Decorating & Design
November 16, 2022
From The Archives: 25 Ways To Add Holiday Style To Your Exterior
From illuminated garlands to lush wreaths studded with berries, this gallery of festive exteriors will inspire you.
Scroll down for 20+ ways to deliver Christmas curb appeal!
“I keep it simple and all-green with very little other color except for the chartreuse velvet ribbon; the ribbon color varies from year to year,” says Lynda Reeves. “I don’t like too much going on with exterior lights or decorations. Archie, our bearded collie, seems to agree!”
A garland with oversized pine cones envelope the front door of designer Nam Dang-Mitchell‘s 1912 home. Plus, urns stuffed with Norfolk Island pines make a merry first impression on the porch.
Luscious layers of magnolia bring a chic dose of seasonal cheer to the face of designer Colette van den Thillart‘s neo-Georgian Toronto home.
Designer Alison Milne‘s Scandi-style decor is winter chic and will last well beyond the holidays. Her urban Toronto porch is styled with distressed planters filled with mini trees and lanterns. A small festive wreath hangs on the original front door.
“I would have loved to have hung a wreath on each of the narrow double doors, but it felt too cramped,” says designer James Davie of his festive front door. “Hanging one on the street lantern was a better choice.”
Designer Sarah Richardson doubled up on reusable birch bark door wreaths for her holiday exterior. “I wanted a simple yet modern look that would complement our contemporary home,” she says.
Designer Anne Hepfer embraced her front door’s high-gloss blue hue with a lush wreath.
Designer Sydney Carlaw forages for most of her holiday decorating on the property surrounding her rustic farmhouse. “I love the look of berries and holly, and they already smell like Christmas,” she says.
Florist Alison Westlake dressed up her Prince Edward County farmhouse with a wreath made of dried grapevines, evergreen clippings, dried berries, and a ribbon, while the white porch is flanked with a natural-hued garland.
If your exterior reads more modern, try incorporating subtle touches of holiday, like tall birch logs casually leaning against one wall and plenty of fresh greenery.
Designer Philip Mitchell dresses up his historic Nova Scotia home with classic evergreen garlands, boxwood planters and hints of red for a festive feel.
The owners of this charming cabin decorated the exterior how they designed the home: to reflect their love of a spare, natural aesthetic.
“For Christmas, we don’t overdo it; it’s an understated display of holiday,” says designer Cynthia Zamaria, who hung a wreath with black grosgrain ribbon for a sophisticated take on holiday style.
The homeowner of this circa-1840 clapboard biscuit box house adorned the exterior with fresh evergreen boughs, red ribbons and clear twinkle lights.
Two planted urns overflowing with evergreen boughs and a pinecone wreath on the door give designer Grace Castaneda’s weekend home a Christmas-in-the-country feel.
This walkway has all of the holiday trimmings, from boughs of greenery to old-fashioned lanterns and a dusting of snow. Bright plaid bows add a pop of color and pattern.
Large potted urns filled with evergreen sprigs and berries look extra festive when dusted with snow, and emphasize the pleasing symmetry of the lanterns.
A single wreath brings holiday cheer to the exterior of Jim and Susan Hill’s French-inspired farmhouse. Rustic stone, shuttered windows and a tiled gable roof look extra dreamy with a fresh layer of snow.
On designer and homeowner Jennifer Worts’ front porch, two small Christmas trees welcome guests before they even enter the home. Burlap tree skirts bring a rustic look that feels right for the outdoors.
Corrine Isherwood, founder of Botany Living, added succulents to the wreath on her front door. “They’re not too fussy, but they’re nice accent pieces, plus they work in modern and traditional homes,” she says.
Branches adorned with silver and blue baubles add interest to this front porch. Black urns filled with evergreens and lanterns create symmetry.
Magnolia garlands in rich evergreen, brown and burnt orange hues create a harmonious look. Homeowner Bryn Currie “likes clean and simple, nothing fussy or overly embellished,” says floral designer Gisele Sterling, who designed the garlands.
If you want to move beyond the traditional evergreen wreath this holiday season, why not try a textured twine version adorned with dried berries in sweet sugar plum hues, gold leaves and tiny star motifs.
For this Georgian-style new-build, dramatic urns filled with birch and evergreen branches of varying heights add visual interest. Big baubles in an elegant rust color add a dash of metallic to the mix.
Matte black urns overflowing with seasonal greenery and branches pair perfectly with the dark double doors of this home’s grand entrance.