Decorating The Porch For Christmas

One of my favorite places to decorate for Christmas is the front porch. It’s the first “room” friends and family see when visiting , and at Christmastime it’s so much fun to make it feel extra special and inviting.

Decorate Porch For Christmas with Lit Topiary Trees

 

When decorating, be it inside or out, I always love a mix of fresh greenery and faux. Fresh greenery gives you the scent while faux gives you the look you want while saving you some $ since you can reuse it year after year. This year I again decorated with a mix of fresh and faux to get the look I wanted for the porch.

Porch Decorated for Christmas Holidays

 

The door is sporting a colorful Martha Stewart Living Ornament Wreath available at Home Depot. It’s shatter resistant which means you won’t have to worry about it in cold weather. It can take the temperature fluctuations without any problem.

Christmas Porch With Garland and Martha Stewart Ornament Wreath

 

Around the door I decorated with fresh cedar garland I found at Home Depot. They also had pine garland. Sometimes I mix them and use one strand of each. This year I went with two strands of the cedar garland.

Martha Stewart Topiary Tree With Lights

 

Martha Stewart Living has several styles of Christmas tree topiaries. I love these because they don’t need any additional ornamentation. They are already decorated with lots of pretty pine cones and red berries. They are also available at Home Depot: Pre-Lit Christmas Tree with Clear Lights

Benjamin Moore Heritage Red Front Door For Christmas

 

The wreath is super sparkly and I love how it looks against the door. The colors in the wreath work well with my traditional red and green Christmas decor but the aqua and lime green ornaments make it versatile enough to work with those color schemes, too.

Martha Stewart Ornament Wreath

 

I always find a spot on the porch for this vintage sled. This year I added a small wreath with a rustic burlap bow.

Christmas Porch Decorations

 

I have our hot chocolate all ready for a day of sledding and ice-skating. Now we just need some snow! 🙂

Vintage Red Plaid Thermos Picnic Bag

 

It began to get dark, time to see how the sparkly wreath and lit trees would look at night!

Lighted Christmas Tree Topiaries For The Porch

 

What do you think? Would this bring a smile to your face on a visit to my home? 🙂

Porch Decorated With Lanterns and Lit Christmas Trees

 

The trees are so pretty lit up at night. The light from the trees really made the ornament wreath sparkle!

Martha Stewart Lit Christmas Trees For A Christmas Porch

 

I added fresh magnolia greenery around the base of the topiary trees and lanterns. Magnolia lasts a nice long time, especially when used outdoors. If you live where it’s super windy, you may want to add a little extra weight to the base of your topiary trees for extra support.

Decorate Porch for Christmas

 

Time to light the candles…

Sled for Christmas Porch

 

Lit candles add a little extra coziness to a porch and make it feel even more inviting. If you don’t like the idea of using real candles, check out the faux ones available in all the stores. Some look very realistic right down to the flickering flame.

Candle Lantern For Christmas Decorating

 

Merry Christmas, dear friends!

Porch With Christmas Lights

 

I was selected by Martha Stewart Living to try some of their Christmas products this year. While I have been compensated for my time, my opinions are all my own.

*If a post is sponsored or a product was provided at no charge, it will be stated in post. Some links may be affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. *



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Comments

  1. Love how you have decked out your porch, it’s beautiful!

  2. So inviting! You just know a friendly welcome awaits you inside this home; it’s “written” all over the entrance way. Thanks for sharing some of the details. 🙂

  3. I would love to have garland and trees on my porches, but I have neighborhood cats that potty on them. Have any suggestions to keep animals away (moth balls don’t work)?
    Your home is always beautiful. Enjoy your post.
    Jennifer Moreland

    • Thanks, Jennifer! I think they would have a hard time using these as a potty. The urns are quite tall. Okay, I just ran down to the porch and measured and they are 17 inches tall, plus there’s no room for a kitty to fit inside the urn with tree. I know pet stores also sell stuff you can spray to keep animals away. I have a friend whose kitties like to use her house plants for a potty and she put rocks and balled-up aluminum foil inside her really big pots and that seems to work, too.

  4. Yes, this definitely brings a smile to my face – beautiful!

  5. Susan….your front porch dressed for the Holidays is always gorgeous!…So love it and just love how you placed the plaid beverage carrier by the door!..so cute!…and love that wonderful wreath! Have a great weekend!

  6. Absolutely beautiful! I love it all. The addition of the sled, thermoses and ice skates looks like you are ready to go 😉

  7. Sherry Myers says

    Just getting to see the pictures of your gorgeous porch brings a smile to my face! I can’t imagine what it would feel like to walk up the walkway and ring the doorbell! It is beautiful Susan. Your neighbors must love you. Your readers sure do! Thanks for making our Christmas shiny and bright!
    Sherry

  8. Susan, you are so artistic! What an eye for beauty you have! Your front porch is just candy for the eyes! Merry Christmas love!

  9. Very pretty. Do you recall where you got the lanterns from?

    • Thanks! Those came from Old Time Pottery in Marietta, Georgia a few years back. If you don’t have one of those stores near you, check Hobby Lobby. Pottery Barn normally has some each year that are very similar to these but they tend to be a bit pricey.

  10. Oh…big smile! It’s so magical…and inviting! 😉

  11. Beth Francell says

    I’ve enjoyed your blog since my friend Judy Fisher turned me on to you. I have old smooth white wooden columns on my front porch and only one electrical outlet 20 feet away. I am curious how you get that heavy looking lighted garland of artificial greenery and ornaments to stay in place in the spiral you want and also how to light it. I hope you don’t say by magic. My columns have been so nicely painted there is no texture. Do you use nails?

  12. It does make me smile. Beautiful.

  13. Janette Chelenza says

    Your front porch is so beautiful. I was blessed several years age when my brother-in-law refinished two vintage sleds for me. Now I am inspired and know how to use them. May I ask what color paint is on your front door? Or please give me a little direction where to find that info on your site. I love wondering back through your past posts.

    • Thanks, Janette! The red is a Benjamin Moore color called Heritage Red. They only make it in their Aura line so if you look for it, call a few BM stores to see how carries the Aura line in your area. It’s a great paint…a little pricey but you don’t need very much for a door.

  14. that is really gorgeous! You have such a good eye for balance and scale. Even though our styles are very different, I gain inspiration from your ideas. And I love your porches always.The Martha Stewart additions fit right in, and I think are a good accompaniment to your look.

  15. Okay Susan,
    now it’s official: you are the “Plaid Queen”! 🙂
    I mean, you even have plaid Thermos bottles!
    How cool is that? (Is “cool” the right adjective to describe bottles which contain hot chocolate? LOL)
    You already know, I love your front porch and your red door, especially now, all decorated for Christmas! ♥
    All those pics could (should) turn into paintings to frame, especially #9, #10 and the last one! Just sayin’… 🙂
    ~Hugs to you~
    Cecilia

  16. Susan, very lovely! And welcoming.
    I have several large lanterns I purchased several years ago from PB but am not very creative in decorating them or with them. Perhaps sometime you can give a tutorial on seasonal changes with lanterns.
    Merry Christmas! I really enjoy your creativity and love of home.

  17. Susan, your porch is so beautiful and inviting! It just says, “Merry Christmas, and Welcome!”. Love it!

  18. Looks beautiful and would bring a smile to all who visit!!

  19. So pretty! I love the size of the tree topiaries, taller than usual….Christine

  20. Your porch looks beautiful! I love the ornament wreath, so sparkly. I always have to have shiny, sparkly ornaments on my tree and just a few twinkling lights – makes the tree magical. Merry Christmas!

  21. Simply beautiful and so inviting!!!

  22. Well, I would knock on your front door and say, “Put the kettle on Susan”!!
    I love that wreath, so different. Each year your porch gets better and better. How are you going to top it next year? 🙂

  23. Your porch looks beautiful! I’ve been eyeing that gorgeous wreath at Home Depot for the last few weeks. Love the colors in it! And I love your thermoses on the porch. I just posted my holiday porch photos today and we sort of match. Thermos-wise that is 🙂

    • Oh my gosh, Pam…it’s like we got together and planned our porches. lol So funny how similar they are. You wouldn’t believe how many sets of red skis I’ve been “watching” on eBay. I finally deleted them all but I came so close to ordering a pair after seeing a chippy white door with garland and red skis in a catalog…can’t remember now which catalog it was…do you know the one I’m talking about? I love your sled…so cute! I wish I could find goodies like that around here. In the south, you rarely come across wintry gear/toys so I have to resort to good ol eBay to find anything. Love that cooler! I think with that saying on the side, they were envisioning it filled with beer. lol

  24. Juanita in OH says

    Oh, Susan, your house is so beautiful and festive! The porch is magical. I LOVE the house tours. Due to health issues I won’t be decorating much this year, I live through your posts and the others that participate in them, they do make me very, very happy and add to the wonder of the season and help me keep my sanity
    . TFS, TFS, TFS!!

    • Juanita, you don’t worry about decorating, just concentrate on getting better. I’m sorry to hear you’ve been sick. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas season, then next year you’ll be decorating like crazy! 🙂

  25. Beautiful! Love it all!

  26. Your front porch was so festive and welcoming, until the lights came on; then it doubled in holiday-ness! Just wonderful.

  27. Oh my gosh! That last image of your porch all decorated is phenomenal!

  28. It’s just lovely Susan,, as always.. you have such a keen eye and knack for putting things together.
    Love it… very inviting.. the skates and sleigh remind me of my childhood. 🙂

    Unfortunately I have a similar problem as “Jennifer” above…. the neighbourhood cats don’t use mine as a “potty” per say.. but they do back up to things and “spray” so I can’t put out anything that isn’t easily washed down with spray cleaner and then a quick rinse with the garden hose.
    I’d love to have a cute display like yours…. but I *shudder* to think of what they’d do to anything leather or fabric… it wouldn’t be pretty.

    • I wonder why in the world they do that. They are going to have to start having leash laws for cats like they do dogs. When I had kitties, I never let them out for fear they would get run over or eaten by a coyote, which we have plenty of here. I once read that the average life span of a cat that is allowed to go outdoors is 3 years. I don’t understand why folks let their cats go out unattended. We don’t do that with dogs so why do it with cats. Sorry you have to put up with that Catalynn. That would be so discouraging.

  29. Christy Keyton says

    Hi Susan! This is just beautiful! I liked it so much, I drove to Home Depot and bought the last two trees they had in the Martha Stewart line. I had a party last night and my porch was gorgeous! I added my vintage sled and my husband’s green Coleman lantern to the mix. I don’t have a blog, but I could send you photos if you would like to see it. Thanks for the inspiration!

  30. Christy Keyton says

    Beautiful, Susan! I was so inspired, I drove to Home Depot and bought the last two of these Martha Stewart trees. I had a party last night and my porch was gorgeous. I added my vintage sled and my husband’s Coleman lantern as well. I just love it! I don’t have a blog, but can send you photos if you’d like to see it. Thanks for the inspiration and ideas!

  31. Very pretty Susan! Love the MS topiaries and the wreath. The natural Garland looks wonderful draped around the door. Your entryway is definitely inviting!

  32. The vignette of the Martha Stewart topiary with the lantern in the foreground and the sled and skates in the background is gorgeous! You certainly have an eye for arranging objects in a most pleasing manner. I have a small lantern and a couple of small faux trees that I think I will add to my little snowman scene on the front porch. Thank you for the inspiration!

  33. It does make me smile. The porch is beautiful. Merry Christmas.

  34. Oh Susan, your porch looks SOOO inviting! I LOVE those trees, I wish I could fit even one of them on my “porch” that is really a stoop:( I SO miss my old porch. Love the wreath too and the sled and skates. This brought a huge smile to my face!

    • Aww, thanks Pinky! I’m sympathize…that’s what I had the first 16 years I lived here…I had a small stoop. I wouldn’t mind if mine was just a tad bigger but they are fun to decorate. Can you add a porch on or increase the one you have at your new home? I wish I had done it sooner.

  35. I love your front porch decor! The sled, skates and thermos set are lovely winter touches 🙂

  36. Susan,my sister andI look forward to your blogs.You are a refreshing change to all the negative stuff out there.This is a personal question,are you single?I have not seen you mention a husband,just curious,I am widowed and love to decorate.You inspire me.Merry Christmas

    • Thanks, Theresa! Appreciate your kind words and so glad to hear you and your sister are out there reading. You sounds like kindred spirits! 🙂 No, I’m not married now. I have a son and he and my DIL just blessed me with my first grandbaby this past February. 🙂

  37. Susan,
    Your front porch is absolutely gorgeous with the night and the lights!!!
    Beginning early Spring, there’s to be a removal of the rectangular deck
    and the addition of a new front porch! The porch has been on the drawing board since the Summer of 2014!!!
    Thanks for sharing the joy of welcoming guests from the moment they ascend the front steps!!!
    Fondly,
    Pat

  38. bobbi duncan says

    I’m late to this party, and everyone has already spoken words I so agree with. So, I’ll just add magazine worthy. Love it all, Susan! I don’t know why I’m always in awe of your décor and ideas, as I know how creative you are, yet I always am. Folks always comment that your home exudes a heartfelt warm welcome….that says it all, I believe. Isn’t this such a wonderful time of year? We’ve been out almost every night looking at homes beautifully lit. I love it! Longwood Gardens looks amazing. They spend all year coming up with new ideas, and we so appreciate their endeavor as it’s a big part of our holiday tradition, and one that we so enjoy treating family and friends to each year.

  39. Susan as always beautiful! One question when you trim your magnolia how do you or where do you trim? I have only one magnolia so I don’t want to trim too much off the tree. Thanks love your blog

    • Thanks, Rita! Well, my magnolia is planted in a place it should never have been planted (by a previous homeowner) quite close to the house. I don’t have the heart to cut it down and love it there, but the next owner may do it. I hope they don’t. So, each year I trim off the limbs that are starting to encroach on the walkway and the ones that are trying to take over the driveway. There are always plenty that are doing that. Fortunately, I’m always able to find branches that I can trim back to a spot where the place I cut will be hidden by another branch. By next year, those places I cut will be out near the walkway again, or the branches that hid them will. I also trim on the back side of the magnolia, the side toward the house because I like to keep a little path through that area open so I can scoot through there when I’m working in the yard. You can see the areas I trim in this post, only it’s a lot thicker and fuller right now than it was in that picture. https://betweennapsontheporch.net/decorate-a-lantern-for-christmas-with-greenery-from-the-garden/ When I first moved here 23 years ago, the magnolia was pretty small…like the size of a lot of Crepe Myrtles. I actually added fertilizer stakes around it back then because I so badly wanted it to hurry up and grow so it would be big enough to cut greenery from. lol Now, I need for it to slow down! 🙂 If your magnolia is pretty large, just try to cut in areas that are less conspicuous or further back into the tree. I hope that helps a little.

  40. OMG! I don’t know how I “missed this one!” And, the plaid thermos and container…I GOT THAT SET for High School graduation in….1962!!! I only have one thermos left…but…I always liked plaid!!! Crazy!! franki

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