The holidays are finally here, and what better way to greet your holiday guests than with a creative holiday front porch display? Even if you don’t have much time to decorate for the holidays indoors, you can use these quick and inexpensive ideas to add a personal touch to the front porch in a flash!

Door Candy

I love to hang a holiday wreath each year, but since its the first point visitors see of my home, I try to make it special. Easy ways to add a creative touch to your holiday doorway, without breaking the budget?

• Hang an old picture frame painted in your holiday color scheme instead of a wreath. Inside the frame hang a cool element that reflects your personality. Ideas? Ice skates, colorful shatterproof ornaments, mittens, wooden letters representing your last name, toy car or train, a bunch of holly tied with ribbon…the possibilities are endless. See how they did this one – from A vegas Girl At Heart.

 

• Create a nature wreath with a wreath base, a glue gun, and mosses, pine cones and a little bit of sparkle. Make it simple and modern, or ornate and traditional. Top it off by tying a large Christmas ribbon off center at the top. Tip: A wreath base can be anything from a store bought wreath, to a piece of old plywood, all the way down to sturdy cardboard. Make sure your wreath has some protection for t he weather.

Check out the tutorial for this super easy wreath from The Creek Line House.

 

• Instead of a wreath this year, how about creating cute holiday signs to hang on the front door? All is takes is a blank wooden template from the craft store, or even a scrap piece of wood. The more age, the better. Use stencils or stamps, and welcome Santa (and everyone else!) with style! Some catchy phrases for your sign? Keep it simple and use “Believe”, “Joy”, or “Let It Snow”. Be cute with “Santa, Define Good…” or “Baby It’s Cold Outside”, or choose something more spiritual to reflect your family.

 

Here’s the tutorial for this sign from our friends at Love Of Family And Home.

 

Pot up Some Holiday

• Create an easy holiday planter or flower pot for your front porch decorating. Think in layers, like a cake. Make a base inside your container with stones or rock to secure your arrangement. Now using evergreen branches, “plant” them in the pot. Leave a clear spot in the center of the container to pile shatterproof ball ornaments. (This is the “cake” filling). I use a glue gun to secure them to each other to make them more stable. Now add some long bare branches into the arrangement for height and texture. (Chocolate curls!)Tie on a ribbon if you like. Easy, fast, stylish and best of all, you can collect most of the items for the planter in your yard or neighborhood!

 

• Wrap up some empty cardboard boxes like gifts, and pile them by the front door, on a bench, or in an entry. Pick up the gift wrap and the ribbon at the dollar shop, and it’s a frugal way to make fun and festive holiday impact! Or go all out and create these amazing DIY outdoor lighted gift boxes! DIY Vintage Chic tells you how to do it.

 

• Use craft foam and scissors to cut out stars or another holiday shape, and attach like wall paper to your front door or entry. Poster putty is a great temporary adhesive that doesn’t not leave any damage or marks on your door or siding.

 

Watch Your Step!

Finally don’t forget your front door mat. After all, this time of year, it gets a lot of use, and a lot of attention. Use craft paints and inexpensive mats from the home improvement store to make a custom door entry perfect for your family. You can stencil directly on them with a stiff brush, or use a pre-made stamp. Snowflakes, anyone? We love this one from the Lisa Leonard Blog. Here’s the tutorial.

Use these creative ways to decorate your front porch for the holidays, and share your love of this season with your neighbors, friends and family!