‘Tis the Season for Holiday Porch Decor

There’s an uplifting spirit that takes over when you see holiday decorations go up in your neighborhood. These mood boosters just might include very festive porch decorations, starring your own planters!

There have been many articles written as to the significance of the porch. For most homeowners, the porch is a place where you welcome your guests. By taking the time to decorate your front porch for the season, not only are you welcoming family, friends, and even those who pass by, but you’re also welcoming the holidays.  

Even the most humble abode can look absolutely beautiful as it wears its holiday best. Read on for some tips on creating festive decor using your planters!

So first, you’ll need to decide on the greenery. Here are some options:

• You can use needle-leaf evergreens, which can include pine, spruce, cypress, cedar, fir, juniper, or Arborvitae.
• If you want to add texture and color (which is an important mainstay to your holiday arrangement) consider broadleaf evergreens.
• Examples of broadleaf evergreens include bay, laurel, holly, ivy, California lilac, variegated boxwood, magnolia, pittosporum, Aucuba, Pieris, and Euonymus.
• Herbs will also give your holiday planters a nice fragrance.
• Branches will bring your decor that holiday feel and will look stunning. Some examples include Red and Yellow Twig Dogwood, or even birch. You can also use branches with colored berries, such as holly for red, snowberry for white, cotoneaster for red and orange, and beautyberry for purple.

 

The above will give you a variety of greenery to select from. A quick side note on the boxwood: always use the variegated boxwood, as any other kind will give off an unpleasant odor, which nobody wants any time of the year!

As another option, you can also add some add inexpensive plastic ornaments for color and fun. These can be found at any craft store or big box retailer. and can be used as toppers over the mulch, or stacked on sticks and added between the evergreen stems.

Here’s a basic rundown of what you’ll need:

• Find the planter you want to use.
• Get some foam to place inside the planter. Make sure it fits snugly inside.
• Use waterproof tape to secure the foam in the planter.
• Place the greenery into the foam. Fill up as much as you can! Use a variety of greenery options, layering for height and volume.

 

Check out this first video for more details on decorating a basic planter for your holiday porch.

 

The Christmas Urn

Want some more inspiration? There are other ways to spruce up your planters for the holidays. 

• First, decide on the mulch. This is used in place of soil, as it doesn’t freeze in cold weather conditions.
• Add some toppers over the mulch, such as pine cones or small rocks.
• Find a planter to use inside the pot, as you will be planting the arrangement inside the planter and not the actual pot. You can use any inexpensive pot, or even use the plastic pot that your live plant came in.
• Make sure you choose greenery that has some flex to it so that you know they are healthy and not dry and brittle. Also, make sure you use a mixture of greenery as this makes for a beautiful arrangement.
• Use spruce as your structure; this also acts as an anchor and is great in windy climates.
• To weigh down your arrangement, use mulch. Don’t use bricks or rocks.
• Don’t forget to get some nice bling to decorate your arrangements. Use a variety of colors that will stand out during evening hours. This will make your holiday arrangements festive.
• Check out this video for more details.

 

As the holidays near and we get into the spirit, we realize how important it is for the younger members of our family and friends to have great memories that they can look back on. A porch that is ready for the holidays is a sign of positivity and happiness. It also communicates messages of family, love, and welcome to all.

Symbolically speaking, a porch that is beautifully decorated for the holidays represents the inside your home. You decorate the inside of your home for your friends and family to enjoy. By decorating your porch, you are making it beautiful for others to enjoy, and by doing so, you are making them part of the family. That is truly giving in the holiday spirit!