Your front door and porch are the focal point of your home, especially during the winter. As snow covers what was once colorful landscaping, you must consider how to decorate your front porch for winter to match the season.
Decorating a front porch for winter is exciting because there are so many fun ideas to explore. Here, we’ve gathered some tips to consider before you commit to a style, and we give you guidance on how to decorate your front porch and door for winter. Whether you want to go all out or keep it simple and classic with minimal decorations, we have you covered.
Top 4 Tips for Outdoor Decoration
1. Decide How Long the Decorations Will Be Up
If you like to switch out your decorations frequently, then you can opt for more eye-catching options. You can create detailed themes or delve into holiday-specific decor that highlights the excitement of a specific time. Take advantage of the rapid succession of holidays with Christmas, New Year’s and Valentine’s Day to keep your decorations fresh and exciting. Short-lasting styles can also be bolder, as opposed to a subdued winter theme.
On the other hand, if you enjoy the coziness of winter or want to avoid refreshing the decorations once a month, a simpler, more versatile style might suit you best. Avoid the guilt in February when you still have your bright Santa Claus decorations on your front door waiting to be taken down. Instead, opt for a style that holds true throughout the season and enjoy the decorations all season long.
2. Use the Right Materials
Gathering the right materials for your decorations permits the display to stay up throughout the entire winter season. You can easily transform your Christmas decorations into a generic winter style by selecting the right staple pieces that transition easily from the holidays into a more seasonal theme. Opting for basics like pine trees and pine cones, interesting lighting and woods like pine, birch and cedar make for a more versatile set of decorations.
3. Have a Vision
The best way to make decorating your front porch or door easy is to go in with a plan. Determine a theme for your front porch or door to make it feel cohesive. You don’t need an advanced design degree to make fantastic winter decorations that can stay in style all season long. Opt for an elegant wreath on the door in place of the plush Santa toy for an effortless display you can leave up until spring.
Identify staples of a decoration style around which you can center the rest of your decorations. Establish a focal point that sets the tone for the rest of the area, then decide what best complements and accentuates the feature.
4. Take Advantage of What You Already Have
Holiday decorations don’t need to be store-bought to look lovely. DIY projects using resources you have lying around your house are a great opportunity to get creative and offer a fun project for the whole family.
Use branches from pine trees for space-filling decorations that align well with the theme without breaking the bank. The best holiday decorations are those that you feel proud of. Creativity and resourcefulness keep your winter decorations fresh each year, creating an original display that’s unique to your home.
3 Wreath Themes for Your Front Door Focal Point
Wreaths are a staple of Christmas and winter decoration, and they are extremely versatile. They come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and themes, but many people find that wreaths are also extremely easy to make at home! Include a wreath as a focal point on your front door or incorporate multiple for small details. We have three themes to help you find or create the perfect wreath for your front door.
1. Christmas
The best way to create a Christmas theme is by incorporating the color red. It screams festivity, and it is extremely versatile for the holiday season. Bright red bows on the wreath are the ultimate Christmas decoration, so add some spice to the regular evergreen wreath you may have with bright pops of color.
Spice up the evergreen wreath you have by hanging some silver and red ornaments or a hanging bow. If you want to deviate from the traditional wreath style, try using a material other than evergreen branches. Glue some ornaments to a sturdy ring for a unique wreath. Rely on the color red to draw attention to your wreath, and incorporate ornaments with patterns like candy cane stripes. Remember to vary the sizes to create depth.
Christmas wreaths may also feature words like “merry” and “joy.” Add these to the middle of the ring to center your wreath around the holiday or build a wreath around a chalkboard. This works best with thinner wreaths, so be sure not to overcrowd the middle and prevent people from seeing the centerpiece.
Create a Christmas tree wreath with small, thin wreaths that are built into a pyramid. Attach each of the small wreaths together with wire to keep the individual pieces together. Add a ribbon at the top and a bundle of sticks at the bottom for a trunk.
2. Winter
Winter wreaths are diverse because of how many variations of winter themes are possible. Most generic winter wreaths primarily incorporate evergreen leaves or branches. For a more rustic theme, look for materials like burlap and warm brown tones to maintain the lighter accents.
The most iconic feature of winter is snow, and an interesting snow-covered wreath blends in well with a more subdued theme. Use the white accents to pull in features like snowflakes on the evergreen leaves. If you want something more unique than the traditional winter-themed evergreen wreath, you can easily make a wreath with a smaller clump of evergreen leaves and add in some sticks. The sticks help the smaller amount of greenery look bigger and add a uniqueness to your decorations.
Think outside the box by using different kinds of greenery, such as boxwood or grapevines. Change the game altogether by opting out of greenery for your wreaths. Flannel patterns are very popular in winter themes. You can easily make a flannel wreath by repurposing an old shirt that no longer fits, wrapping it around a ring and hanging it on the door. Add some pine cones or small berries to finish it off, and you will have created a one-of-a-kind wreath for your front door.
Evergreen branches are just one part of nature that you can include for a winter theme that lasts the whole season. Wood may also be fashioned into a creative wreath. By cutting small puck-shaped pieces of a light wood and gluing them onto a sturdy ring, you can quickly create a unique wreath. The best part about this style is that it serves well in a rustic theme, which means you can use it for more than one season.
3. Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day falls at the end of winter, so you can warm up your front door with the right wreath. Most Valentine’s Day wreaths are in the shape of a heart, so they differentiate themselves from the traditional winter wreaths. Take advantage of the classic Valentine’s Day colors, pink, red and white, to brighten your front door.
Opt for a traditional look with a wreath of roses. Find some fake roses and attach two layers of the flowers for a timeless and chic wreath. If you enjoy a softer aesthetic, you may opt for some thin twigs formed into the shape of a heart. Outline the inside of the heart with red and add white or light pink accents to the outside edges for depth. Top off the look with a red or white bow above the wreath for a perfect Valentine’s Day decoration.
Add a fun twist to the traditional ring shape by using various ribbons made of pink, red, and white. Vary the patterns and opacity for a more dynamic wreath. Form large loops of the fabric and attach them to a ring. The larger you make your hoops, the more exciting your wreath will be. Add some streamers or heart shapes to complete the wreath.
4 Dazzling Types of Arrangements
As your beloved flowers die at the turn of the season, you may find yourself with an abundance of empty planters or pots. You now have empty containers ready to be used in other decorations until it’s time for next spring’s planting season. Containers of all sorts can be easily repurposed for interesting decorations for your front porch. We have collected four ideas to decorate a small front porch for winter.
1. Planters
Planters are perfect for repurposing to winter decorations–the difficult part is figuring out how to style them. Depending on the size of the planter, you have quite a few options. For small planters, use small logs and a select few branches from a pine tree to represent the winter style. Throw in a couple pine cones with a small set of string lights, and you have yourself a tiny “campfire.”
For a traditional look in a tall planter, add greenery that fills most of the planter. This makes it look lively and fresh. It looks best when the planter is overflowing with greenery, making the planter pop. Once the planter is filled, add some details for dimension and depth. Pine cones or fake fruits and berries offer a great and subtle way to create depth. Finally, add pieces that make the planter look taller. Stick branches vertically into the pot for height.
2. Urns
Urns are an excellent container for interesting arrangements during winter. Unlike planters, urns offer unique shapes that serve as a focal attraction in themselves. The same arrangement style used for planters can be applied to urns–one layer for height, one for fill and one for depth.
3. Pots
Whether you use traditional terracotta pots or a decorative pot, you can find ways to repurpose them for your winter decorations on the front porch. Gather some branches or sticks and break them down into a filler for your pot. Then, find or make a small birdhouse that you can set on top of the branches and nestle it into the pot. Surround the nest with pine cones or fake berries, and your decoration is complete!
For an even easier project, forget the tall layer of the traditional arrangement. Fill a pot with your greenery, then top it off with decorations like pine cones and small ornaments for color. If you want something more exciting, add some lights into the pot. That way, you can see your arrangement at night!
4. Other Containers
A fun way to make an easy DIY project unique is by using a different kind of container than the traditional holders, like planters, urns and pots. Grab your little red wagon, ensure it is securely fastened to one place and put some small pine trees into it. You can opt to keep the trees plain or add a few ornaments and lights to liven them up. A bucket with some wood logs offers a great weight to keep the wagon in place.
If you have old buckets with little use left, those can be added to your front porch decorations. You may secure a festive sign to the front of it or simply fill it with a few wooden logs for an incredibly easy and low-maintenance decoration. You could line your porch with lanterns filled with greenery and pine cones or get festive by filling them with lights and Christmas ornaments. Save money on light bulbs and avoid the pesky wiring by repurposing the containers for another decorative purpose!
4 Tips for Winter Decoration
Decorating your front door and porch is a great way to greet visitors before you even meet them. It also adds some life to your yard during the coldest months of the year. The right winter decorations can make a world of difference in styling your home and making a good impression on everyone who rings your doorbell. We have gathered four tips for decorating your front door and porch to help you get the creative juices flowing!
1. Winter Activity Materials
Sledding and skiing are two classic winter activities that everyone loves. Tap into these timeless hobbies by decorating your front porch with an old toboggan or sled propped up against the wall. Hang a wreath from the toboggan or drape some old skis over the top for an extra wintry touch. You may also find some old skis to prop next to the door for a traditional winter decoration.
2. Winter Gear
Making snowmen is a staple of childhood memories. Get creative and make a fake snowman out of Styrofoam balls or white wreaths. Decorate the snowman with the bright colors of cozy winter gear like scarves and a hat for an exciting focal point on your front porch.
Find a pair of vintage snowshoes and incorporate them into your decor. The old snowshoes may have holes in them, but they undoubtedly signal fun times in the snow, which may be perfect for winter decorations on your front porch. You could leave them on the ground and decorate around them, hang them as a pair or put one on each side of the door. No matter what you decide, this unique decoration will definitely catch the eye of anyone walking into or by your home!
3. Greenery
Greenery is a great way to add life to either your front door or porch. In addition to the classic evergreen branches, find some cheap garland and wrap it around the banisters of your porch. These decorations are easy to remove, and they are appropriate decorations all throughout winter. Hang a sneaky bundle of mistletoe over your front door to catch your guests by surprise!
Willow branches are excellent for adding a small spice of nature into your winter decorations. Hang a couple of branches from your door or behind your wreath for a unique, wintry touch that sets your display apart from the rest. You can also incorporate faux snowberries throughout your porch for a small touch that takes your decorations to the next level.
4. Lighting
Lights are an easy way to vamp up your front door or porch. Winter decorating can be made easy by stringing lights! White lights are a more traditional option that is great for simply drawing attention to the decorating you have done. Allow your neighbors to appreciate the work you put into styling your front door or porch. If you prefer more simplistic decorations, complement them with casual white lights.
Colored lights are a more exciting option that is perfect for festive styles. If you include a lot of colors in your decorations, colored string lights may be a great option for completing the look! Colored lights are perfect whether you have a whole porch full of decorations or just a single wreath on the front door. No matter how you complete the look, the colored lights can add pizzazz to your festive front porch display.
Fake candles add a lot to a front porch. Avoid real candles, as they pose a fire hazard. You can subtly add the fake candle lights amidst your decorations to make the decor visible and light up your porch. You may also decide to line the walkway or stairs with fake candles for a soft lighting option that adds to the style.
Revamp Your Front Door
Your front door winter decorations will look great with a high-quality entry door. Quality Overhead Door offers entry doors that will undoubtedly exceed your expectations. We offer free estimates for door installation, and we prioritize your satisfaction. Choose from our extensive selection of products to find the perfect entry door for your home. We service all makes and models, such as Clopay, CHI, Wayne Dalton and LiftMaster.
Quality Overhead Door is family owned and operated, which means we take great care to be reliable and trustworthy. Schedule an estimate to get started today, or connect with us online to ask questions and start a conversation!
Additional Resources on Entry Doors:
- How to Decorate Your Front Door and Porch for Fall
- How to Decorate Your Front Door and Porch for Spring
- How to Decorate Your Front Door and Porch for Summer
- How to Decorate Your Front Door