Christmas Porch Decorating Ideas: Wreaths, Lighted Figures and Signs

The pumpkins are headed for the compost pile, the evenings are getting darker, and the front porch is sitting there waiting for its next act. Early November is a great time to plan your Christmas porch. You can measure, order and test everything now, then flip the switch whenever your household officially starts the season.

A great Christmas porch has a simple recipe: one big focal point on the door, a matching frame on either side, a little glow at eye level, and a few friendly details up close. Here's how to put it together.

Start With the Door

The front door is the center of the whole picture, so decide what goes there first and build outward.

• Measure the door and the wall around it. A wreath that looks huge in a box can look small on a wide entry, and the reverse is true for a narrow door.
• Check your light source. Note where the nearest outdoor outlet is, or decide to go cordless with battery-operated pieces.
• Think about the view from the street. Pieces that read well from the sidewalk are usually larger and simpler than you'd expect.

Go Big With a Lighted Wreath

If you have a broad entry, a wall beside the door or a space above the garage, a large wreath is the fastest way to say "Christmas lives here." The 48 in Pre-Lit Outdoor Christmas Wreath is made for outdoor use, with 315 warm white LEDs on a sturdy metal frame and a classic red bow. It comes with a timer remote, so you don't have to step outside in slippers every night to turn it on.

For a standard front door, a smaller wreath that matches the rest of your entry usually looks more pulled together. That's where coordinated sets really shine.

Frame the Door With Matching Trees

A pair of trees on either side of the door is a classic look for a reason. It feels balanced, it frames the wreath, and it lights up the porch floor where guests actually walk.

The 3-Piece Pre-Lit Wreath and Entrance Tree Set gives you a lighted wreath plus two 4 ft pre-lit trees in gold foil-finish pots. The branches are hinged, which makes setup and packing away much quicker. If you love a snowy look, the 4-Piece Pre-Lit Flocked Entryway Set includes two 3 ft trees, a 21 in wreath and a 9 ft garland, all flocked and pre-lit with battery-operated warm white LEDs and 8 remote-controlled modes. It's made for indoor or covered outdoor use, so it's a good fit for a porch under a roof.

A Welcome Home Worthy of a Holiday Card

3-Piece Pre-Lit Wreath and Entrance Tree Set

$167.99MSRP $270.00

The Whole Snowy Front Porch in One Box

4-Piece Pre-Lit Flocked Entryway Set: Wreath, Garland and 2 Trees

$83.99MSRP $134.42

A Four-Foot Welcome Glowing on Your House

48 in Pre-Lit Outdoor Christmas Wreath with 315 Warm White LEDs

$71.99MSRP $114.42

A Matching Pair of Trees in Gold-Rimmed Pots

4 ft Pre-Lit Potted Artificial Christmas Trees, Set of 2

$104.99MSRP $168.00

Already have a wreath you love? Add trees on their own. The 4 ft Pre-Lit Potted Artificial Christmas Trees come as a matching pair, each locking into its own weighted, gold-rimmed pot with no tools needed. The bendable branches hold ornaments, so you can dress them in colors that match your door.

Styling tip: Want more height variety? The Set of 3 Snow-Flocked Slim Potted Trees comes in graduated sizes in silver metal buckets. Group all three on one side of the door and balance the other side with a lighted figure.

Line the Steps and Walkway

Short trees are perfect for steps, planters and the edge of the driveway. The 2-Pack 2 ft Battery-Operated Pre-Lit Porch Christmas Trees are already decorated with berries, pinecones and balls, with 24 warm white lights and 8 modes each, plus tripod stakes to keep them upright outdoors. The 2 ft Pre-Lit Porch Christmas Trees with Berries and Pine Cones are a similar cordless pair with 70 branches each, and their tripod stakes let them stand in pots or along the drive.

For the path itself, the 21 in Solar Candy Cane Pathway Lights come in a set of 10. They charge in the sun during the day, light up at night and offer 8 lighting modes, with no cords to run across the lawn.

Two Little Trees to Frame Your Front Door

2-Pack 2 ft Battery-Operated Pre-Lit Porch Christmas Trees

$50.99MSRP $60.12

Two Little Trees Guarding Your Front Door

2 ft Pre-Lit Porch Christmas Trees with Berries and Pine Cones, 2-Pack

$54.99MSRP $64.88

Add a Lighted Figure (or Three)

Lighted figures bring personality to the porch. They glow at eye level, which makes them the first thing visitors notice once they reach the steps.

• A tall greeter. The 6 ft Pre-Lit Pull-Up Santa Holding a Bell glows with 200 warm white LEDs and holds a golden bell and a gift box. The pull-up design sets up in minutes and collapses flat for storage.
• A cozy corner. The 3 ft Lighted Tinsel Snowman with Top Hat and Spade has 110 warm white LEDs on a rustproof metal frame, and it folds down compactly after the season.
• A sweet accent. The Pre-Lit Candy Cane and Red Bow Display pairs two candy canes with a big red bow and 100 warm white LEDs.
• A friendly duo. The Pull-Up Lighted Plush Penguin and Snowman share 100 warm white LEDs and have a soft plush finish.

Finish the scene with the Lighted Christmas Gift Box Decorations. The three see-through boxes have red bows and 60 warm white LEDs in total, and they look great stacked at the base of a porch tree or next to a figure.

Six Feet of Jingle-Ringing Santa Glow

6 ft Pre-Lit Pull-Up Santa Holding a Bell with 200 Warm White LEDs

$105.99MSRP $169.30

This Snowman Came Ready to Shovel

3 ft Lighted Tinsel Snowman with Top Hat and Spade, 110 LEDs

$67.99MSRP $108.78

Two Glowing Candy Canes Tied Up With a Big Red Bow

Pre-Lit Candy Cane and Red Bow Christmas Display, 100 Warm White LEDs

$33.99MSRP $49.64

Presents That Glow Before They're Unwrapped

Lighted Christmas Gift Box Decorations, 60 LEDs, Set of 3

$74.99MSRP $120.00

Placement tip: Keep figures to the side of the walkway, not in it. Guests carrying gifts and casseroles will thank you.

Say Hello With Signs, Banners and a Mat

The details closest to the door are the ones people see the longest while they wait for you to answer.

1. Hang a welcome sign. The Vintage-Style Wooden Santa Claus Welcome Sign works indoors or outdoors and pairs nicely with wreaths and garlands for an old-fashioned feel.
2. Frame the door with banners. The 2-Pack Merry Christmas Buffalo Plaid Porch Banners measure about 72 x 12 in each, with snowman and reindeer patterns. They have a pre-installed hanging rope and 2 bottom grommets to help keep them steady, and the fabric is washable and reusable.
3. Try a simple silhouette. The Rustic Iron Reindeer Christmas Door Hanger has a waterproof coating and works on a door, porch wall or window.
4. Roll out the welcome mat. The Merry Christmas Pine Tree and Snowflake Doormat is 17 x 29 in with a low profile, so it fits most front doors without catching. You can also layer it over a larger rug.

Pick a Porch Style

Not sure how to pull it all together? Choose one of these directions and stick with it.

• Classic red and green. A green wreath with a red bow, potted green trees and the buffalo plaid banners.
• Snowy and soft. The flocked entryway set, snow-flocked slim trees and a glowing tinsel snowman.
• Farmhouse. The iron reindeer hanger, the wooden Santa welcome sign and porch trees with pinecones and berries.
• Whimsical. Candy canes along the path, a big pull-up Santa and a stack of lighted gift boxes.

Keep It Safe and Easy

A few habits will keep your porch looking good through New Year's:

1. Use outdoor-rated extension cords for anything that plugs in, and keep connections off the ground.
2. Route cords away from steps and walkways, or choose battery-operated and solar pieces for high-traffic spots.
3. Anchor figures and trees with the stakes or weighted bases they come with, and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
4. Use timers so lights come on at dusk and turn off at bedtime.
5. Check the forecast, and bring lighter pieces inside before a big storm.

Ready to Deck the Porch?

Browse our Christmas wreaths and garlands, find more outdoor Christmas decorations, or light up the rest of the house with our outdoor Christmas light ideas. If your yard is next on the list, see our guide to Christmas inflatables and yard decor.

Orders ship from US warehouses and usually arrive in 5-10 business days, with free shipping on orders over $99 in the lower 48 and 30-day returns. Here's to a porch that makes every guest smile before they even ring the bell.