As we welcome friends, family and neighbors to our holiday home, creating a festive front entrance is essential. These decorations help set the tone for what guests may find inside the home — and they’re a great way add curb appeal.
When getting out your front-door decorations, be sure to do a clean sweep of the front stoop, inspect stairs and railings, and make sure your front walk is safe. Switch out broken light bulbs and, if you need to, hire an electrician (you can find one on porch.com) to make sure your home has enough exterior light for the winter.
Choose the Right Size Wreath
It’s important to purchase the correct size holiday wreath for your front door or windows. Most homeowners make the mistake of going too small, which makes the decorations look out of proportion and can make the entrance itself look too small. Most front doors are 36 inches in width and can easily withstand a wreath of 28 or 30 inches in diameter. A smaller wreath can also work, but you may want to add a garland or other door décor to help frame the door. Windows usually look best with smaller wreaths, especially if you plan on hanging multiple wreaths along all the front windows in a repeating pattern.
Hang the wreath in the upper third of the door. The larger the wreath, the higher it should be hung.
Photo courtesy of Pink Rose Mama
Add Height and Volume With Planters
Urns and potted plants are an easy way to help fill out the front porch and add height to your design. Experts agree that connecting the ground and the top of the door is necessary to ensure a harmonious entrance space. If you have stairs, consider placing plants of various heights up the steps. Urns with boughs or branches look perfect flanking either side of the door. The wider the entryway, the taller and higher you can decorate.
When placing objects right next to the front door, the best height is about 36 inches, which is the standard height of the doorknob.
Hang Bountiful, Bright Garlands
Garlands are the best tools you can use to highlight the architectural elements of your front entry and pull the whole decorated door together. Use a garland to “trace” the lines of the home, including the doorframe, bannisters, or window frames. Draping garlands helps accentuate features like railings or sidelights and makes them appear larger.
Pre-lit garlands are the easiest to decorate with. To customize further, use the same ribbon and ornaments you use on your Christmas tree.
Welcome Guests With a Doormat
A holiday doormat is absolutely essential in the wintertime. You need to trap mud, snow, and debris before guests enter your home, so purchase a sturdy mat that can withstand heavy wiping of shoes. Keeping the inside of your home clean in the winter is important, as it will help reduce dirt within all rooms of your home.
Because an outdoor mat can quickly look dirty and dingy, consider buying two at once. This way you’ll have a clean one on hand when you host a party or event.
See a wide selection of wreaths, garlands, holiday decor, and more fun finds in our Christmas shop.
– Anne Reagan, Porch.com editor-in-chief
