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A Welcoming Sight
Decorate Your Front Porch for the Holiday Season
By Teri Brown
It's the first thing your guests see when they come to your home and the last thing they see when they leave. When you come home from work or errands, it either welcomes you or sends you into a tizzy of guilt because it needs to be swept or the pile of shoes and sports equipment are blocking the entrance to your home. It is your front porch, and during the holidays it can make a statement about the holiday spirit within.
Gina Ritter, mother of three from Poughkeepsie, N.Y., decorates her front porch for a variety of reasons. "We decorate because the kids get a kick out of it, and it's an easy way to decorate beautifully without the dogs or baby getting into things," she says. "The mess stays outside and doesn't interrupt indoor life."
Decorating the porch is a family pastime at the Ritters', something everyone can do. "The kids help us as much as possible with whatever duties and creative freedom we can give them," says Ritter.
Nancy Golden, host of Decorating & Design on the Do It Yourself Network, believes that we decorate porches for the same reason we put on a clean outfit and comb our hair. They make the very first impression of our home. Golden suggests that you put focus on your front door. "Rather than hang a wreath and call it a day, surround your door with lights, greenery, or even wrap it like a big gift," says Golden. "Color makes a big first impression. A well-lit, clean porch is welcoming and thoughtful."
Start out by cleaning up the clutter! Sweep up the leftover fall leaves and put away any remnants of summer, such as scooters and old play shoes. Golden says to make sure your porch hasn't been ignored or used as a "catch-all" during the year. That way, you start off with a clean canvas to decorate.
Golden gives the following ideas to make the most of your front porch during the holidays:
- A fun family project would be to cut a piece of tag board the size of your side door window panels or entry window. Decoupage last year's holiday cards to the board. You can even combine past holiday photos. Once that's loaded up, simply press it into place. The weather won't affect it, and you can use it year after year, adding or subtracting as desired.
- If you have a glass window in your front door, do the same thing on a smaller scale. Use a holiday family photo. Blow it up at the local print shop. Decoupage it to tag board and press into place. That can be changed yearly as well.
- Re-pot your planters with spruce tips. They're an economical solution, as they can be left in place all season. Add lights, ornaments and weather-proof garlands for a specific holiday design.
- Finally, have a bucket of candy canes (or the sweets of your choice) at the front door. As each guest leaves, give him or her a piece. Your kids can make a cute sign saying, "Thanks for coming, have a sweet night."
