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Need help decorating outside of house for Christmas

15 years ago

Hi All,

You have been so helpful to me in the past. Now tis Christmas season and would really like to do something on the outside. What would you do with this house? I prefer simple and beautiful. But what is that? Can you help please? Thank you!

I hope my pictures work...first time ;)

Comments (10)

  • 15 years ago

    Look at all that snow!!! How pretty that is just by itself ;-)

    It depends on your budget, but I could see two wreaths hung above the garage door on either side of the window, or from the carriage lights to the side of the garage door, and one on the front door of the house, or a nice floral arrangement.

    Your house has nice lines... outlining the roof line in white lights would look nice. You could also wrap the columns in lit garland.

    Don't know what you have or if you want to buy, but I have a 3-ft tall old world Santy that would look awesome standing left of the front door. A smaller Christmas tree would look nice there too.

    If it were me, I wouldn't mess with the trees, but you might think about the bushes, especially the one that looks like a Christmas tree. I have yucky boxwoods that I put white lights only on the top of so it looks like snow on them, LOL! It usually doesn't happen here around Christmas time (I'm in Texas).

    As for the windows, you could hang snowflake ornies with ribbon from the inside tops or this looks easy and inexpensive...

    Here is a link that might be useful: Felt snow in the window...

  • 15 years ago

    Two large urns filled with evergreens, one on each side of your door.(If you don't get them with a Christmas theme, you can use them all year and put various arrangement for the seasons.) Lighted garland around the porch entrance. And as green thumb mentioned, a few wreaths. And yes, you do need some landscaping.

  • 15 years ago

    Yes, I do need landscaping. Thank you for the suggestions! I would have never come up with all that. Keep them coming! Thank you again!

    Rutty

  • 15 years ago

    One lighted wreath on the front of your porch gable

    greenery with bows on carriage lights on garage

    Outline the gable of the garage and the porch and the roof eave with white lights

    Something big a pretty---two norfolk pines? Two boxwood topiary? Two big containers of willow sticks? on either side of your door

    I wouldn't put a wreath on your door if you can get a bigger one up on the porch gable.

    Your house has nice, clean lines and will look great decorated for Christmas :)

  • 15 years ago

    Sorry, but Norfolk pines would last 2 minutes outside in a zone 5 winter.

    Once there's snow on the ground - and we've already had 35 inches of the stuff this season - I'd hate being up on a ladder stringing lights, but I'd go for a nice real wreath with a big red bow for the front door. Get some extra roping or branches (farmers markets, etc. usually have left-overs from wreath making or from shaping live trees) and make swags with red bows or ribbons to hang from the garage side lights. If your tree is set up in the front room window, the lights will show just as well as lighting up outdoor shrubbery. Shrubbery lighting can come later when you do your landscaping.

    Simple and beautiful.

  • 15 years ago

    Let's see:

    Outline roof lines with white lights.

    Outline front door with white lights and garland.

    Lighted garland around the porch columns.

    Wreath just above the door -- on the triangular gable.

    Small wreath to match hung on the area just below the rectanglar window above the garage doors.

    Greenery swags hung on both garage door lamps.

    Small white lights around small bush to the right of the front door.

    Indoor Christmas tree will shine through front bay window.

    Of course -- add outdoor red bows on the two wreaths and the two swags.

    Jan at Rosemary Cottage

  • 15 years ago

    I would put a wreath on the front door, a wreath on the double window over the front door, and a wreath on the double window over the garage. I would put an urn filled with greens on either side of the garage. Maybe an old wood flexible flyer sleigh with a swag of greens for the little porch at the front door. You could do a lot more, of course. A rope of mixed greens outlining the porch entry, for example.

  • 15 years ago

    "Sorry, but Norfolk pines would last 2 minutes outside in a zone 5 winter."

    LOL!
    That's what I thought too!

    temperatures low enough for snow = instant death
    below about 45-50 degrees = slow death

  • 15 years ago

    WOW! Thank you girls! I am going to be busy this weekend. Great great suggestions!

  • 15 years ago

    Another Minnesotan here. I like lots of greenery in urns and on the carriage lights. If you get enough snow you can also build a snowman on the roof. I do this almost every year. You have a couple of windows that are perfect for it. All you have to do is tie a sturdy rope around your waist and tie the rope to something in the house that will support your weight. Then hang out the window and build! It's fun to do, and it gives the neighbors someone to gossip about!