Have you started preparing your front yard for holiday season decor? If not, it’s time to get started. Start with the easier tasks first; rake up the leaves, get your shrubs and trees pruned and ready for winter, and then start decorating!
Usually, the focus for decorations is inside the home. The Christmas tree (or “Hanukkah bush”) in the living room is a pretty common sight. Outdoor lights are also de rigeur. However, there is so much more you can do with the exterior of your home (including decorating that huge maple or pine) that will make your front garden a show-stopping sight for all this season.
Add unmistakable, classy but budget-friendly decorations, and consider planting long-lasting evergreen trees that will look beautiful year-round:
Select a Theme
“Candyland,” “Winter Wonderland,” and “Vintage” themes are just a few options you can try experimenting with this year. Before shopping for new items, look over what you already have in stock. With a few “tweaks” (like coloured lights, ribbon, or some hand-decorated pine cones) you might be able to come up with something inventive without blowing your budget. Consider:
- Your personal taste
- How much you want to spend
- The amount of space you have
For instance, if you want a rustic look, take some old hockey sticks and paint them with snowflakes or fun candy-cane stripes. You might also find coloured tape or large stickers at the dollar store. Painted and redecorated recyclable materials can create a fun look on your front porch, where you don’t have a large area to cover. A a few additions will make the space something special to spy.
Also, keep in mind how much time and energy you have for the project. If you choose something elaborate, make sure you have friends or family members to help. You don’t want to injure yourself stringing lights or hanging ornaments high in that pine tree out front.
Decide on the Base Colour
First choose a main colour that will serve as a guide for the rest of the decorative selections. If you opt to go for a Winter Wonderland theme, whites, silver, and shades of blue might be your preference. Your home’s exterior paint may also influence your decision. Of course, with the prospect of wintertime snow, the traditional colours of red and green always “pop.”
Create Zones
Entryways, the yard, and even your stairs are ideal exterior areas to add a personal touch when it comes to your holiday decorations. Even a traditional maple tree can be decorated out front. Moreover, banisters and handrails might be nice places for rope garlands. Shimmering lights inserted into recyclable materials like old bottles can be hung and add a special glow to your frontage.
Blend Some Organic Style
Whether you go for spruce limbs, eucalyptus branches, or boughs you find at the local garden store or florist, organic holiday décor lasts well in the cold outdoor temperatures. Create a little craft work for your front door with fresh square or circle wreaths adorned with ribbons, bells, or other ornaments. You can purchase wreath “frames” at local craft stores, and this style provides a welcoming sight for holiday guests, while improving curb appeal.
Put the Christmas Tree Outdoors
Spare yourself from looking at a tree farm or garden centre, searching for the best tree — trim your year-round outdoor pine or evergreen. If you don’t have a suitable tree, consider hiring a reliable tree company in your area to plant the one you select, so you can decorate it in the years to come. Consult with an arborist to understand which type of tree and root system suits your yard and know that its root system won’t interfere with your plumbing.
Create a Focal Point
Give your guests a grand welcome: assemble as an arbor leading to your home. Try out your DIY “handyman” skills or use old ladders repurposed for this entryway. Paint the wood with shades that compliment your design or keep with simple with basic white or black. Decorate with garlands, artificial leaves, and/or lights.
A welcoming arbor
Make Bushes Attractive
Grass often dries as winter approaches, but you can still add a green touch for holiday decor appeal by setting up large pots with evergreen trimmings planted inside. You may choose metal or plastic buckets or terra cotta pots, and add ribbons to festoon them with the thematic colour of your choosing. Your colour choices (alongside some natural boughs) can be showstopping.
Dress up Windows
If your front door already has an attention-grabbing wreath, the windows can make a picture-perfect scenario. Cut-outs of bells or candy canes placed in wreaths may be hung above or inside your windows. A pop of natural greens (or cuttings from your bushes and evergreens) and hanging ornaments on the window ledges make the entire frontage of your home a sight to see.
Showcase Your Mailbox
Turn your mailbox into an eye candy by surrounding it with crafty decorations. You can do it yourself using plywood, PVC pipes (for gigantic “candy canes”) or other durable material that can withstand the outdoor weather.
Get Cozy
That favourite rocking chair with a plaid blanket and coffee table on the porch will offer cozy vibes as temperatures turn south and Kwanzaa, Christmas Eve, and Hannukkah approach. Adorn the front or back deck with birch logs and light the area with LED or battery-operated “twinkly lights” to complete the look.
Make the Most of Outdoor Decor
Get your hands on those shiny Christmas balls, and hang them wherever they look good. Use heavy-duty clear plastic tape, tacks, or whatever fixative makes you feel comfortable. If you have an outdoor dog house, give “Snoopy” a decorative look as well — “fur babies” can be part of the celebration.
Holiday decorating can be a chore, but if you include the natural outdoor beauty of your front and backyard or gardens, you might discover a new way to enjoy the season.
Caledon Treeland in Ontario provides high-quality trees, perfect for your outdoor areas. We offer evergreen and shade trees and instruction regarding the best time to plant and how to help your new growths thrive. We cater to all your landscaping and tree needs. Call us today at (905) 880-1828; we’re happy to help you make the right choices.