48 Outdoor Christmas Decoration Ideas

'Tis the season to deck the halls and that includes your outdoor spaces. Outdoor Christmas decorations are your opportunity to show your neighbors, friends and family your holiday spirit (and to ensure Santa stops at your house).

From the front porch to the backyard and even the chicken coop (yes, you read that right), we share easy, budget-friendly Christmas decorating ideas that will transform your dull winter yard into a festive place that will bring Christmas cheer all season long.

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Mrs. Claus' Christmas Bake Shop

simplysoutherncottage / Instagram

The smell of freshly baked cookies for Santa brings a feeling of coziness and quality family time, and Sara McDaniel brought that look to her small porch. The Mrs. Claus Bake Shop sign and the matching Christmas patterned pillows are enough to spruce up this porch, but simple and a holiday-inspired table centerpiece add to the cozy Christmas look.

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Black and White Christmas

thedaylilycottage / Instagram

This porch looks like it's straight out of a magazine, and it was all done on a budget. Amanda Henderson painted this sofa she found at the thrift store in white and decorated the rest of the space with a combination of store-bought and thrifty finds to create a swoon-worthy porch on a budget.

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Christmas Decorations for a She Shed

simplysoutherncottage / Instagram

This backyard glass house, made with windows from an old cottage, resembles a charming house you'd find in a Christmas, with its matching hanging wreaths, grand Christmas tree and other festive touches like lighted candles and wrapped gifts.

The 37 Best Christmas Decorations of 2022

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Christmas Movie Night

theclassichostess / Instagram

You would never guess this space is a backyard pool pavilion. Stacy decorated her outdoor pavilion with cozy plaid-patterned pillows and blankets and even a bar cart that she turned into a hot cocoa and mulled wine bar that's the perfect addition for a night of watching Christmas movies with the family.

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Festive Chicken Coop

thepinkenvelope / Instagram

Even the chickens should feel the Christmas spirit. This winter chicken coop is decorated with red bows and even has its own Christmas tree so the chickens can celebrate the season, too.

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DIY Snowball Lanterns

bythereseknutsenno / Instagram

If you live in a cold climate, you can use nature to decorate your front porch. Here, Therese completely covered lanterns with snowballs from the fresh snow fall at her house. The snowballs still allow the light from the lanterns to shine through, providing a glowy look while enhancing the winter look of her front porch when paired with other winter elements like chopped firewood, spruce plants, wooden skis, and pinecones.

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Winter Wonderland Tablescape

hestershandmadehome / Instagram

This outdoor tablescape brings the magic of Christmas to life. Hester decorated her backyard dining area with a DIY ornament hanger to create a sparkling table centerpiece and she covered the chairs in layers of warm blankets so she could dine with family al fresco on Christmas Day.

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Home for the Holidays

southerndogwoodhome / Instagram

Adding decorations with different textures, patterns and heights will help you create the ultimate Christmas porch. Here, Masi used a variety of decor items, from wood crates to lanterns filled with metallic ornaments. The checkered patterned doormat paired with the mint green door and brick columns add visual appeal.

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Pool Noodle Candy Canes

lisa.lavender.holquist / Instagram

Pool noodle during summer, candy cane during winter. Lisa repurposed these pool noodles by simply wrapping them with red tape to resemble candy canes and framed her front door and decorated her porch lights. It's a budget-friendly decorating idea that doesn't require any special crafting skills.

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A Christmas Makeover for a Dog Statue

Life on Summerhill

Instead of removing and replacing your usual outdoor decor with Christmas decorations, you can simply add festive accents to your existing decor. Here, Linda added Christmas ribbon, faux glittering snow and a single red ornament to a dog statue she already had displayed on her front porch.

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Hanging Christmas Centerpiece

savvyinthesuburbs / Instagram

If you already have a chandelier in your outdoor room, you can give it a Christmas makeover by decorating it with greenery, baubles, and hanging lanterns. The matching table centerpiece adds a cohesive design, and the adjacent sitting area in the screened-in porch enhances the Christmas lok.

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A Simple Christmas Porch

downshirefarm / Instagram

You don't have to go all out to bring a festive Christmas look to your porch. Here, Jenny adorned her porch bench with garland and a Merry Christmas pillow, Christmas lights, and lanterns and potted evergreens. The bold red wreath hanging on the door brings a splash of color. When these simple decor ideas come together, they bring a farmhouse feel to the front of the home.

The 15 Best Christmas Garlands of 2022

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Front Door Live Greenery

Finding Lovely

If you're lucky enough to have greenery in your backyard, you can gather clippings to create a beautiful, seasonal garland and spruce up a plain grapevine wreath. To add more color to your front door, you can even add some clippings to any planters you have on your front porch.

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Gift Wrap Decor

living_thrifty / Instagram

Gift wrap isn't just for wrapping gifts, but you can use leftover gift wrap from the previous Christmas season and any leftover craft supplies as one-of-a-kind decor for your front entrance. Here, Lisa rummaged through her craft bin to make garland made out of tinsel, ribbon and a netted curtain, and placed a big red bow at the center of her front door in lieu of a wreath.

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California Christmas Dinner

athomewithgray / Instagram

Living in a warmer climate means you can enjoy Christmas dinner al fresco. Allison set a festive table with red table linens, holiday-inspired plates, Santa mugs, mercury glass votive and boughs of holly centerpiece that's simple yet merry.

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Festive Christmas Porch Swing

frenchflairfarmhouse / Instagram

Decorating every corner of your porch will really elevate the look, and that includes decorating your porch swing. All it takes to give it a Christmas spruce-up is a few accessories like festive pillows, a cozy blanket, hanging ornaments and some fresh greenery.

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Christmas Potted Plant

westcoastgardens / Instagram

Poinsettias are ubiquitous when it comes to Christmas plants, but they aren't the only plant you can display during the season. This potted plant is filled with Cyclamen, Gaultheria berries, spruce and even cute little wood slices with Christmas sayings.

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An All-White Christmas

laura.e.sanz / Instagram

To create a wintry wonderland look in her backyard, Laura E. Sanz decorated her patio with all white decor. The white pillows and faux fur blanket paired with string lighting and metallic Christmas decor bring a snowy look to her patio.

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Hot Cocoa Station for Porch Guests

gilliangreding / Instagram

Christmas is a time for family gatherings and spending quality time with friends, and what better way to celebrate the season than with a favorite holiday pastime—enjoying a hot cup of cocoa on a cold winter night. This hot cocoa station has everything you need from festive mugs to plates for cookies.

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Colorful Christmas Trees

redheadfreehome / Instagram

If you're the kind of person that has a Christmas for every room in the house, don't forget the front porch. This trio of colorful artificial Christmas trees creates an eye-catching look that's unconventional Christmas decor idea that will wow all your neighbors.

The 9 Best Artificial Christmas Trees of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

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Neutral Christmas Village Centerpiece

pineconedesignsfw / sarahannportraits

If you collect Christmas village houses, use them as a festive table centerpiece. This Christmas village centerpiece adds the spirit of the season to this screened-in porch. It's simple and has a beautiful wintry color palette, which is a refreshing look that's not your typical red and green Christmas look. For a small touch of color, you can add a garland and baubles to the centerpiece.

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Christmas Wreath Alternative

tarynwhiteaker_designs / Instagram

A wind chime works perfectly as a minimalistic alternative to a Christmas wreath. Here, Taryn added some tree clippings and a ribbon to a wind chime in lieu of a traditional wreath. Two small Christmas trees flanking the front door and an outdoor rug bring a welcoming feel to the porch.

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Cozy Outdoor Living Room

S.U.S.A.P. / Instagram

Cozy accessories like the knit blankets and pillows in this backyard are perfect for cozying up and watching Christmas movies with the family. The hanging rustic metal stars and grapevine wreaths are a subtle nod to the Christmas season.

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DIY Holiday Doormat

Life on Summerhill

One of the first things your holiday guests will see is your doormat. Make them feel welcome before they even walk in the door with a festive one. Here, Linda made a custom doormat using paint and a stencil. You can make your own by following her instructions.

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Dollar Store Finds

lemosjosey / Instagram

You don't have to have a big budget to cover your outdoor space in holiday decor. The local dollar store has many holiday decorations that you can pair with a few store-bought accessories to create the winter wonderland of your dreams.

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Rustic Christmas Chicken Coop

Gold a la Mode

Decorating every area of your outdoor space will help you get into the Christmas spirit, and that includes your patio, pergola, shed and even a chicken coop. This chicken coop has a farmhouse look with a simple garland, wreath and string lighting.

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Traditional Decor

outdoordreams / Instagram

Traditional Christmas decor may remind you of your childhood Christmases: The classic red and green decorations, lush green garlands and wreaths and simple red stockings and ornaments. You can still celebrate old traditions while adding new ones by implementing these classic decorations into a new space like an outdoor living room.

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A Festive Christmas Porch

shedoesitonabudget / Instagram

If you don't know where to start when it comes to decorating for Christmas, the first step is to choose a color palette and to only choose decor that fits within the palette. All the decorations on Jess' porch stick to one color scheme - red, white and green - that create a cohesive look.

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A Cozy Christmas Patio

westtexfarmhouse / Instagram

Look around your home for items you already have that can work as Christmas decor. Here, Marysa decorated her patio with a few Christmas decorations and then elevated the holiday look with solid red and white pillows and blankets she already owned.

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Decked Out Porch Swing

simplysoutherncottage / Instagram

From Christmas signage to patterned pillows, this area of the porch is reminiscent of your favorite Christmas store. The simple addition of thick ribbon to the porch swing ropes is a simple way to add extra holiday spirit.

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An Unconventional Holiday Color Palette

simplypaintedwhite / Instagram

The minty blue and light pink home exterior makes a great wintry backdrop for Christmas decorations. The pops of green in the garland, wreath and mini Christmas tress, paired with the chopped firewood bring texture and a cozy holiday look.

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Poolside Centerpiece

cbinspirations / Instagram

Christmas isn't the first thing you think of when you see a backyard pool, but Carol was able to bring Christmas cheer to her pool area with simple decorations like this pair of mini Christmas trees, burlap ribbon and vintage jingle bells that make an adorable table centerpiece.

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Simple Christmas Greenery

Kirsten Diane / Instagram

A black and white home exterior makes a great backdrop for simple Christmas decorations. Adding live greenery to vintage-inspired buckets and around the awning adds a wintry, sleek look while also bringing that cozy Christmas feel.

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Grand Jingle Bell Decor

pineconedesignsfw / jenmburner

If you have a large vertical space to work with, take advantage by decorating the high windows and awnings. The oversized garland, wreath and jingle bells add a grand look to this outdoor room and draws the eye up to make the room feel even larger.

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Gumdrop Pathway

lisa.lavender.holquist / Instagram

The front of this home resembles a gingerbread house from your favorite Christmas fairytale, with its gumdrop pathway made with sand buckets sprayed with glitter and a candy cane door and peppermint candy garden border.

The 8 Best Places to Buy Blow Mold Yard Decorations of 2023

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Big Red Christmas Bow

thechristmasmarket_ / Instagram

Walking into this home feels like you're opening a big Christmas present. Even though this giant red bow is a simple decor idea, it adds a big design element and all on a budget.

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Red Christmas Patio

thepatiochic / djones1169

Homeowner Denise wanted her backyard patio decked out for the holidays. Every corner features a festive element from the red-and-black buffalo check pillows to the giant wood Christmas sign and berry-filled vase, you'll feel nothing but Christmas cheer hanging out in this space.

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Christmas Garden Planter

wyseguide / Instagram

If rustic-style is your design aesthetic, you'll want to add natural elements like evergreens and pinecones along with neutral-colored elements. This garden planter got a Christmas upgrade with the addition of pinecones, greenery, string lighting and a vintage garden sphere.

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A Scandinavian Christmas Porch

bythereseknutsenno / Instagram

Scandinavian design is about simplicity and minimalism, and Therese's porch emanates this coveted winter design style with the porch's clean lines, neutral color palette and minimal materials. It's the perfect wintry welcome for holiday guests.

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Sparkling Christmas Decor

camelotartcreations / Instagram

This Christmas vignette is reminiscent of a snowy winter's day and proves that a monochromatic color palette is anything but boring. The different textures, Christmas string lighting and metallic accents add a visually-appealing look you will want to keep up all season long.

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Mini Stocking Garland

vintagekey_fl / Instagram

If you have a Christmas decoration you love, choose that as your inspiration piece to decorate the rest of your outdoor space. The mini Christmas stocking garland is the focal point in this outdoor sitting area. Christmas patterned pillows, small wreaths and greenery and a plaid outdoor rug complete the festive look.

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A Rooftop Christmas Garden

juniprgardens / Instagram

Living in a city, where you have minimal outdoor space, doesn't mean you can't show your Christmas spirit. This big planter on a city rooftop got a Christmas makeover with the addition of red blooms, greenery and pinecones.

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A White Cottage Christmas

thelittlecottagethatcould / Instagram

From planters to wooden crates and window boxes, every corner of this backyard spreads features touches of Christmas spirit. Small accents like ribbon, string lighting and pinecones go a long way to transform this outdoor space into a Christmas wonderland.

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Christmas Tree Farm Patio

vaughnhillhome / Instagram

A favorite Christmas pastime is visiting the Christmas tree farm with your family to pick out the perfect tree for your home. Carol brought the look of this nostalgic tradition to her patio with buffalo check and plaid patterns, a tree farm Christmas pillow and sign, wood accents and a trio of lighted trees.

The 9 Best Outdoor Christmas Lights of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

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Outdoor Christmas Stockings

linwoodgardens / Instagram

An outdoor fireplace is a great opportunity to add decorations you'd normally find inside a home. This outdoor stone fireplace is a beautiful, natural backdrop for these blue and white knit stockings and may encourage you to move your tradition of opening stockings outside.

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Holiday Window Decor

myvictorianheart / Instagram

Even your windows could use some Christmas love. The garlands, bows and luminary houses adorn this window railing for an extra festive touch.

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Ring Wreath

Life on Summerhill

If you have a glass front door, a delicate wreath is a beautiful way to spruce it up without hiding its beauty. Linda chose a ring wreath for her mint colored front door and adorned the ring with berries and greenery and a red-and-white striped ribbon that she also used to hang the wreath. It's a simple design that has a big design impact.

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Letters to Santa

suzieandersonhome / Instagram

To ensure your kid's letter makes it to Santa Claus, display a separate mailbox just for him. It's a cute decoration idea and is a fun tradition both you and the kids will love. To light the way and help Santa locate the mailbox, flank the mailbox with lighted Christmas trees and other porch lights.