30+ Outdoor Christmas Decorating Ideas to Try This Year

Make the holidays—and your home—feel merry and bright.

outdoor
Sara Ligorria-Tramp;Sugar & Charm

Winter is upon us, which means you’re likely getting reacquainted with the great indoors. But just because you will be spending the foreseeable future curled up at home doesn’t mean your space’s exterior has to take a back seat. In reality, it’s exactly the opposite. Whether you’re hosting a holiday soiree or receiving a lot of packages, your home’s facade is the first thing everyone will see when they set foot on your property. So if you’ve already decked your interiors’ halls with boughs of holly, you might want to consider turning your attention outward.

At first thought, dressing up your home’s exterior seems formulaic, a feat that can easily be accomplished with strategically placed wreaths, garland, and twinkling lights. But with so many textures and palettes to choose from, it is possible to make your home’s facade look just as unique as the rest of your space. To help, scroll through these stunning outdoor Christmas decoration ideas. Whether you want to keep it traditional or go big with bold colors, there’s something here for everyone.

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1 Chalet Chic
emily henderson
Sara Ligorria-Tramp

Turn your front door into a cool ski chalet, just like Emily Henderson did here. The abstract wreath, geometric lanterns, and sleek wooden ski set give this front porch a modern touch. Best of all? Since this arrangement isn’t over-the-top Christmas, you can leave it up all winter long.

2 Fashion a Forest
emily henderson
Sara Ligorria-Tramp

Create your very own winter wonderland—snow optional—also courtesy Emily Henderson. The mix of lush garland, pint-size tree, and bunch of leafy greens is idyllic without being overdone.

3 Keep It Cozy
allison babcock
Matt Kisiday

“Last year, my family celebrated Christmas outdoors because of COVID, and sheepskins and throw blankets really saved the day,” designer Allison Babcock shares. “A table set with a sheepskin on every chair and a thick plaid wool throw on the back of every seat, plus plenty of garlands and candlelight, can make even the coldest December day feel warm and bright.”

4 Layer Up
joy williams
Joy Williams

The holidays don’t happen every day, so why not pile on the accessories? Chicago-based designer Joy Williams packed on the festive fripperies with poinsettia plants and gilded trees. Rounding out the look are ribbons and ornaments on the topiaries.

5 Keep It Simple
breakfields house, christmas interior design by summer loftin
Nick Burchell

Whoever said Christmas outdoor decor requires only lush, leafy greens needs to check out this setup from Summer Loftin Antiques and Design. Here, the Atlanta-based firm keeps it simple with wooden trees of varying heights and strands of twinkly lights.

6 Take a Seat
sugar and charm
Sugar and Charm

Want to take in your lovely handiwork? Add a chair to your outdoor Christmas setup, just as Sugar & Charm’s Eden Passante did here.

7 Brighten Up Your Porch
citrine living
Citrine Living

Let there be light! Tamara Anka of Citrine Living illuminated her front porch by wrapping the perimeter of her door in a light-strung garland. The bright white wreath and modern lanterns below round out the space in style.

8 Pick Up a Planter
lmb
Liz Marie Galvan

Contrary to popular belief, Christmas trees aren’t just for the great indoors. For an outdoor edge, take a cue from blogger Liz Marie Galvan, who paired two lush trees with rustic wood planters.

9 Bright and Frosty
outdoor christmas decor
Dimples and Tangles

Dimples and Tangles glammed up her front porch; the flocked decor and riot of colorful ornaments create a joyous and welcoming feel.

10 Get Symmetrical
porch with wooden doors and a threshold with christmas decor
Maryna TerletskaGetty Images

If you’re going for a symmetrical look, you need to decorate each side of your porch to match. So whether it’s with wreaths, garlands, or trees, don’t forget to buy two of everything!

11 Go for Tropical Colors
Sugar & Cloth

Tired of the same old red-and-green theme? Think outside the box, like Sugar & Cloth did here with these salmon-pink doors. Funky colored bulbs frame the entryway, while spray-painted toy soldiers and freestanding sisal trees–echoing the smaller ones inside the wreaths–complete the look.

12 Get Rustic
outdoor christmas decor
Sarah Joy

This porch by Sarah Joy Blog doesn’t have a lot of Christmas decor, but it still brings the holiday cheer. Sarah Joy keeps the vintage wagon on hand year-round and decorates around it, according to the season.

13 Find a Family of Reindeer
outdoor christmas decor
lights4fun

If the front of your home is still looking a little bare—even after you hang up all of your Christmas lights—these lit-up reindeer would be the perfect addition.

14 Select Ethereal Branches
outdoor christmas decor
Terrain

If you don’t want to go all out on holiday decor, you can opt for a simpler, more natural holiday look. Add small lights to some tall branches to frame your door—this style will last throughout the whole winter season.

15 Drape Those Greens
outdoor christmas decor
By Georgia Grace

By Georgia Grace got extra-festive with her theme by having not one but two wreaths on her door. Use garlands as well to mix and match different types of greenery outside.

16 Try a Black and White Scheme
outdoor christmas decor
Jordan Jean Blog

This neutral holiday tableau by Jordan Jean Blog is both chic and welcoming. She stuck to a black and white theme and added earth-toned accents. The hanging wicker basket on the door, filled with fresh greenery, is a stylish touch.

17 Create a Front Porch Forest
outdoor christmas decor
French Country Cottage

Nothing says Christmas like a Christmas tree—or three of them. French Country Cottage has the most charming setup of miniature trees outside of her house, in mismatched pots and even a super-casual bucket.

18 Supersize Your Ornaments
best outdoor christmas decorations
Sugar & Cloth

It’s impossible to resist the spirit of the holiday with this bold outdoor Christmas design—complete with oversize wooden ornaments and quirky potted trees—by Sugar & Cloth.

19 Outline Your Door
outdoor christmas decoration ideas
NurPhotoGetty Images

From the string-lit archway to the glowy red wreath, this outdoor setup shines for the holidays.

20 Slim Things Down
best outdoor christmas decorations
julie blanner

The slender shape of Julie Blanner’s needle-pine garland and wreath are covered in a fresh snow dusting—but flocking will do just fine.

21 Wrap Your Door
best outdoor christmas decorations
JGARERI/GETTY

Being the hostess with the mostest is the best present of all, and this gift wrap-inspired front door provides an apporpriately festive welcome.

22 Line Your Steps with Trees
outdoor christmas decoration ideas
NurPhotoGetty Images

Let little trees lead the way into your home this holiday season for the most functional decor you’ve ever dreamed of.

23 Place Pinecones and Greenery Everywhere
Douglas Friedman

A gorgeous Montana guesthouse is dressed with lush forest greens, transforming the wintry space into a subdued holiday wonderland.

24 Go Tutti-Frutti
Robert Shafer

Classic garland is jazzed up with a nontraditional twist, thanks to decorative apples, lemons, and even a welcoming pineapple.

25 Pick Pastels
Favore Studio

A pastel blue home ditches the traditional Christmas colors for complementary pink and purple accents.

26 Have a Berry Christmas
Getty Images

The red accents of this berry-filled decor bring a natural pop of color to the festive front door.

27 Go Classic
Grandin Road

This grand front porch is completely decked out for the holidays. From the garland to the berry-adorned wreaths in every window your outdoor Christmas decorations can’t get more stunning than this.

28 Lighten Up with Lanterns
Courtesy of Dimples & Tangles

Give your front door the city glam you love by filling lanterns with shiny ornaments, and adorning with a black-and-white polka dot ribbon (how very Kate Spade of you), as in this outdoor vignette from Dimples & Tangles.

29 Choose a Bountiful Wreath
Style Me Pretty Living/Josh Elliott

A Christmas wreath never loses its charm, but it can be reimagined with bountiful goodies such as pine cones, cranberries, and other seasonal bits like this wreath from Style Me Pretty Living.

30 Go for the Gingham
Courtesy of On Sutton Place

This brilliantly simple door decor from On Sutton Place features fresh pine bunches in lieu of a wreath, accented with a plaid scarf and a string of bells.

31 Wrap Your Columns
Courtesy of Between Naps On The Porch

The Christmas presents shouldn’t get all the attention. Wrap up your home, too—in garland. This decor from Between Naps on the Porch features ornament-speckled garland twisted around the home'’s columns. Simply picturesque.

32 DIY a Snowman Wreath
Getty Images

Love the look of snowmen but hate the idea of actually touching snow? Craft one out of three wreaths instead.

33 Place a Wreath in Every Window
Getty Images

Why let the front door have all the fun, when you can up the holiday spirit with a wreath (complete with festive bows!) on every window?

34 Gild Your Pine Cones
Getty Images

To dazzle guests from the moment they arrive, incorporate gilded pine cones into your outdoor vignettes, by either adorning your door with a gold pine-cone wreath or accenting fresh greenery with gold pinecone ornaments. It’s an elevated approach to a classic winter motif.

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