Tips for Holiday Home Outdoor Décor

'Tis the season to deck the halls, and that means outside as well as inside your residence. Make a great first impression by decorating your front entrance and garage areas to create a festive atmosphere from the very first view of your home.

Select a Focal Point for your Home Décor

Begin by choosing a focal point. An obvious choice is the front entryway, but a tree in the yard or a front gate guarded by post lights can also make a beautiful visual statement. Next, play up your home's architectural features, such as arches, eaves, and roof edges, by adding greens and decorations with different textures, patterns, and heights to help you create the ultimate holiday look.

And don't forget to give your exterior lighting a holiday makeover by decorating it with greenery and other holiday décor.

Design influencer Melissa Tyler of @lakeandlumber swagged her front entry with gorgeous garlands to complement the Chatsworth wall lanterns she accented her home's beautiful brick exterior with. Its elongated lantern silhouette boasts an antique charm from brass tone details that highlight its vintage character. Clear glass panes grant a nod to the lantern's transitional demeanor.

Properly Size Outdoor Light Fixtures

"When selecting exterior lighting, sizing is key!" says Melissa. "Choosing a lantern that is the correct scale for your front porch can make or break your design. Too small lights can make a grand space feel unimpressive, while lights that are too big can be overwhelming. Light fixtures should be 1/4-1/3 the size of your front door. If your porch is tall or wide, go bigger." Explore our sizing guidelines for more insight on how to properly size your outdoor light fixtures.

Select a Holiday Décor Theme

Choose a theme for your holiday decorations, whether a color palette or a holiday motif, so everything flows together. Consider going the traditional route but with a twist, as Instagrammer Brittany Echols, of @sunshine_and_shiplap did on the exterior of her Arizona home.

She placed a traditional Father Christmas on one side of the door but also added a grouping of oversized ornaments on the other side, giving a dash of contemporary flair to the scene.

“Always do what feels natural and organic for you and your home," says Brittany. "Instagram and Pinterest are great for inspiration. Save a few images so you know what styles you're attracted to, and then create your own space by merging your likes into your vision. Don't ever get stuck by trying to label 'your style': once you give your style a label, you will have a mental block of what feels organic to you."

The Chilton hanging lantern complements her holiday décor, offering a modern take on a traditional silhouette. An etched opal glass cylinder is suspended inside an open, textured black frame, providing an airy, contemporary design with plenty of illumination.

Whether your holiday décor style leans traditional or contemporary, we offer a wide selection of outdoor lighting to suit. Shop our selections on our website.