A classic Christmas welcome.

Two large urns, filled to the brim with seasonal boughs, leaves and pine cones, make for a dramatic holiday greeting at the front door of Grace Castaneda’s weekend home. A matching pine cone wreath and dangling sleigh bells complete the festive look for a perfectly welcoming entrance.

See more festive exterior decorating ideas in our Outdoor Holiday Decorations photo gallery.

Fresh greenery pairs perfectly with tartan ribbon.

As guests stroll up the McTavish family’s front walk, they can admire an array of pretty wreaths and garlands hung on both levels of the home’s porch. Festive red plaid bows complement the traditional decor.

A matching garland, wreath and planters complement Georgian brick.

A unique garland of cocoa and green magnolia leaves beautifully frames this stately front door. Using the same foliage and pinecones on the wreath and in the resin planters creates a lush and cohesive effect.

A traditional holiday motif adds plenty of charm.

A pair of classic rocking chairs with plump plaid pillows invite guests to kick back on the front porch with a mug of steaming cocoa. This particular veranda affords lovely views of a harbour on Oakville, Ont.’s Sixteen Mile Creek.

An organic and luxurious look.

A grand entry deserves the decor to match. Here, classic black urns overflow with verdant seasonal greenery and branches, while plump garlands frame the glossy black door. A crystal chandelier just beyond makes an opulent finishing touch.

Sarah Richardson adds some holiday sparkle.

Aglow with lights from inside and out, designer Sarah Richardson’s sprawling 4,000-square-foot country house offers a warm, inviting respite from the snowy landscape.

Get a complete tour of Sarah’s holiday home in our photo gallery. Plus, see more festive exterior decorating ideas in our Outdoor Holiday Decorations photo gallery.

Candleholders fashioned from ice are simple and stunning.

To make these DIY lanterns, fill a large plastic container halfway with water. Place a smaller plastic container inside, weighted down with a heavy object, then fill around it with water until the large container is full. (The smaller container should be floating, so water will freeze around it.) Set it outside, or in a freezer. When the water is completely frozen, fill the smaller container with warm water until the ice melts enough to wiggle it free. Flip over the large container and pour warm water over it until it, too, melts free. Place a candle inside each frozen holder and set outdoors.

See more holiday wreaths in our photo gallery, learn tips for decorating a door with small wreaths, or browse through more festive exterior decorating ideas in our Outdoor Holiday Decorations gallery.

Make greenery twinkle for a magical entryway.

Brighten outdoor walkways by lacing grapevine balls with mini tree lights, then placing them atop planters filled with cedar, boxwood and spruce. Draw attention to doors and windows by draping them with lush garlands of B.C. cedar and dainty white lights.

See more festive exterior decorating ideas in our Outdoor Holiday Decorations gallery.

A simple way to decorate a red brick home.

This classic house already has all the elements of a welcoming entry: wide flagstone stairs, a gorgeous arched doorway and pair of glowing lanterns. But it’s the matching evergreen-filled planters and simple boxwood wreath — with their lush green tones — that make this red brick exterior really sing.

For more ideas, see our Designers’ Holiday Decorating Tips photo gallery. Plus, see more wreaths in our photo gallery, and learn tips for decorating a door with small wreaths. Or browse through more festive exterior decorating photos in our Outdoor Holiday Decorations gallery.

Add a little sparkle to your front or back yard.

It’s not just fir trees’ time to shine. This season, why not dress your naked deciduous trees with Christmas lights? Oversized or whimsically-shaped white lights are a chic alternative to standard multicoloured strings. “Christmas, for me, lives everywhere,” shares designer and homeowner Sarah Richardson, who draped her apple tree with pretty globes.

See more festive exterior decorating ideas in our Outdoor Holiday Decorations gallery. Also, get a complete tour of this scenic property in Sarah Richardson’s Holiday House gallery.

A glimmering patio with a festive feel.

Pack urns with fresh greens and trim exterior doors with lights to encourage open-air mingling when the weather permits — and create a wintry still life when the snow starts to fall.

Ornamental greenery looks fresh and pretty.

With its natural palette of green, silver, rust and brown, this decorative display has a festive look that’s subtle enough to keep up all winter long. Red branches inserted into the centres of the urns add dramatic height to the arrangements.

Simple decor with timeless appeal.

Maxime Vandal and Richard Ouellette of Montreal design firm Les Ensembliers placed potted evergreens below a pair of handsome, lantern-style sconces for a symmetrical, visually appealing effect. A classic berry wreath stands out against the black front door for pop of holiday colour.

See more interiors from Les Ensembliers, or check out more festive wreaths in our photo gallery. Plus, check out more festive exterior decorating ideas in our Outdoor Holiday Decorations gallery.

Draped cedar garlands and berry-stuffed wreaths add an old world touch to a home’s exterior.

Use simple and nostalgic greenery to emphasize your home’s standout architectural elements. Here, a regal lion door knocker is framed by a wreath of variegated holly, while a fir wreath draws the eye to the entryway’s pretty peaked roof. The planters at the base of the supportive beams feature juicy red ilex berries, creating a colourful and festive focal point.

Check out more festive exterior decorating ideas in our Outdoor Holiday Decorations photo gallery. Plus, see more wreaths in our photo gallery, and learn tips for decorating a door with small wreaths and crafting a DIY boxwood wreath.

Glittering greens dress up this modern front entry.

Giant pots of pine trimmings, decorated with reflective silver balls and twinkling white lights, set a celebratory tone before guests even set foot inside one of Sarah Richardson’s holiday parties. Wreaths rendered in a unique square shape are contemporary takes on the seasonal standbys.

For more festive exterior decorating ideas, see our Outdoor Holiday Decorations gallery.

Plus, check out more wreaths in our photo gallery, and learn tips for decorating a door with small wreaths and crafting a DIY boxwood wreath.

Spruce up your entryway with textural boxwood.

A few hits of subtle, seasonal boxwood complement this home’s soft grey-painted brick and elegant hardware. It comes together for a festive, yet totally sophisticated look.

A snow-covered hideaway dressed for the season.

Hanging two wreaths, instead of one, gives this tiny shed a fairy-tale feel. Ornaments strung along the charming white fence up the festive ante, and since these ones are fashioned from faux rosehip and evergreen, they’ll hold up beautifully all season.

See more festive exterior decorating ideas in our Outdoor Holiday Decorations photo gallery. Plus, see more of this home’s outdoor decorations, and learn tips for decorating a door with small wreaths and crafting a DIY boxwood wreath.

DIY orbs, lit from within, create an ethereal display.

To create a similar effect in your front or back yard this season, purchase artificial wire or sisal balls from a garden centre (these conceal light cords better than wide-weave twig or wicker balls). Create an opening in each ball by gently pulling the wire or sisal apart, and carefully pack each globe with strings of white Christmas lights. Connect the lights to an extension cord and run the cord discreetly to an outlet.

See more festive exterior decorating photos in our Outdoor Holiday Decorations gallery.

Simple holiday decorations work all winter long.

For a neutral and natural look, wrap burlap bags around the bases of boxwood plants and wrap simple evergreen garlands around columns. A magnolia leaf wreath makes a subtley elegant finishing touch.