Front Porch Railing Christmas Decorating Ideas

Picture Perfect

With its festive bow-topped garland on the railings, bright red lanterns lining the entry and snowy roof, this home looks like a scene from a classic Christmas card. Colorful ornaments fill the wreaths, evergreen planters and garland around the door for an extra boost of holiday cheer at the entrance.

See More Photos: This 1800s Home Has Wall-to-Wall Christmas Cheer

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Comfy Cozy

Cozy up your front porch with decorations you already have on hand. Here, an oversized basket is brimming with evergreen trees and a fringed red blanket for a simple-yet-festive display.

Home for the Holidays

Snuggle up and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa with the addition of warm throw blankets in festive colors and patterns on your front porch seating. Designer Caitlin Wilson paired her blankets with a gorgeous flocked Christmas tree that's illuminated by warm string lights for an extra-cozy vibe.

See More Photos: A House That Was Made for the Holidays

Guest Greeter

A scarf-clad snowman greets guests and offers a festive welcome to the front stoop of this farmhouse. Two red lanterns and an evergreen tree round out the joyful vignette.

Get the How-To: Snowman + Scarecrow: Two-in-One Front Porch Decor

Classic Colors

Nothing says Christmas quite like the classic combo of red and green. This front porch is brimming with the two hues from the lush, berry-filled greenery garland around the door to the festive plaid holiday wreath hanging front and center.

Get the How-To: Easily Craft This Plaid Embroidery Hoop Wreath for Christmas

Snowy Door Decor

Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? This frosty blue wreath will bring all the hues of winter to your front door — even if there's no snow. The best part? Because the wreath uses wintery tones instead of red and green, it can be displayed until spring's arrival.

Get the How-To: How to Make a Snowy Sunburst Winter Wreath

Reindeer Games

Embellish store-bought finds with a few crafty touches to create one-of-a-kind porch decor. This rustic twig reindeer is cute on its own but is made extra farmhouse festive with the addition of a satin ribbon and fuzzy yarn-wrapped balls.

Get the How-To: Christmas Kids' Craft: Yarn Ball Ornaments

Decorate With Garland

Draped around front doors or hung from fence posts, fluffy greenery garland is a holiday decorating staple — and nothing beats the look of the real thing. This beautiful (and quick!) DIY swag is made by tying foraged cypress and pine clippings onto an inexpensive faux garland, then decorated with craft-store berries and oversized burlap bows.

Get the How-To: How to Make Holiday Garland From Foraged Greenery

Season's Greetings

Issue a Christmas greeting to all who pass by with this farmhouse-style upholstered letter banner. Hang the banner on the side of your porch, near your front door or drape it across a railing. Wanting a little more pizzazz? Accent it with an evergreen tree or a quaint, old sled.

Get the How-To: How to Make an Upholstered Holiday Banner

All Wrapped Up

If you don't have a power source conveniently located on your front porch, skip the lit garland altogether and decorate with a simple garland, pine cone embellishments and natural ribbon.

See More Photos: How to Turn Your Front Porch Into the North Pole

Perfectly Pink

Create a simply stunning holiday front porch by playing up the color of your home. Here, the homeowner accented the lively pink of the siding with several pink poinsettias placed in the door's festive wreath.

Holiday Sentiments

Try this playful twist on a standard holiday wreath. Just wrap sections of rope with fine-gauge wire, working it between the rope's twists, then shape into letters to spell out a favorite holiday sentiment.

See More Photos: 35 Crafty Outdoor Holiday Decorating Ideas

Fresh Foliage

Bring the nostalgic scent of a Christmas tree farm to your front door with a wreath crafted from fresh, seasonal greenery. Here, eucalyptus and bright red berries take this evergreen wreath from plain to holiday-ready.

Seaside Greetings

A trio of sun-bleached wreaths stacks vertically to create a beachy snowman on this coastal bungalow's front porch. The entry is flanked with potted cypress trees and two sets of glowing silver luminaries. Snow-dusted garland with turquoise, aqua and silver baubles drape across the porch railings to add even more Christmas cheer.

See More Photos: 35 Coastal Christmas Decorating Ideas

Window Wonderland

A length of greenery garland hung over porch windows creates a beautiful frame for the Christmas tree lights peeking through the panes. This front porch display is made even more festive by the serendipitous addition of fresh, powdery snow.

Farmhouse Feels

This backyard playhouse is ready for Christmas with its potted pines, ribbon-wrapped wreath and plaid accent pillow. A black-and-red buffalo check mat greets young guests and adds to the overall festive, farmhouse vibe of the exterior.

Warm Welcome

Let hot cocoa lead the way when decorating your front porch this year. Here, warm wooden doors are enhanced with a mix of rich, chocolatey hues and bright, snowy white accents for an extra-cozy display.

Christmas Bells Are Ringing

Skip the big box stores and deck your doors and windows with fresh evergreen clippings sourced right from your own backyard. This simple, farmhouse-inspired swag makes quick work of holiday decorating while infusing your front door with a major dose of country Christmas charm.

Get the How-To: Ring in the Holidays With This DIY Evergreen Swag

Sleigh All Day

Bring rustic appeal to your front porch or interior by wrapping weathered architectural relics with lights. The contrast between the dulled, organic surfaces and the boldness of colored lights results in a conversation piece that truly pops.

See More Photos: 12 Different Ways to Use the Same Strand of Lights

Scandinavian Simplicity

Add a slice of cheer to your front door with this easy-to-make winter wreath inspired by classic Scandinavian holiday style. Simply glue craft store wood slices to a chipboard wreath form then decorate with fresh-cut evergreen clippings and a wintry scene of bottle-brush trees.

Get the How-To: DIY Wood Slice Winter Wreath

Grand Entrance

This traditional front porch gets a holiday refresh thanks to a pair of beautifully decorated trees, ornate garland and magnolia wreath all in a warm terra cotta, rich green and gold color scheme.

Rustic + Vintage

Set the mood by creating a rustic Christmas display with the help of a few antiques and some greenery. Layering a table with seasonal garlands, wooden stars, trees and various ornaments is not only simple, but the end result will be beautiful.

See More Photos: 100+ Farmhouse-Style Holiday Decorating Ideas

Classic Christmas

This head-turning Atlanta home is draped in festive greenery to highlight the holiday season. It just goes to show that, when it comes to design, sometimes simple is just as head-turning.

See More Photos: 25 Homes With Classic Christmas Curb Appeal

Statement Pieces

Sometimes all you need are a few statement pieces to create an eye-catching display. Proof? The oversized embroidery hoop wreath and Santa-inspired gnomes on this front porch.

Get the How-To: Make an Embroidery Hoop Boxwood Holiday Wreath

Reindeer Snacks

A day or two before Christmas, create a reindeer feeder to get kids excited about Santa. This can be as simple as finding an old rustic bucket or basket and leaving carrots or fresh root vegetables out along with a cute, handmade sign.

Seasonal + Simple

Spruce up your entryway with this personalized, budget-friendly doormat that looks like a pricey catalog find but is actually an easy DIY project. Pair with a burlap pennant garland for a cheery, seasonal display.

Get the How-To: Make a Monogrammed Holiday Doormat

Layers on Layers

Elaborate window decor is dreamy but can take a lot of time to set up. Keep it simple with a long strand of garland draped from the top of your windows along with a bare wreath in the center. Light it up with a strand of frosted globe lights around the edge of the window trim.

See More Photos: How to Turn Your Front Porch Into the North Pole

Wood Slice Banner

Cut wood slices are a trendy material you can find at your local craft store or source (for free!) in your own backyard. Add letters to spell out a holiday saying and string together with colorful baker's twine.

Get the How-To: Christmas Craft: Rustic Wood Slice Banner

Refined Red

This white home rocks streams of red snowflakes like we've never seen before. The door is dressed to impress, pairing the red snowflakes with polished boxwood topiaries and a simple, sophisticated garland above the door

Brighten the Path

Line your stairs or sidewalk with luminaries to create an enchanting entry to your holiday home. Snowflake cutouts in these galvanized candle holders allow plenty of light to illuminate the stairs, ensuring no trip hazards when guests arrive and leave.

Take the Indoors Out

Create a picture-perfect Christmas vignette for a unique take on front porch decor. Set up a small Christmas tree, decorate it in all the trimmings and accent the scene with wrapped "presents." Finish the look off with a stocking on the door.

Flocked + Festive

This modern, streamlined home is softened for the season with snowy wreaths, matching garland and classic red ribbon. Crafted paper bag luminaries glow through the night, guiding guests to the festive front door.

See More Photos: 25 Homes With Classic Christmas Curb Appeal

Get Your Glow On

For a simple but high impact arrangement for a holiday porch or entryway, try these lighted grapevine sphere topiaries. They are a great way to fill urns that have been left empty once the summer and fall flowers fade.

Get the How-To: How to Make Illuminated Grapevine Spheres

Snuggle Season

While blankets and floor pillows are best kept indoors during rainy weather, bring them out to snuggle with on chilly winter days. They will add a homey touch and are an easy accessory to transport in and out of the house.

Whimsical Work Boots

Pull out your boots and get to work to create some super-cute, farmhouse-style curb appeal. This grouping of glossy, red galoshes makes for some festive front-stoop planters while adding a feeling of whimsy and fun to the holiday porch.

Merry Monogram

An oversized white monogram wreath pops against this black front door for a colorful addition. Black lanterns filled with red ornaments bring a modern-yet-traditional touch to this front porch from The Yellow Cape Cod.

DIY Decor

More is more with this oversized Christmas decor sign. Get crafty by cross-stitching your favorite holiday-themed phrase on pegboard, drape with greenery garland and display on the front porch for all to see.

Get the How-To: How to Make an Oversized Christmas Cross-Stitch Sign

Vintage Vignettes

Use a variety of textures and finishes to create intricate Christmas decor. Here, the use of flea market finds and vintage pieces create a welcoming entry and a one-of-a-kind, festive front porch display.

Topped With a Bow

These handsome double doors shine on their own but positively sparkle when wrapped in lush pine garland and flanked by two grand bows. Twinkle lights and glints of gold add to the display for a head-turning holiday glow.

DIY Holiday Rug

With simple directions from designer Brian Patrick Flynn, you can transform a plain sisal rug with three shades of green paint and some potato stamps. Plus, its geometric look is perfect all year round.

Get the How-To: Make a Festive Potato-Stamped Rug

Shimmering Lanterns

Get an assist from Mother Nature (or your freezer) to turn plastic cartons filled with water into magical ice lanterns. These shimmering, illuminated orbs are easy to make and will certainly brighten the holiday season.

Get the How-To: How to Make an Ice Lantern

Gorgeous Garland

Sometimes the less-is-more approach can create greater impact than overly decorative touches. For a pop of green around the perimeter of the front porch, this railing was dressed with bare garland. It adds just the right amount of texture and color to keep it feeling festive.

Upcycled Decor

Add whimsy and cheer to your holiday decor by creating no-sew, larger-than-life gnomes out of tomato cages. Craft them to mimic members of your family and display them by the front door.

Get the How-To: Make Festive Tomato Cage Yard Gnomes for Christmas

Reindeer's Wish

Carved to resemble a reindeer's silhouette, this chalkboard sign brings holiday cheer without spending too much time or money. Simply cut a piece of plywood into the shape of a reindeer head, apply two coats of chalkboard paint and decorate with your Christmas wish. Work it into your other front porch decor or craft a larger sign to take center stage.

Country Charm

This front porch boasts a sitting area, so naturally, the holiday libations had to be brought outside. A garland surrounds the door while a large gingerbread cookie cutter acts as a wreath substitute. Adding small holiday details will not only create a beautifully understated display but will make clean up much easier.

Rustic Cheer

A vintage wine crate serves as this outdoor Christmas tree's base, making it sturdy yet stylish. The crate features casters that allow you to move the fir from outdoors in — or wherever you choose.

Minimalistic Vibes

To honor its coastal setting, the front porch of this house in Portland, Maine, was jazzed up for the holidays with nods to boating culture and a classic New England palette of reds and blues. A faux pine tree with ornaments and a grapevine wreath on the door are kept simple for a minimalistic approach.

See More Photos: 35 Coastal Christmas Decorating Ideas

Tidings of Joy

Designer Susan Teare found this old board at a recycle shop, cleaned it up and painted a happy message to greet holiday guests. Pretty up your front porch with her step-by-step instructions below.

Get the How-To: Learn How to Make a Hand-Painted Vintage Sign

Sleds + Skates

Put those never-been-used ice skates and old sleds to use this season and create a yuletide masterpiece. Lean a vintage sled against the wall, hang a pair of skates on top and surround the display with an evergreen tree, faux snow and even a few lanterns to create a quintessential holiday scene.

Birch Luminaries

Add a woodsy glow to your entryway with a grouping of birch log luminaries. To create them, cut branches into varying heights with a circular saw. Next, drill holes into the top of each log using a 1-1/2" paddle or spade bit just deep enough to accommodate a votive. For kid-friendly or pet-proof illumination, use battery-operated votives.

A Snowy Addition

Create a wintry forest scene for your front door by adding bottlebrush trees and mini ice-skating figures to a foam wreath that's been wrapped in holiday fabric. Our step-by-step instructions below will make crafting this cute wreath a snap.

Get the How-To: How to Make a Whimsical Bottle Brush Tree Wreath

Merry and Bright

This porch is sparkling with holiday spirit. A greenery-wrapped chandelier hangs over the table, matching the window decor. Red accents were added throughout the space to enhance the holiday feel.

Twinning Evergreens

Looking for some last-minute holiday flair? Add a pair of potted evergreens to your porch for the perfect Christmas-y touch. Let the trees deck your entry all season long then transfer them to your yard for a year-round hint of the holidays.

Pinecones Galore

This gorgeous greenery bestows upon guests a warm, festive welcome. By attaching various-sized pinecones and a bright ribbon that matches the wreaths, this entryway went from basic to beautiful in a few simple steps.

Santa's Workshop

Keep the kids' anticipation high with holiday decor tailored just for them. Give a nod to Santa's workshop with little touches that will spark their imaginations.

See More Photos: Take Your Holiday Entertaining Outside With These 10 Tips

Traditional Meets Festive

This classic front porch features a variety of traditional holiday decorations. A simple-yet-elegant wreath hangs on the door while matching evergreens create a more defined entryway. Coordinating ribbons and plenty of pinecones add the finishing touch to this picture-perfect porch.

Double Duty Sled

Whether you rarely get enough snow to go sledding, or you're the kind of person who wants to be ready for the slopes the minute Jack Frost decides to make an appearance, storing your sleigh on the porch is a great way to say you're ready for winter. And if you don't already have one, try your hand at this decorative version made from an old wooden pallet.

Get the How-To: Turn a Wooden Pallet Into a Decorative Sled

A Christmas Terrarium

This large terrarium was crafted from old windows and scrap wood then filled with holiday greenery and ornaments and topped with a tiny wreath. Regardless of the contents, a sweet detail like this can be the perfect finishing touch to your front porch decor.

Light the Way

Add some Old World charm to your holiday front porch with a grouping of vintage-inspired glass lanterns ranging in size and finish. The flames will add instant ambiance and warmth to your entry.

See More Photos: How to Turn Your Front Porch Into the North Pole

A Traditional Entry

Easily create a traditional entryway with the addition of a few materials. Classic ornaments hang from this roof's eave while also shining bright on the wreath and in the festive planters for an overall cohesive look.

One Step at a Time

For a simple way to decorate outside your home, place seasonal poinsettia plants in shoes such as riding or cowboy boots for an upcycled planter. Then, line your staircase or doorway with them for an eye-catching array.

Candlelit Steps

This ivy-covered front entry is illuminated with creative wine bottles used as candle holders, and the flames give a twinkling effect for a beautiful ambiance. The steps lead to two small trees topped with bows and square wreaths hung by traditional red ribbon.

See More Photos: 25 Homes With Classic Christmas Curb Appeal