Decorating the Porch For The Holidays

Dec. 6, 2002 -- Your holiday guests will get into the holiday celebration mood before they even cross they cross your welcome mat, if you decorate your front porch festively.

Here are some ideas:

Theme

Choose a theme that fits your home. For instance if you want to build a country them, consider elements that signify a county feel, such as plaid ribbon, and natural embellishments including pine cones, dried flower heads etc.

Color

Choose colors that will match or complement the color of your home.

Garlands

1. Start with garlands. Fresh greens woven into long garlands, wrapped around your porch will create the perfect foundation on which to build. You can use fresh greens, which can be costly, or invest in artificial garlands that can be reused every year.

2. Before placing or hanging garlands, wrap lights around them first. This makes it much easier to decorate, and it secures the lights onto the garland. Also, you can leave the lights on the artificial garlands and pack them away for next year.

3. Rather than placing the garland on top of a porch railing, or wrapping it around, drape the garland to hang just below the banister. This allows people entering the property to actually see the garland, and all its accoutrements.

4. Embellish garlands. For first-timers this can be tricky. Think of a zigzag pattern when placing ornaments — this creates balance.

5. Let some ornaments hang below the garland for a soft, delicate look.

Front Door

1. Nothing is more welcoming than a lovely wreath. Make it with the same materials used on the porch.

2. If you can't hang a wreath on the door, try tying the theme together by tying the door as if it were a package.

3. Even wrapping the front door with holiday paper can be festive and fun!

More Holiday Ideas

1. If you have an awning above your porch include it in your theme, making sure to bring in the elements from the railing upwards to create a complete picture.

2. Candles in galvanized buckets are a great twist from the traditional votive. Fill the buckets with sand add some sheer sparkle garland and a candle.

3. Twigs, branches and other embellishments can create a beautiful arrangement in galvanized buckets as well. The buckets can be placed on either side of your steps giving your entrance a bold statement and it's a great alternative to the traditional tree top.

4. Bows add great color and soften the look bringing the entire theme together. It's much cheaper to buy rolls of ribbon and create your own. A few loops, some wire is all you need to tie it all together.