From understated to over-the-top.
Winter is right around the corner, so you know what that means: The sun will start setting earlier, Hallmark Christmas movies will start playing again, the cranberry bliss bar will return to Starbucks, and before you know it, it'll be time to start setting up your outdoor Christmas decorations. Getting your home ready for Christmas is one of life's many little pleasures, and the best part is you get to do it every single year.
We advise getting started on your outdoor holiday decorations a little earlier in the season, even if it's before Thanksgiving. It can be really cold out there in December! Besides, Britney Spears has already started setting up for the holiday on the inside of her home. Why not start prepping the outside of your home for the festive season? You have her tacit permission and ours to deck the halls.
You don't have to stick with traditional greens and reds this holiday season to have a house the rest of your neighborhood will look to for decoration inspo, either. (Unless you want to, of course—those colors are classics for a reason.) We've found so many creative outdoor Christmas decorating ideas to choose from, whether you're more maximalist or elegant or simply desire something tasteful to display outside. From the front porch to the pool to the fire pit, we've rounded up 55 of the chicest and most festive outdoor holiday decorating ideas you'll keep coming back to year after year.
Interior designer Cyndy Aldred worked with her neighbor to create decorations made of sage, eucalyptus, fir, and salal leaves so the greenery would really pop against her dark wooden door. The silk plaid ribbon adds a little rustic farmhouse charm.
Maybe we wouldn't suggest actually dining in the snow, but an outdoor table with a festive centerpiece is such a cute setup for a stylish Christmas party. This alfresco scene created by decorator Kara Williams is all the inspiration we need to get an outdoor heater for moments like these.
Some front doors look better without a wreath covering their pretty design. If that's the case with your door, decorate around the entry into your home instead. The snow-dusted garland wrapped around these columns looks so elegant and festive.
Sure, your entryway may be what always draws the eye, but don't forget about the rest of your front porch when adding Christmas decorations. Cyndy Aldred placed some festive greenery on her outdoor table and set a mini Christmas tree to the side to tie the whole look together.
A vibrant paint color can make any outdoor decorations seem a bit busy, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't still decorate for the holidays. Keep it simple with a traditional wreath and some garland around the frame.
Play up the childhood wonder of the holidays with a mini wooden sleigh display outside your door. It's the perfect festive touch that still looks stylish.
Go all out with your twinkling lights (and don't even think about your electric bill). Make sure you buy warm LEDs so the bulbs don't heat up while giving off a welcoming glow.
Don't want to put up a real tree in your yard? No problem! As long as you have some hooks, you can easily set up a tree—or an entire forest—made completely out of string lights. It'll definitely catch eyes as admirers pass by.
Or if you do want an actual Christmas tree outside your door, make it a big one. Go all out and welcome guests into your home with the holiday spirit as soon as they step onto your porch.
You know what they say: A family that crafts together stays together! Proudly display one of your Christmas crafts for all the world (or your neighborhood) to see.
No snow? No problem. Put up a fake snowman to capture that holiday vibe who won't change with the temperature.
Barn, garage, she shed—don't forget a single space around your home as you're setting up your Christmas decorations. Even a simple, classic wreath can tie in the whole festive look.
Guests may not be looking for holiday greenery and ribbons on your lanterns, but they'll definitely notice that your house looks a bit more festive than the one next door.
You may be thinking to yourself that it's time to pack up the outdoor furniture for the year, but we wouldn't be so quick—and neither would decorator Kara Williams. Decorate a tree or two in your backyard, throw some pillows and blankets onto your outdoor couch, and light up the fire pit for a cozy evening with your family.
While we wouldn't recommend having this much water in your pool when there's snow on the ground (that's well past time to winterize it), adding some elegant lanterns and a chic wreath on the deck is a great way to incorporate Christmas everywhere.
Whether you're trying to set up two of your friends or simply love love, a huge bundle of mistletoe is the way to go for your Christmas decor. That way, you can make sure every single person who enters your home has to step under the festive plant.
Silver and gold, silver and gold... Make an elegant statement with greens, golds, and silvers on your front door display. This glamorous decor really sets the vibe going forward for your guests, so make sure to dazzle them!
"An antique home is the perfect backdrop for classic decorations. I weave together fir, cedar, white pine, and boxwood for a door garland. hang matching window wreaths, and fill the holly with white lights," says interior designer Lisa Hilderbrand of her festive outdoor decorating traditions at this Connecticut house.
For a front porch holiday display that's equal parts festive and chic, decorate a tree with metallic ornaments, hang a garland around the door, and make it glow with string lights. Emily Henderson also gave this front porch a seasonal update with a plaid doormat.
Charlotte Moss's Manhattan townhouse gets the full holiday decorating treatment, which includes the patio, even if guests won't even set foot out there. She made the outdoor fireplace as welcome as possible by hanging whimsical Spanish moss on the trees and a large wreath. "Step outside and it feels like you're entering the world of Narnia," she says.
Kate McGregor is the former Digital Editor at House Beautiful, where she wrote countless stories on home renovation costs, design inspiration, and plant care. After years of experience writing commerce and search-optimized content for brands like Domino, Real Simple, and Architectural Digest’s Clever, Kate developed a passion for uncovering the personal stories that often inspire people’s spaces. She previously worked as the Assistant Market Editor at ELLE Decor where she identified top products and brands in the industry and interviewed emerging designers on their thoughts on the latest interior design trends. Kate holds a bachelor’s degree from Belmont University. When not researching the specificities of begonia plant care, you can find Kate scouring vintage markets for the ideal wrought-iron chair, knitting yet another cardigan, or reading historical nonfiction.
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