Yesterday I introduced my husband’s outside lights decorating trick of changing bulb colors so the light strands he hangs in mid-October for Halloween remain up and appropriate through St. Patrick’s Day in mid-March. In addition to these colorful lights, our outdoor Christmas decor consist of greens – wreaths, garland, Arbovites and swags.
LARGE WREATH
Large wreath decorates outside wall in courtyard.
I originally created this large 48″ diameter wreath to hang high above the fireplace mantel in a previous house. The decorations on the wreath do not work in our new living room but it fits well into an outdoor space. Rather than deconstruct the wreath, I decided to give it a try outside even it wasn’t built for outdoor use. The only decorations on the wreath questionable for outdoor use are the silk magnolia blossoms. They work in this spot, however, because the wreath hangs in an area protected by the overhead eaves and by another wing of the house.
WALKWAY GARLAND
An artifical garland loops between entry posts and responds well to changing weather. Large plastic decorations above the loops add a bit of sparkle and visually link back to the gold in the large wall wreath.
WINDOW WREATHS
Three side-by-side windows repeat same size wreaths.
Three windows along the entry walkway display repeating wreaths. The wreaths hang from monofilament attached to the overhead wood trim so they seem to float in front of the windows. From the hallway inside the house the view to the courtyard is encircled with evergreen branches – so these wreaths decorate both the inside and the outside!
ENTRY
Simple gold bead garlands and white lights dress entry arborvitaes.
Potted arbovitaes stand on each side of the front doors year round. A simply gold bead garland and white lights dress them for the holidays.
FRONT DOORS
Matching swags with natural pine cones adorn double entry doors.
The double front doors each welcome guests with matching swags highlighted by large natural pinecones. I LOVE these swags – Terrie gave them to me!
I’ve found simple greens add a festive touch to outdoor decorating. What about you? What are some of your decorating tips for dressing the outside of your home for the holidays? Post a comment and I’ll send you a FREE guide to making Designer Florist Bows.
Happy Holidays!
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