10 Holiday Front Door & Porch Decorating Essentials
I hope everyone had a good weekend! Ours was filled with snow. I try to sort our exterior holiday decorations before the snow begins to stick, but it appears I’m late this year. While I’ve been sick, I enlisted Emmett’s help to pull our front door and porch together for the holidays. Giving him the basic framework prompted this blog post. If you’re looking to create a classic front porch or door vignette that is easy to style (for any season), I’m sharing my exact formula- with a holiday spin. Every classic holiday porch or front door vignette could use these 10 decorating essentials (that won’t go out of style)…
A Classic Combination
While the snow has already started here, we don’t have serious accumulation at this point… unlike the below image from last year. We have less than an inch on our front steps, but it has been a great motivator to tackle our outdoor decorating for the holidays and winter season ahead. I’m a big fan of simple greenery because it’s timeless. You can easily remove the extras (bows, bells, candles, garland, etc) and leave it for the entirety of the winter season. In fact, my faux cedar trees and wreaths will stay on our front porch until March.
I thought it may be helpful to share my top exterior front door or porch holiday vignette picks with you for a classic combination you can use year-after-year. Once you get the framework in place, it makes seasonal decorating so easy. This is what we’re currently using on our front porch (the exact items), and all of these have my stamp of approval…
1. Wreath(s)
I ordered these wreaths a few years ago, and they’re holding up nicely under our covered porch. Since they are quite plain, they can easily be customized each holiday… it’s easy to add ribbon, fruit, pinecones, extra greenery, etc. I pair them with these minimalistic wreath hooks.
2. Quality Door Hardware
Almost five years later, I’d still choose the same exterior door hardware again! I love the look and durability of our brass door hardware. If you missed this post, I shared a couple great options with a detailed comparison… Grandeur vs Emtek exterior door hardware.
3. Garland
While this garland isn’t outdoor rated, it has survived three winters beneath our covered porch. I think it’s safe in a covered area, but I’d opt for durable, wet-rated garland if you have an exposed porch. This garland is highly convincing though! It would be perfect indoors, and is my favorite garland of the many I own- a bold statement.
4. Extra Wide Doormat
I love our custom doormats, and you know I’ll never pass up a classic monogram opportunity! The key to creating a balanced look is to get the size right, and so often we see mats that are simply too small for the door… whether it be a single door or double French doors.
5. Exterior Sconce(s)
I’ve stood behind our exterior lantern sconces since we moved in and installed these- over five years ago. They’re affordable, have a high-end look, are a great size, and most importantly… these beautiful year round (alongside any decor).
6. House Numbers
Before focusing on seasonal decor, it’s important to get the basics right. Small as they may be, house numbers play an important aesthetic part of your home’s curb appeal. I like our traditional numbers.
7. Outdoor Tree(s)
The one thing I’m updating this year (the photos throughout this post are from last year) are my front porch trees. I wanted to find a sizable option that was pre-lit and easier to control… these are on a remote, come planted in a pot, and are available in two sizes- perfect for flanking the front door.
8. Pedestal Planter(s)
Despite my new trees having aesthetically pleasing planters, I’ll never tire of my traditional pedestal planters. I love the height they add, the curved shape, and the dark contrast they bring to our porch.
9. Holiday Bells
Much like a tassel, I do enjoy styling holiday bells this time of year. It’s always festive to hang a larger stand of bells from the front door. If you’re looking for more ideas on where to incorporate bells this season, most of these are applicable: 30+ ideas for interior styling with tassels.
10. Ribbon
Last, but not least- nothing screams holidays (visually speaking), quite like ribbon. When you’re styling ribbon outdoors, it’s important to find an option with a wired edge, so you can easily shape it and it holds the form. This is the exact option I used on our outdoor wreaths, but there are many colors, sizes, and materials available- depending on your aesthetic and color palette.
FAQ
Actually, yes! I bought this Amazon version (also monogrammed) to test the difference, and honestly- I prefer the less expensive version. It’s holding up really well, with no shedding!
Absolutely! Around five years ago, we replaced our front door… a single with sidelights for these french doors. Check out the process and before & after images in the linked blog post. It’s crazy how far the exterior of our home has come.
Absolutely! I just need to cover the tops with moss, then they’ll be ready for photographs. One thing I do appreciate… they’re pre-lit and are on a remote, making it much easier than my previous trees. I’d have to string them with lights and run outside to turn them on & off manually. I will say… my new trees are close to selling out, so here is a good budget option that is in stock.
Related
Looking for more seasonal or exterior posts to enhance your curb appeal? I’ll share some of my favorites below…
- Choosing Timeless Exterior Lighting (A Designer Guide)
- Our Exterior Holiday Home Tour
- How to Dress Up Your Door With a Classic Door Knocker
- Faux Winter Window Box DIY
- Grandeur vs Emtek Exterior Door Hardware
- Replacing Our Front Door
- 10 Ideas for Enhancing Curb Appeal
I’ve still got plenty of holiday decorating (indoors and out) left to do before I can shoot my annual Christmas tour. I’ve been super sick the past week, but I’m excited to get back to it. Pneumonia has zapped all of my energy, so I’ve been trying to style a vignette at a time. Who knows how cohesive our house will look this year, but so far- it has been fun! I hope your week is off to a good start. Let me know if you have any front porch questions… I’m happy to help!
