Decorate your Porch for Christmas
For the Holidays you can’t beat home sweet home
For the holidays, you can’t beat the hygge of a classic Christmas song. Hygge (pro: Hue-guh) is a Danish word which conveys the idea of “warm and cozy, perfectly content“.
You don’t need a lot to achieve warm and cozy vibes at the front door. That’s why, in the spirit of ‘hygge‘, I’m offering some inexpensive ideas for decorating. This article shows you the way to do it on a small budget without that small budget look.
If you’re reading this, you’re not only searching for inspiration but also how to put it all together. For example, many people like the nostalgic look of old figure skates, but don’t know where to find them. An antique store might have a pair, but the price is too high for a mere decoration. By comparison, a thrift store will have a pair for $12 bucks. They may not be antiques, but they’ll still work beautifully!
Start with what you have on hand
If you’re like me, you’ve already got more Christmas stuff than you care to admit. A big, plastic tote or two in the crawl space or out in the garage. It’s just a matter of getting creative and learning to use things in different ways.
Christmas balls, for instance, don’t always have to hang on a tree. Placed in a pretty bowl, they’ll look just as festive!
What about your decorative Christmas tins? Unless they’re being used for goodies, you can place them together in a little grouping, or as an accent piece on the front porch. The lids usually have such a pretty image on them. Whether it’s a snowman, a goose or a plain design, you can hang them up like wall art!
Rustic & Farmhouse decor ideas
Another way to decorate your porch for Christmas is by taking a little stroll in the woods. Bring a sack along to gather pine cones, sticks and twigs to use in a Christmas basket or bouquet. If getting out on the trails is not an easy option for you, check out your local thrift store. They’ll always have a variety of baskets and this time of year, it’s pretty easy to find pine cones too!
Vintage ideas
Old vintage suitcases are popular as decor. If you have one up in the attic, something like this would make an adorable accent when you decorate your porch for Christmas
Find an old chalk board of any size. A dry-erase board would work, too. Write a Christmas greeting, words to a well known carol or other Holiday sentiment.
Basic decorating principles
Remember the old adage: LESS IS MORE!
You don’t have to put out a little bit of everything. In fact, you’re better off if you don’t. As you decorate your porch for Christmas, no doubt you have a certain “look” or “feel” you want your display to have. Whether it’s traditional, vintage or rustic and woodsy, sticking with an overall style or ‘theme’ is best to get the effect you’re after. You’ll be impressed and so will your guests.
Maybe you like modern decor that’s shimmery and shiny. When you go through your stash, simply separate out the things that are contemporary. Bright, vivid reds and greens and sparkly gold. This might include well known figures like the Grinch.
On the other hand, if you are sentimental and love nostalgia, set aside the things that are plain, earthy, and have worn, muted colors. Characters in this category are Rudolf or Frosty.
When you decorate your porch for Christmas, leave plenty of room for foot traffic. You want folks to be able to walk easily (with kids in tow) without accidentally bumping into things and knocking them over. If you have a small porch, it may be better to hang your decor on a wall.
Finally, if you decide you need something to complete your display, look no further than your local thrift store.
Thrifty ways to decorate your porch for Christmas
I am constantly amazed by the number of people I meet who have never been into a Thrift store. Second-hand stores haven’t always had the best reputation, but oh, how times have changed! Today’s thrift stores are all the rage. It’s because they do a much better job of sorting out the goods they receive to insure all’s in good shape. Retail stores frequently contribute their surplus, so it’s possible to find brand new items as well. You can get fairly good quality stuff at a thrift store.
But if you do encounter a piece with a minor scratch, chip or ding, it won’t be visible in your porch display. Wooden decor and letters that have been painted can be re-painted. Some ugly brass thing can be spray-painted silver or gold or whatever color would go best with your motif.
Between November and December, thrift stores are ‘up-to-their-ears’ in Christmas decor. And, you’ll never know what treasures await you. If you look carefully, you’re sure to find something unique. That one odd ball remnant from your childhood that brings to mind a happy memory. Thrift stores have a high rate of turn-over, so if you don’t see anything that’s of interest, check back in a week or two.
Brief list of holiday decor you’ll find at a Thrift Store
Consider the following items for front porch decor:
- Christmas Lights (check tag to ensure it’s intended for outdoor use)
- Artificial tree (various sizes)
- garlands and bows and wreaths
- artificial flowers (poinsettia, holly) and vases
- tree ornaments
- Christmas tins
- sports equipment like ice skates and skis
- figurines
- snowflakes
- stuffed animals
- chair or small table, little decorative shelves to display your things on
- baskets
- pine cones
- Holiday craft items (fabric remnants, ribbon, fake snow, craft paint, glass beads, picture frames)
- fake candles and battery tea lights
- Christmas themed mugs, plates, serving platters
- table cloths, cloth napkins
In addition to the big chains like Value Village and United Way, remember to check out your local thrift stores as well. These smaller stores are run by churches and non-profits in your community. They really depend on the revenue generated from their stores to fund their operation and to help them meet a particular need in your area.
Wrapping it up
I hope I’ve given you some ideas and things to think about to help you decorate your porch for Christmas. Personally, I enjoy shopping at thrift stores during the holidays. But it’s also fun to stretch your imagination while discovering new and exciting ways to use what you already have. Then sit back and soak up the compliments while all your friends exclaim: “You are soooo creative!”
I know it’s a long shot, but I would absolutely love to get a picture of your project. I’ll post it on our braggin’ board for everyone to see. Before you go, would you please consider being a part of the Make it a Garden community? Scroll down just a bit to sign up. You’ll get our free monthly garden and art related Newsletter, plus my 10 Best Tips for Using Garden Decor as my gift to you.
Wishing you peace, hope and contentment this holiday season. Merry Christmas my friend!
More beautiful front porch ideas from Make it a Garden
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