The holidays are a magical time of year. Decorating the outside of your home can help spread that magical feeling to your neighborhood. With a little creativity and effort, you can turn your home into a winter wonderland that will bring joy to all who see it. This guide will provide tips and inspiration to help you make unique and eye-catching outdoor Christmas decorations.
Gather Supplies for Outdoor Christmas Decorations
Making outdoor decorations requires some key supplies. Here are some of the essentials you’ll need:
Lights
Christmas lights instantly evoke the holiday spirit. They come in a variety of bulb sizes, colors, and lengths. Choose the look you prefer – classic white lights, multi-colored, or something in between. Make sure the lights you buy are rated for outdoor use.
Extension Cords
You’ll need heavy-duty extension cords to run Christmas light strands over longer distances outside. Look for thick cords that are clearly labeled for outdoor use. Having multiple shorter extension cords can provide more flexibility in placing lights.
Fasteners
Plastic zip ties are inexpensive and handy for attaching lights and decorations to railings, trees, and bushes outside.
Fishing line or nylon string also works well for hanging light strands.
Outdoor mounting tape offers another easy fastening option for decorations.
Power Source
Outdoor outlets or outdoor-rated extension cords are the safest power sources for your outdoor lights and decorations. Avoid overloading the circuits.
Decorative Materials
Let your creativity run wild when it comes to materials to make homemade decorations! Supplies to have on hand include:
- Plywood, pine boards, and paint for homemade yard signs
- Old Christmas lights or bulbs for DIY projects
- **Ribbon, mesh, ** and holiday-themed fabric
- Beaded and wired garland or tinsel
- Plastic craft shapes like bulbs, snowflakes, and stars
- Spray paint, glitter, and glues for craft projects
- Popsicle sticks and clothespins for building mini decor items
- Nature items like pinecones, acorns, twigs, and dried oranges
Tools
Basic tools like hammers, pliers, wire cutters, and tape measure can aid in making and hanging decorations. A staple gun or nail gun comes in handy for yard signs or attaching lights. Ladders or step stools will be necessary for installing roofline d├®cor and high-up lights.
Plan Your Outdoor Decorating Scheme
Before you start stringing up haphazard lights, take time to think about the look you want to achieve:
Theme
Pick a style or theme that fits your home’s existing architecture and color scheme. Traditional red, green, and gold colors are always classic. You could also opt for an elegant white and silver moonlit look. Coordinate colors for a cohesive feel.
Placement
Map out areas you want to highlight on your property. Most homeowners decorate the main entryway, trees, bushes, fence line, and roofline. Decide which areas will have lights, yard art, garland, and other embellishments.
Safety
Evaluate electrical safety and the structural integrity of installations. Check for overhead power lines and underground cables. Use light clips instead of staples on trees. Make sure decorations are securely attached and won’t blow away in winter winds.
Lighting Up the Outdoors
Creative and strategic lighting brings dazzling holiday spirit outdoors. Here are lighting ideas and tips:
Outline the Roofline
Lining roof edges with icicle or net lights is a picturesque way to decorate your home’s exterior. Measure the length needed, then securely attach light strands along the roofline using plastic clips. This instantly outlines your home with festive lights!
Illuminate Trees
Wrapping trees with Christmas lights creates a magical glowing effect. For best results, start at the top and work your way down. Make sure wires and connections don’t lie directly on branches.
Icicle lights work well for this, or you can crisscross shorter strands vertically around the tree. Just take care not to damage branches!
Light Wreaths and Garlands
Accentuate wreaths, garlands, and greenery with mini string lights. Look for battery-operated options to make setup easy.
Weave small lights throughout fresh garland for a natural effect, or wrap lights around artificial wreaths. Use plastic floral wire to attach lights if needed.
Line Walkways and Driveways
Guiding visitors with lights lining the sidewalk, driveway, or path to your front door helps create an inviting ambiance.
Use spotlights or ground stakes with small lights. Place them a few feet apart along the sides of walkways.
Illuminate Yard Art Displays
Make decorative yard art and silhouettes glow by mounting lights or aiming spotlights on them. Place lights above and around the artwork to highlight details and create shadows.
Shine in Shrubbery and Bushes
Bushes decked out in lights instantly dazzle. Wrap small bulbs around branches or hide lights within the bushes.
Aim spotlights at shrubbery to create a colorful glow across an entire section.
Create a Glowing Fence
Adhere mini or net lights along the top edge of a fence for merry illumination. Use mounting clips or hooks to attach them.
You can also weave lights through ornamental fences. Outline gate arches and doors with lights too!
Use Projection Lights
Projection lights cast festive images like snowflakes and Christmas icons onto exterior walls, fences, and yards.
They create instant ambiance without needing to hang lights. Just position and angle them to fit the space.
Building Outdoor Christmas Decorations
Half the fun of outdoor decorating for Christmas comes from making your own creations. DIY projects allow you to customize pieces to suit your style. Here are ideas for homemade decorations:
Holiday Signs
Painted wood signs display festive messages, greetings, or images. Decorate a plywood board with acrylic craft paint. Apply vinyl lettering or stencils for the words. Finish it off with snow spray paint or glitter accents! Display the sign using decorative brackets or stakes.
Christmas Light Balls
Turn leftover Christmas lights into spheres to dot around your landscape. Remove the bulbs, keeping the wires attached. Then wrap and tie light strands around an inflatable ball. Finally, insert a new light bulb where they meet at the bottom and plug it in for a glowing creation!
Faux Snow People
Whimsical snow people crafted from unused holiday decorations make great accents. Glue three Styrofoam cones together stacked from large to small. Then customize features using spare ornaments, scarves, and fabric. Set them in your garden or line a pathway!
Mason Jar Luminaries
Illuminate walks and driveways with homemade mason jar luminaries. Place a battery tealight inside each jar. Use holiday-themed spray paints on the outside of the glass. Arrange the jars along your sidewalk or interspersed in garden beds.
Beaded Garland
For a glamorous accent, fashion glittering beaded garland from a basic plastic garland form. Simply glue or wire beads, crystals, or other embellishments onto the garland shape. Drape your creation along railings, mailboxes, or around entry columns!
Wine Bottle Trees
Recycle wine bottles into scenic Christmas trees. Remove the labels, then spray paint bottle exteriors in holiday hues. Using strong glue or epoxy, attach bottles neck-down to a wood post base. Embellish with mini lights and ribbon. Group together for a cute bottle tree display!
Innovative Outdoor Christmas D├ęcor Ideas
Looking to go beyond the typical old decorations? Here are unique outdoor decoration ideas that are sure to delight:
Skating Pond D├ęcor
Create a mini skating pond scene using a plastic kiddie pool and creative touches. Fill the pool with clear plastic sheeting topped with blue acetate for “ice.” Arrange mini artificial trees, tiny skaters, and snow around the edges. Light it up with mini lights for magical ambiance.
Outdoor Tree Collage
Make a collage Christmas tree attached to an exterior wall with rows of greenery. Use clothespins to affix trimmed evergreen branches, cut-out felt trees, and other elements in the shape of a triangular tree. Decorate it with mini lights, ornaments, and ribbon!
Nature Wreaths
Embrace nature by making rustic wreaths out of foraged materials. Create rings from bendable twigs or grapevine, then intertwine pine sprigs, dried flowers, vines, thistles, and leaves. Hang these organic wreaths on gates, doors, or walls.
Holiday Shadow Boxes
Attach colorful shadow boxes along exterior walls that reflect in spotlights at night. Use plastic craft boxes and decorate the inside and out with holiday images. Affix to walls, fill with lights, and shine spotlights on them to create vibrant shadows!
Christmas Tree Fence
Make your fence line festive with mini Christmas trees attached to the pickets. Wire full evergreen branches to fence boards, or use cut-out felt tree shapes affixed with sturdy adhesive or nails. Outline trees with white lights for a magical effect.
Painted Wine Bottles
Recycle empty wine bottles into decorative luminaries. Paint the glass with acrylic craft paint in holiday motifs. Place a battery-operated tealight inside each bottle, and line along walkways and driveways. The colors shine as the bottles glow at night!
Outdoor Christmas D├ęcor for Small Spaces
Just because you have a small yard doesn’t mean you can’t create a dramatic outdoor light display. Here are great ideas for decorating modest spaces:
Entryway Focus
Concentrate decorations at your front door and walkway leading up to the entrance. Line the path with luminaries or lanterns atop poles. Drape garlands around columns flanking the door. Put potted poinsettias on either side.
Fence or Railing Accents
Decorating fences and railings allows you to add Christmas magic without taking up valuable ground space. String net lights atop fencing or railings. Alternate wreaths and garlands attached to pickets or railing posts.
Vertical Decor
Make the most of vertical space on porches, patios, and balconies. Wrap columns with garlands, ribbon, and lights from top to bottom. Hang wreaths, mini trees, and yard art from railings and walls.
Window Treatments
Adorn windows surrounding your front door to maximize visual impact. Hang mini lights around the frames. Apply snowflake decals and holiday silhouettes to the glass. Display festive candles and mini trees on the sills.
Compact Tree Display
Use smaller potted trees like dwarf firs and pines to create a tree display on a porch or patio. Arrange 3-5 matching trees together. Wind lights around each one, and use ornaments in similar color schemes for visual unity.
Faux Fire and Ice
Add drama without taking up space by placing artificial fire and ice boxes on each side of doorways. Position twinkling fire lights on one side, and frosted ice vignettes with wintery accents on the other. The contrast amplifies the magic!
Creative Ideas for Christmas Yard Decorations
Your front or back yard offers an open canvas for all kinds of innovative Christmas decorations. Here are unique ways to deck out your outdoor spaces:
Inflatable Snow Globe
Create a life-size snow globe effect using sheer curtains hung from a small gazebo frame. Place inflated snowman and penguin characters inside. Surround the “globe” with painted plywood snowdrifts. The result looks like a giant snow globe!
Artistic Trees
Turn trees into works of art by creatively decorating the branches. Some ideas are:
- Wrap yarn around the boughs in holiday colors
- Adhere cut-out painted wood ornaments
- Drape strands of oversized beads
- Cover branches in little crocheted socks or ornaments
Lighted Archway
Make a dazzling arched entrance over a gate or walkway using flexible tubing. Shape PVC or softer plastic into a half-circle arch. Twist light strands around the tubing. Visitors will feel like they’re entering a magical kingdom!
Lighted Silhouette Scene
Create a custom silhouette scene like carolers or a Nativity using plywood and lights. Cut out figures from wood, mount to a backing board, and place lights behind to make them glow. Place the scene on a patio or yard for striking ambiance.
Winter Carnival Cutouts
Bring the magic of an old-fashioned carnival with painted plywood cutout figures. Make standees of carousel animals, ice skaters, Ferris wheels, and otherwinter icons. Decorate them with lights and set them around the yard.
Snowflake Walkway
Guide guests with a snowflake walkway made from plywood cut into shapes. Paint large snowflakes white, and glue sand or salt for texture. Drill holes in the tops to thread string lights through before staking into the ground. Lining the path to your door with these lovely lighted snowflakes sets a magical winter tone!
Christmas Decorating Ideas for Rooftops and Gutters
Your home’s rooflines, rain gutters, and high exterior walls offer prime places to hang Christmas lights and decorations. Here are great ways to decorate up high:
Gutter Garlands
Drape garland strands over rain gutters, letting them hang attractively off the edges. This dresses up gutters quickly! Combine garlands with string lights for extra sparkle.
Rooftop Trees
Place miniature potted trees or bushy evergreen branches on the roofline. Secure them with adhesive mounts and decoratively wrap lights around each tree. They look like festive trees growing on the roof!
Lighted Columns and Posts
Wrap porch columns, lamp posts, and structural posts with mini string lights from top to bottom. Combine different light colors on alternating columns for pops of brightness.
Overhang Icicles
Create the look of icicles hanging from open eaves using strands of bead garland or tinsel draped over the edges. Combining icicle lights amplifies the icy dripping effect.
Shaped Light Outlines
Use strip lights to outline shapes on high exterior walls, dormers, and chimneys. Snowflakes, stars, trees, and poinsettias make great designs. Use painters tape to map out the outline before adhering lights.
Rain Gutter Flowers
** trail colorful artificial flowers** to the outsides of rain gutters using heavy duty wire or cable ties. Combine poinsettias, roses, lilies, and carnations for a festive rooftop garden effect.
Banner Decorations
Hang vibrant pennant banners from the corners and peaks of rooflines using exterior adhesive hooks. Celebrate the season with banners saying “Merry Christmas”, “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings”.
Outdoor Christmas Decorating Tips and Tricks
Use these expert tips and tricks for pulling together polished and creative outdoor holiday decor:
Test All Lights Before Hanging
Once lights are installed, hard to troubleshoot! Plug in strands before hanging to ensure all bulbs work. Replace broken ones to avoid issues.
Use Clips for Hanging Lights
Plastic clip fasteners made for Christmas lights hold strands securely and make decorating easier and safer. They also protect trees and roofing.
Maximize Visual Impact
Aim to decorate “zones” versus scattering sparse decor everywhere. Create lit focal points that make the biggest impression.
Incorporate Natural Elements
Tuck in pine cones, leaves, branches, berries and fruits to enhance winter garden areas and make decorations seem more organic.
Try Timers and Smart Tech
Timers, photo cells, and smartphone controls let you automate and program outdoor lighting. This saves time and effort!
Check Materials for Weatherproofing
Confirm that all lights, extension cords, and decorations used outdoors are rated for exterior exposure to rain, snow, and winter temps.
Account for Wind and Snow
Make sure decorations are very securely attached, as winter winds and snow can damage and dislodge items. Aim for clean installations.
Allow for Day and Night Appeal
Decorate with a balance of elements that look great both day and night. Lights energize at night, while daytime decorations still shine.
Watch for Overload
To avoid tripping breakers, calculate wattages and evenly distribute lights over available circuits. Avoid overloading outlets.
Layer Decorations
Light fixtures form the base layer, while garlands, ribbon, and larger decorations can be layered on top for multi-dimensional appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Outdoor Christmas Decorations
Below are answers to some common questions about decorating your home’s exterior for the winter holidays:
How early can I put up outdoor Christmas decorations?
While many wait until after Thanksgiving, you can actually put up lights and decorations as early as you want. Just be ready to light them up once it’s dark in the evenings.
Is it better to get LED or incandescent Christmas lights?
LED lights are the top choice because they are energy efficient and long lasting. They also remain cool to the touch for safety.