In recent weeks I’ve seen several questions regarding outdoor holiday come through for our Outdoor Lighting Perspectives locations. We’ve said it before and we will say it again, but it is never too early to start planning for the holidays. When you wait too long, it becomes more and more difficult to get just what you want.
One of my favorite parts of the holidays is gathering with friends and family at someone’s home. It’s such a special time of year and adding seasonal decorations to your front porch or portico is a great way to make your home more welcoming to visitors.
When I think Christmas decorations, one of the first things I think of is a wreath on the front door. Whether real or artificial, wreaths fill up the majority of the front of the door and can be found in numerous styles sure to fit any style. At Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, we ensure that our clients have an holiday wreath that complements all of the other outdoor holiday décor. We have ones with lights, bows, small presents and other small additions.
If you have columns or banisters leading up to your front door, garland is a great way to make it more festive and inviting. The key to picking the right garland is to make sure the textures match the other greenery in the space. For instance, if you have a Spruce fir wreath, see if you can get spruce fir garland. Having them match makes the space more cohesive.
Like wreaths, garland has endless finishes. One of the most common is also one of the simplest, with simple white lights throughout the branches with random pine cones throughout. My mother liked to drape ribbon along with the garden to add another texture to the mix.
Poinsettias are synonymous with the holiday season. They can be a number of different colors, from reds and blues to whites and purples, with red and white being the most popular during Christmas time. Poinsettias will freeze if put outside in many areas of the country, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be used on the front porch. You just can’t use real ones. A lot of home stores sell beautiful, real looking poinsettias that can be placed outside and used all year round.
Christmas lights are a huge part of the holiday season. On the front porch, they not only look beautiful, but they provide much needed illumination to ensure sure footing (which is very important in areas that may have ice). String lights are the most common form of outdoor holiday light because of their versatility. You can wrap them around columns and railings, line the doors with them, or stick them at the base of a flower pot for a “snow-like” affect. The possibilities for Christmas lights, however, are endless. Take these light bursts for instance. If I had a portico of some kind, I may hang a few of them from the ceiling for something a little more special.
The key to having a welcoming front porch is to have fun with it and show your personality. If you like funky colors and textures during the holidays, use them. If you have questions about professional holiday lighting and some possible options, please contact your local Outdoor Lighting Perspectives office.