Looking for Christmas decorating ideas for the porch? Here’s how I decorated my front porch with the Christmas color of the season.
Each year I work on decorating the outside of my house for Christmas.
Just between you and I?
It’s a little challenging.
I’ve been looking at this house and all its Christmas decorations for 40 years.
I can see the way my mother decorated it and my heart wants to recreate it.
Except.
Except I never could get it exactly right. I tried so hard. I added this and took away this and tried to put more of this.
I was soooo close, but it never really looked like the Christmas house of my childhood.
Until.
Until now. This is the year. I FINALLY got it right.
And the best part? If I squint and click my heels together?
I’m back in high school again.
Christmas Decorating Ideas For the Porch
Here’s the front of the house this year.
The secret?
What I finally figured out?
IT’S the RED.
In a world where people use teal and purple and blue and sequins to decorate for Christmas, I went all old school with the Christmas color of all Christmas colors.
RED.
I added red bows everywhere.
And not just any red bows.
Red bows with tails. Bows on sleds. Bows on lanterns. Bows on porches. Bows on wreaths.
See them on wreaths.
I also hung them on the greenery.
I added them to the door.
I tied them to lanterns and the front of this vintage sleigh.
And then I placed buckets and planters full of these poinsettias around the house.
They aren’t real.
Shhhhh…..
Just between us? I’ve tried real poinsettias before and they went south with the first frost. I always tell myself I’ll bring them in, but I forget.
So I went with faux poinsettias and peace of mind this year.
I added Ho Ho Ho pillows to each of the benches on the front porch.
Then I swagged the top of the balcony on the porch and the front railing with greenery.
And of course.
Wait for it…
…more red bows.
I added these super inexpensive nutcracker panels to each of the side windows.
They add a little pop of color and some fun on a budget.
And the best part about this house at Christmas?
It looks cute during the day with its greenery and plethora of red bows.
And even cuter at night with its twinkling lights.
I cannot even begin to explain to you how much I adore this house.
All the memories. All the joy. All the Christmas.
If you live in my neighborhood or you are visiting McKinney and you drive by my house, don’t be surprised if you see me sitting on the porch with a Santa cup of coffee.
Or working on my homework.
I’m back in high school after all. 🙂
PS I’ve put together classic Christmas ideas I used to decorate the porch.
- these red velvet bows
- outdoor nutcracker set
- faux red poinsettias
- wood lantern
- unlighted Christmas wreath
- longer red velvet bows
- lighted Christmas wreath
- these red velvet bows
- white lantern
disclosure: affiliate links are used in this post
I like the old-school Christmas colors. They show up so nicely during the day on your outdoor decorations. Every year I stick with a more traditional theme--greenery with some kind of red bow--currently I have red plaid bows and I love them. I think it's the nostalgia that I love.
Hi KariAnn Where did you find the HoHoHo pillow? Very cute ideas!
So pretty, my friend. Classic Christmas! Hugs to you.
You always need a little red, and a little black so you have both and it is beautiful!!! I love the combo of red, green and white for Christmas!!!
KariAnne, your house is stunning!!! And lovely at night with the twinkle lights! I always choose vivid colors for flowers as they can be seen and enjoyed from the street, and I love the traditional look of green and red on your historic home. I am sure your creation gives you joy each time you behold it, as well as your neighbors and those passing by. Merry Christmas!!!
LOVE the red!!!!😘 Have a fantastic Christmas!🎄
Beautiful!! I’m going blue with the new house, but the more Christmas I dig out, the more I know red is still going to be represented! It’s Christmas, and Santa doesn’t have a blue suit, after all! Lol!!
Love your inexpensive Nutcrackers. Source for them? Thanks.
Love the Nutcrackers! Where did you get them, please. It all looks beautiful!
Love the red! My favorite color year round. Would love to know the source for the Nutcrackers. Merry Christmas!
So beautiful!! And what memories living back in your childhood home. I bet you tell your kids lots of stories as only you can do:) I love red and am using more of it this year!!
Those nutcrackers are too cute. They are the perfect size for your house! Are they window clings?
Your faux poinsettias look amazing! SO realistic! Could you share your source? Cheers!
please tell us where to get the nutcrackers!!
I would also love to know where you got the sidelights nutcrackers!
They are the cutest and under $11! Here's the link (affiliate): https://amzn.to/3VruIm2 Happy day! KariAnne
For many years we decorated our colonial with wreaths on all the windows and garlands framing each window. We always used lots of red bows. Our house looked like a Christmas card! Sadly, my husband no longer wants to go up to the 2nd floor on a ladder to hang everything. Your house reminds me of ours decorated with the wreaths and garlands. You can't go wrong with this classic look. Also, no matter what color scheme you have outdoors red always shows up the best.
Love all of this!!! Source for faux poinsettias & nutcrackers please.
I love the soldiers on the side windows. They are the absolute perfect touch.
I'm back, my friend! What a beautiful Christmas home! I love the classic look of the red bows! It looks like a house that should be on a Christmas card! Beautiful!
My previous house was white , black shutters, I repainted front door to red. Yes I love that look ! Where are the nutcrackers displayed from?
It looks beautiful! P.S. Do you climb out the window to decorate the balcony? I would have loved to see that! LOL
It looks beautiful! P.S. Do you climb out the window to decorate the balcony? I would have loved to see that! LOL
Love it! Where did you get the nutcrackers? ❤️
They are the cutest and under $11! Here's the link (affiliate): https://amzn.to/3VruIm2 Happy day! KariAnne
I just adore your home....the decorations are perfect! Please share the source for the nutcracker posters used in the sidelights. Happy Blessed Holidays to you and yours.
Where do you get your poinsettias?
It all looks beautiful. Yes, red is the perfect pop of color for Christmas. I love the lanterns. Do you have the outdoor flameless candles in them to come on at night? Merry Christmas. 🎅🤶
So beautiful! Just love it!! Would love to the sources for your red poinsettias and those cute nutcrackers? Merry Christmas!!!
Of course! Here's the link for the poinsettia (affiliate): https://bit.ly/3EUrQHl I got them at Walmart!
They are the cutest and under $11! Here's the link (affiliate): https://amzn.to/3VruIm2 Happy day! KariAnne
Did your Mother decorate like that all those years ago..if she did what decorating queen she was.. Looks lovely Karianne...glad you went with artificial poinsettias .it would such a waste of money to see them go bad after some cold weather. Enjoy your Holidays...soon I will be making your Mom's Cranberry Bread..it is a hit here at my place😍
Karianne, you did a beautiful job! So merry. I LOVE the nutcrackers! Perfect position! Standing at attention, guarding the front!! So wonderful to have you all your memories & more to come! I can just imagine how excited grand babies will be one day! As you have blessed me I pray blessings for you!
Your decorations are beautiful! If I were driving by your house - I would just HAVE to stop and stare for a few moments. I agree - although all of the different color combinations are beautiful - there is just something about red (and green) that SCREAMS Christmas! As many before, I would love to know the source of your window Nutcrackers. Thank you for all you share… Wishing you and your family a very Happy Holiday season 🎄!
Personally, I can't think of anything worse than being back in high school! Ha! But the red really goes with your wonderful classic home...and matches your lipstick! Happy holidays!
Love, love the house and the decorations! Would love to know where you got the poinsettias. You are so talented! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
I love that the colors are traditional and festive. Not beige. Fun and well done.
Simply Beautiful! 🌲
One word...BEAUTIFUL!
Magnificent! It’s elegant, classy and so “Christmas”! You nailed it KariAnne! Happy December First today! Katy
My Mom always had two different paint colors for our house where I grew up. It was either yellow and white with a touch of black once they had awnings installed or the traditional all black and white. No matter the house paint she always had read and green Christmas wreaths, bows etc. then my Dad would line the front of the house with C9 colored Christmas lights, the old big ones. We always had a real tree that was placed in the picture window with all the colored lights and icicles dripping off the tree everywhere. So much silver that glistened with the lights, we thought it was truly amazing every year. My job was to always pull back the white bedsheet my Mom used for the tree skirt and water the tree every day. Ah the memories. Both parents are gone now as are two brothers and a sister. The family never gets together anymore. I treasure all my Christmas memories.
Would love to have the source for the nutcrackers in the side windows of your front door - and I love the red!
They are the cutest and under $11! Here's the link (affiliate): https://amzn.to/3VruIm2 Happy day! KariAnne
It looks beautiful. I don't blame you for being on your front porch, you should be proud. Have a Merry Christmas.
I LOVE the nutcrackers!! Can you please send me a link? Merry Christmas KariAnne!!! xoxo
They are the cutest and under $11! Here's the link (affiliate): https://amzn.to/3VruIm2 Happy day! KariAnne
I sold my big house with the wraparound porch in Texas and moved to Lisbon, PT. We now live in a modern high rise apartment, but your Christmas display makes me nostalgic. I used to buy huge living poinsettia hanging baskets and put them all around the porch. The neighbors would tell me how much they looked forward to them each year. Sadly, my nursery man happened to call me this year and told me they were no longer available, So I guess it was meant to be that we sold the house! Your house is lovely inside and out. Thank you for sharing.
Need links to the poinsettia's please!!! Love the decor!!
Of course! Here's the link for the poinsettia (affiliate): https://bit.ly/3EUrQHlI got them at Walmart!
Love the Nutcrackers! Where did you get them, please. It all looks beautiful!
They are the cutest and under $11! Here's the link (affiliate): https://amzn.to/3VruIm2 Happy day! KariAnne
I would like the source for your poinsettias. Thank you!
Of course! Here's the link for the poinsettia (affiliate): https://bit.ly/3EUrQHlI got them at Walmart!
Absolutely beautiful! I know you are so talented and creative but did you make the Nutcrackers too? Merry Christmas to you and your sweet family!!
I LOVE IT!! Red is the ONLY color (besides white, gold,silver and green) for Christmas!!!
Can you please source the wreaths and red bows for the outside of the house? I know it seems so basic but I would love to know the best place to get them since I would need to buy several. Thanks!
Please tell me where you got your faux poinsettias?
Love love love your house. Just beautiful. I can't get the like for the nutcrackers to work. I typed it in and nothing. Can you help?
How beautiful your house looks. The red with the white walls and black shutters is elegant and classy. Please could I have the link to the poinsettias.
I could not get the link for the poinsettias to work. Please double check and send again. I tried both links you gave.
I loved your Nutcrackers so much that I had to rush right to amazon and order a set....Your house is so lovely! I usually do my wreaths the same way that you do. I usually just lay real cedar and faux garland on top of my railings and add clear lights, but I like how you did yours, and may do mine like yours this year. So much easier. I also put the electrical candles in each window across the front of the house. It is lovely at night. I also do the icicle lights, but am forgoing those this year and will be doing the spotlights like you have done. So much classier....Thank you for the wonderful ideas....Have a wonderful Holiday Season!
Source please for Ho Ho Ho pillows. The house looks great🎄
Looks absolutely perfect - especially against classic black and white exterior. I'd never change up to another Christmas color- it is really great looking, KA.