This is the time of the year when we turn our attention to decorating our homes’ interiors for the festive season. But don’t forget about the exterior of your home. Your front door, for example, creates the first impression for guests and visitors so it’s important that it’s looking its best. Here are some fun and festive ideas to help you add some Christmas kerb appeal to your home.
Raid your garden
Not only is this an inexpensive way to decorate your front door and other spaces in your home but it’s also a lovely way to get other members of the family involved and put your own stamp on your decorations.
Festive foliage, especially anything scented like pine or eucalyptus is ideal in wreaths or garlands for your front door. This kind of seasonal foliage is also beautiful, in vases dressed with ribbon and placed on window sills. Those kinds of displays are fun to create and can be visually and aromatically stunning. Combine fake and real foliage for a longer-lasting display.
Light your outdoors with lanterns
Invest in some lanterns for either side of your front door to offer a lovely festive welcome. Use them to light your patio or garden area too. Lighting up your outdoor space this time of year is especially lovely as it gives you something beautiful to look out onto. Light candles around your home and use them on your window sills to create a lovely inviting atmosphere.
Introduce seasonal greenery in the form of potted plants
I’m a huge fan of plants and especially love them indoors at this time of year when our gardens have gone to sleep. Poinsettia is popular in Irish homes but broaden your horizons and invest in something that will last all year round. Try succulents or ferns and group them in a cluster by your front door. Add some lights, candles or even a bauble or two for a lovely festive display.
Embellish your wreath
I love Christmas wreaths and to be honest, I have found a fabulous fake version which I have dressed with pine cones that my children collected from the park, cinnamon sticks, faux red berries and some gorgeous golden bells which jingle merrily every time the front door is opened.
Less is more
Resist the temptation to over-decorate your front door and windows. I know the tendency at this time of year is to go with a ‘more is more’ approach to decorating, but for a more sophisticated look, less is definitely more. Choose one thing and go big, for example, go for an oversized Christmas wreath as your door decoration. One powerful statement will create much more impact than having lots of different decorations.
Pick your colour palette
When choosing your colour scheme for your door or window decoration, don’t limit yourself to the traditional Christmas palettes. This is an opportunity to have some fun and show off your personality. Make your own garlands using coloured satin ribbon with matching baubles in different sizes. It’s so easy to do and something that even the younger members of the family can help with.
Lights
Fairy lights are always a hit and there are some fabulous battery-operated lights available with built-in timers so they come on by themselves at the same time every evening. I tend to prefer the warm white lights to the colder ones that seem to be much easier to find. The smaller battery-operated strings of lights are fantastic for adding some festive cheer to potted outdoor plants. I’ve woven them into my Christmas wreath to great effect too.
