Christmas Porch Decorations

As you start thinking about Christmas porch decorations, decide what you want to include. A live tree gives your porch a festive feel, as well as a focal point. Place the tree on one end of your porch so it doesn’t block the doorway. Decorate it with larger-sized lights that can easily be seen from the street.

Instead of hanging delicate ornaments on the tree, you can use nature’s bounty. Make a garland out of berries. You can hang pinecones from the branches instead of ornaments. Try spray painting the pinecones gold or silver and hang them once they're dry.

Drape evergreen garlands over the rails of your porch, as well as around the doors and windows. While you can get pre-made garland, you can also put together your own. If you have evergreen trees on your property, clip branches to use for a garland. If not, you can often get branches at a tree lot or farm.

Make swags of magnolia leaves and add seed cones, fresh sprigs of pine or other greenery. Hang them by the front door or windows.

An evergreen wreath is essentially a blank canvas. Decorate it to match your existing porch decor or showcase a few of your favorite symbols of the season.

• Go traditional with plaid ribbon.
• If you have a bold-colored front door, choose ribbon for your wreath in a complementary color.
• Accent your wreath with natural materials, like berries and pinecones.
• Wire on a few holiday-themed cookie cutters or small Christmas characters, like Santa, elves or reindeer.

Create a centerpiece on your porch by filling empty window boxes with pine or other holiday tree branches. Adorn with pinecones, ornaments, bows, lights and more. If your porch doesn’t have window boxes, you can use wood crates to hold arrangements of evergreen branches. Want to add even more greenery? Fill galvanized buckets with small trees. Display your own wooden signs with pre-cut letters or paint that say festive messages, like “Joy” and “Merry Christmas”.

If you live in an area with a warm winter, like Florida, south Texas or southern California, you can display ornamental Christmas plants on your porch. Go classic with one of the many varieties of red poinsettias. These seasonal favorites are also available in white and pink, as well as some patterns that combine the colors.

If your home is in a colder climate, you can use artificial plants on your porch. You could also add holiday-themed throw pillows featuring poinsettias to your porch furniture.

Using items you already have will help you stay on budget with your Christmas porch decorations. Below are a few ideas.

• Stuff a pair of rain boots with branches of greenery.
• Make a bucket of tools feel more festive with ribbons and sprigs of plants.
• Try filling a galvanized beverage tub with pinecones. Top it off with a DIY bow.
• Create a snowflake with old paint stirring sticks and spray paint. Tack the sticks together with nails in the shape of a snowflake.

Transform your porch with containers of burlap-wrapped, cone-shaped trees, such as emerald arborvitae. Trees look great in containers, and later, you can transplant them to your yard. Set out smaller planters filled with rosemary or miniature trees. Complete your Christmas decorations with more greenery, ornaments and string lights. A good alternative to live trees are artificial potted trees that come with lights.

As you decorate your porch, don’t forget the front door. It’s the ideal place to hang a wreath or accent with fresh or faux Christmas greenery that frames the entranceway. A Christmas door cover can make a door look like it’s gift wrapped. Or choose a classic holiday cartoon to delight the kids. You might even want to try making a life-size cutout of Santa or a snowman to adorn your door.