Dazzling Holiday Doorway Ideas: 7 Ways to Add Festive Style to Your Front Porch
’Tis the season for inspiring joy and cheer — and a pretty entryway does just that! Here, the easy how-to's
A front door that’s been decorated for the holidays brings tidings of warmth and charm to everyone who visits your home this time of year. Plus, even passersby delight at the display of wreaths, greenery and twinkling lights. And setting up a seasonal doorway display is surprisingly easy and affordable. “I love decorating our front door area,” says design pro Leanna Laming, founder of LifeByLeanna.com. “The porch decorations and lights take center stage!” Here, Laming and other designers reveal their best DIY outdoor Christmas decorations that suit every style — from classic to rustic to whimsical — and make loved ones feel merry and bright!
1. For a classic Christmas look …
Creating a timeless entryway that’s lovely and inviting is as easy as dressing up your door with fresh, fragrant evergreens, eye-catching patterns and luxe, velvety extras. To do: Apply a light coat of artificial snow spray (Buy at Amazon, $12) to an evergreen wreath for a flocked look, then tuck in berry sprigs and tie on a red plaid bow; hang. Drape an evergreen garland above the doorframe and flank the door with potted mini pine trees; tie on red velvet bows.
2. For a colorful cottage-chic look …
“I love cottage style — it’s homey and comforting,” says designer Jennifer Hadfield of TaterTotsAndJello.com. For a lush and layered vignette, Hadfield decorated her front porch with fresh touches like evergreen garlands and pine cones, plus pops of color with red gingham and cheery accents. Here, a salmon-pink door is dressed up with a bright wreath (made by attaching fir sprigs and bold baubles to an embroidery hoop with floral wire) and a pretty evergreen garland adorned with pine cones, ribbons and twinkly lights. To anchor the display, Hadfield added a stenciled wood sign, a sparkling wicker tree, a petite potted tree and a woven rug.
3. For a merry and bright baubled look …
Decorating your entryway is a personal way to offer an inviting welcome to neighbors and guests. And this festive ornament theme is so joyful! To do: Hang an ornament-kissed wreath on your door and a garland or two, as shown (Buy at Grandin Road, $34.97). Set evergreen planters on steps and tuck in ornaments to complete the look. Tip: Opt for craft-store shatterproof baubles. For a gorgeous array of ornaments, baubles and outdoor DIY Christmas decorations, starting at $14, visit GrandinRoad.com.
4. For a simple holiday look with planter ‘trees’ …
“In addition to adding a wreath to my front door, I also love to incorporate a seasonal sign, welcome mat, oversized ornaments or lanterns,” says Laming. “I created these stunning outdoor DIY planter trees for less than $20 each by wrapping garland around…a tomato cage!” You can check out Laming’s unexpected DIY idea and step-by-step process here.
Also smart: It’s surprisingly easy to create a seamless overhead garland look. Whether it’s for an outdoor or indoor doorway, this viral tension rod hack will wow. Simply wrap your greenery around the rod and place above your doorway. For the simple how-to, check out the tutorial below from CasaLawson on TikTok:
5. For a whimsically playful Christmas look …
“A DIY fireplace door is a fun way to show your holiday spirit,” says Melissa Mills, SVP of General Merchandising at Michaels craft stores. To do: Cover a 24″ foam board with brick-patterned gift wrap; use poster putty to attach to the door. Stick on a 12″ square of chalkboard vinyl and use chalk to draw logs. Paint a 24″ rectangle sheet of balsa wood brown; hot-glue to board. Cut stocking shapes from felt and faux fur (For the free printables from Michaels, click here.). Glue stockings to the wood; hang a wreath above the “mantel.”
6. For a gorgeous gilded and evergreen look …
This entryway captures a timeless woodland-inspired feel, but it’s instantly elevated with metallic elements. It’s sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face! Here, an evergreen wreath (sprinkled with pine cones and berries) and matching garland are made even prettier with pops of gold from the twinkle lights and gilded deer accents. For a variety of gilded decor and outdoor DIY Christmas decorations, starting at $14, visit GrandinRoad.com.
7. For a rustic-meets-jolly plaid look …
“Neutral-hued porches provide the perfect backdrop for creating a modern and fun farmhouse feel,” says Hadfield. The key? “Weave in metallics and cheery pops of red.” To do: Hang a craft-store galvanized wreath (with a mini winter scene hot-glued inside) on the door, then weave a pom-pom garland, ribbons and a strand of red lantern-kissed lights into a fresh evergreen garland; hang on door frame. To finish, flank the door with a festive stenciled wood sign and a tin planter filled with greenery and craft-store plant picks.
Click through for more inspiring DIY Christmas ideas:
How to Decorate a Christmas Tree With Ribbon: 4 Easy Ideas From Home Decor Pros
Experts Reveal The Perfect Time to Decorate for Christmas
Christmas Mantel Ideas: 7 Ways to Add Festive Style to Your Space – For Less!
Decorating Pros Share Their Top Gingerbread House Ideas, Tricks and Tips
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