Decorating & Design
November 30, 2021
40+ Outdoor Holiday Decorations That Deliver Christmas Curb Appeal
Holiday decorating should begin at your front door. It’s the first thing your guests will see, so let your festive style shine! From illuminated garlands to lush wreaths studded with berries, the options are endless. This gallery of festive exteriors will inspire you to give the outside of your home a healthy dose of holiday cheer.
An urban Toronto porch is styled with distressed planters filled with mini trees and lanterns. A small festive wreath hangs on the original front door. This Scandi-style decor is winter chic and will last well beyond the holidays.
Florist Alison Westlake forages for her own holiday decor in the Prince Edward County countryside. A muddy pastel rose door is graced 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.
It doesn’t get anymore classic Christmas than this merry front door! Evergreen garlands, bright red ribbon and berries are the key ingredients.
A fresh blanket of snow shouldn’t stop you from bringing the gathering inside! Designer Kristen Vermeulen created a cozy outdoor entertaining area with a firepit, wooden benches draped with plush sheepskin and whimsical string lights.
Luscious swags of greenery punctuated with feathery bouquets and string lights guide guests into this charming cabin’s backyard.
A hot chocolate station feels like the perfect place to gather when frosty temperatures hit.
“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 canvas-covered “prospector’s tent” near the ice rink is an ideal place to warm up cold fingers with a mug of hot chocolate in between laps.
A garland with oversized pine cones that envelope the front door, plus urns gussied up with Norfolk Island pines, make a merry first impression on the porch of designer Nam Dang-Mitchell‘s 1912 home.
Designer Sarah Richardson doubled up on reusable birch bark door wreaths and the result compliments her contemporary casa.
Luscious layers of magnolia, rather than an expected dash of evergreen, brings a chic dose of seasonal cheer to the face of designer Colette van den Thillart‘s neo-Georgian Toronto home.
“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.” The ribbon is the perfect mix of red and purple.
Designer Anne Hepfer embraced her front door’s high-gloss blue hue with a lush wreath and urns covered in fresh snow.
There’s a reason this shot made the cover of our November 2020 issue! The rustic barn door feels festive on its own, but a natural wreath with pine cones amps up the holiday cheer.
If “keep it simple” is your holiday decorating motto, simply hang a minimalist wreath on a black grosgrain ribbon for a sophisticated yet understated look.
How sweet is this circa-1840 clapboard biscuit box house? The homeowner adorns the exterior with fresh evergreen boughs, red ribbons and clear twinkle light. The effect is even more magical once the sun sets.
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 rustic barn gets an instant festive upgrade with an over-the-top wreath that you can see from miles away.
A lush garland of B.C. cedar draped around the door and window commands attention, especially when decorated with delicate twinkle lights that cast a warm glow.
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.
A pile of wood can double as fuel for a roaring fire and a festive feature for your front door — and it’ll look great all winter long.
Designer and homeowner Kate Thornley-Hall’s cabin looks straight out of Nancy Meyers’ The Holiday. Her hideaway looks extra special with a wreath, new cedar dormers and shutters painted a sweet pastel hue.
This statement star made out of birch bark and grapevine serves as a tree-topper for your front door. A string of lush B.C. cedar garland adds even more natural texture.
Homeowners Miranda Ogilvie and Dana Hanson’s quaint shingled farmhouse feels extra special during the holiday season with a string of twinkle lights draped from the ceiling.
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.
Sliding barn doors get an instant holiday makeover with a fresh coat of ruby red paint. Let the statement-making hue take center stage by adding a simple twine wreath and undone greenery to the front door.
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.
Take a page from homeowner Pheona Wright’s book and match your holiday decorations with the exterior of your home. The orange-tinted twine wreath pairs perfectly with her Georgian manor’s warm brick hue.
Shop owners Janaki Larsen and Pascal Roy of Le Marché St. George added warmth to their seasonal seating area with a shag throw and pillows for customers to cozy up to during the winter months.
For a festive message on your front porch, all you need is bend energy-efficient LED rope lights — they can easily maneuver into any shape or saying, so let your imagination run wild.
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.
“Christmas, for me, lives everywhere,” says designer and homeowner Sarah Richardson, who dressed her apple tree with luminous bulbs.
Boxwood plants covered in burlap and evergreen garlands wrapped around the columns make this stately home entrance look festive all season long.
Turn your patio into a winter oasis with festive urns packed with fresh foliage and glistening ornaments. Plus, French doors lined with lights and a fresh coat of snow only add to this holiday hideaway.
Matte black urns overflowing with seasonal greenery and branches pair perfectly with the dark double doors of this home’s grand entrance.
This festive front porch is trimmed with tartan, seen in the eye-catching plaid pillows and plush ribbons. The ideal way to add holiday cheer!