Winter will soon be here and with it, the holiday season. It’s time to pull out those same old holiday decorations and lights. Making the outside of your home festive is easy when you hire a Christmas light installation company, but what if you don’t want to go overboard? Just a few simple touches outside will show off your holiday spirit, but won’t break the bank. Here are some simple decorating ideas that you can do yourself.
Use Your Window Boxes
Most people use their window boxes in the spring and summer only, but there are plenty of hardy plants out there that will survive the winter months. Don’t leave them empty and unsightly. Plant some Ornamental Cabbage and Evergreen Holly branches. Add some pinecones and berries as well as a few white Christmas lights and ornaments for color and you have quickly turned your empty window boxes into a nice holiday display. Solar powered lights work best outdoors.
You don’t have to use plants in your window boxes. Stop by your local dollar store and pick up some holiday figurines. Arrange them in your boxes with some lights and create a nice scene in your window. You could also hang holiday stockings from the bottom of the boxes.
Another easy idea is to fill your window boxes with “fake” gifts. Wrap different sized boxes with colorful holiday paper. You may want to double or triple wrap them so that they hold up in the winter weather. Add some bows and string and you’re done! Or simply wrap the entire window box. Finish it with a large red bow.
Utilize Your Bird Bath
Bird baths usually stay empty throughout the winter months. Might as well dress them up! Try cutting up some citrus fruit and berries and placing in the bird bath. Next, fill it with water. Make sure that you do this during the colder months when the water is sure to freeze and few animals are roaming. The frozen fruit looks very colorful next to snow.
Place a string of white lights inside glass a cloche and display it on your bird bath. Put some pine cones and berries around it. Makes a great entryway display!
Another display idea is to place glowing spheres in your birdbath. Finish it off with a few ornaments and a sprig or two of greenery.
Borrow Your Kid’s Toys
Check the shed or garage for one of your children’s old bicycles. Lean it against a fence or prop it up next to your mailbox. Then add some holiday decorations. Wrap it with a string of colorful Christmas lights and hang a few ornaments. Or simply wrap it with garland and add a large bow.
Lean an old sled next to the front door. Drape a large wreath over it and it makes a welcoming holiday decoration.
Your children’s basketball hoop can make for a great outdoor holiday centerpiece. Tie the net together at the bottom and fill it with glowing spheres or large tree ornaments. Wrap the pole with lights or garland. You could even hang stockings from the hoop rim.
Karen Lawes is owner of WinterIsHere.com, a site dedicated to helping homeowners feel prepared during the winter months.