at great prices online.
Next, choose a theme. Bear in mind that “holidays” or “Christmas” aren’t really themes. There are so many other ways you can go with it! Maybe you collect ornaments for each place you’ve traveled – a world traveler theme would then make a great choice. Maybe toy soldiers always remind you of Christmases as a child – purchase small wooden soldiers at a holiday store and go from there. If you’re at a loss, here are a few examples to get the creative juices flowing:
Candy canes
A festive red and white theme will make for the sweetest treat in the neighborhood. Combine strands of red and white lights to surround your doorway. On either side of the entrance, place large foam candy canes. You can cover the white canes with red and white bulb ornaments in the classic twisting pattern. Just be sure and choose bulbs that have a slight sheen to them instead of a matte texture. The shine will pick up the light from the twinkle lights and make the candy canes appear to sparkle. Red outdoor area rugs or white ones will cap off the look.
Rustic winter wonderland
Imagine a winter walk through the forest in the snow. That’s the mood this design idea captures. Purchase two small Christmas trees for either side of your entrance (fake is ok!). Decorate each with small pine cones and a light dusting of fake snow spray. You can usually purchase the spray at craft stores. Keep in mind while using it that less is more! Decorate porch benches or the steps up to your home with boughs of real evergreen, dotted with more pinecones or even green glass bulb ornaments. This will make for a beautiful daytime look, but at night, a simple white spotlight will show off its elegance.
Mardi gras
This is a fun and festive idea that brings out the season’s richer tones – gold, green, and purple – and lets your visitors know you think of the season as one big party. Starting with a simple green wreathe, wrap strands of Mardi gras beads in gold and purple around the wreathe. Dot the wreathe with tiny purple and gold holiday balls from the dollar store for extra pops of color. Use the same color palette to decorate your doorway and porch railings with large, wired ribbon or large holiday lights.
White Christmas
No, I’m not talking about the classic Bing Crosby movie (although watching it might get you into the spirit!). I’m talking about bathing your entryway in simple and sparkling white light. Seek out cylindrical vases with frosted glass in varying sizes. You can fill them with white twinkle lights loosely coiled inside the glass. Hide the cord by running it up the back of the vase and tucking it behind it. Cluster your vases near your doorway, create a path to your door, or place one on each stair.
Gifts, gifts, and more gifts
Make your neighbors think Santa stopped at your place first! Wrap up large, sturdy cardboard boxes in heavy wrapping paper and decorate with wired ribbon. Stack or prop the boxes near your door and on any outdoor seating. Decorate around the boxes sheets of batting to create fake snow. Then, it’s up to you: decorate your doorway with long strands of evergreen garland, string the boxes with white twinkle lights, add a giant gift tag featuring your family’s last name…the possibilities are endless! Just use your imagination and don’t be afraid to let your kids get in on the action. Even the youngest ones will want to help “play Santa” as you wrap the boxes and decide where to place them.