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55 Outdoor Christmas Decoration Ideas That Look Festive and Chic

From understated to over-the-top.

By The Editors of House Beautiful
home entrance in snowpinterest
Jon Lovette//Getty Images

Winter is right around the corner, so you know what that means: The sun will start setting earlier, Hallmark Christmas movies will start playing again, the cranberry bliss bar will return to Starbucks, and before you know it, it'll be time to start setting up your outdoor Christmas decorations. Getting your home ready for Christmas is one of life's many little pleasures, and the best part is you get to do it every single year.

We advise getting started on your outdoor holiday decorations a little earlier in the season, even if it's before Thanksgiving. It can be really cold out there in December! Besides, Britney Spears has already started setting up for the holiday on the inside of her home. Why not start prepping the outside of your home for the festive season? You have her tacit permission and ours to deck the halls.

You don't have to stick with traditional greens and reds this holiday season to have a house the rest of your neighborhood will look to for decoration inspo, either. (Unless you want to, of course—those colors are classics for a reason.) We've found so many creative outdoor Christmas decorating ideas to choose from, whether you're more maximalist or elegant or simply desire something tasteful to display outside. From the front porch to the pool to the fire pit, we've rounded up 55 of the chicest and most festive outdoor holiday decorating ideas you'll keep coming back to year after year.

Make It Pop

a door with a wreath from it
The Creativity Exchange

Interior designer Cyndy Aldred worked with her neighbor to create decorations made of sage, eucalyptus, fir, and salal leaves so the greenery would really pop against her dark wooden door. The silk plaid ribbon adds a little rustic farmhouse charm.

Dine in a Winter Wonderland

a table with a set of chairs and a tree with a candle on it
Kara Williams

Maybe we wouldn't suggest actually dining in the snow, but an outdoor table with a festive centerpiece is such a cute setup for a stylish Christmas party. This alfresco scene created by decorator Kara Williams is all the inspiration we need to get an outdoor heater for moments like these.

Lose the Wreath

inviting christmas front doorway with snow on porch stairs
dszc//Getty Images

Some front doors look better without a wreath covering their pretty design. If that's the case with your door, decorate around the entry into your home instead. The snow-dusted garland wrapped around these columns looks so elegant and festive.

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Consider the Details

a patio with chairs and a table
The Creativity Exchange

Sure, your entryway may be what always draws the eye, but don't forget about the rest of your front porch when adding Christmas decorations. Cyndy Aldred placed some festive greenery on her outdoor table and set a mini Christmas tree to the side to tie the whole look together.

Let Your Home's Personality Shine

exterior of yellow house circa 1907 with christmas wreath, winter
Merrill Images//Getty Images

A vibrant paint color can make any outdoor decorations seem a bit busy, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't still decorate for the holidays. Keep it simple with a traditional wreath and some garland around the frame.

Throw in a Mini Sleigh

home decorated for christmas holidays with wreath trees, ornaments and garlands
Anastasiia Krivenok//Getty Images

Play up the childhood wonder of the holidays with a mini wooden sleigh display outside your door. It's the perfect festive touch that still looks stylish.

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Light Up the Town

home decorated for the holidays
bauhaus1000//Getty Images

Go all out with your twinkling lights (and don't even think about your electric bill). Make sure you buy warm LEDs so the bulbs don't heat up while giving off a welcoming glow.

Trace Your Tree

a view of a christmas tree made of lights on the side of a house stock photo
Karl Hendon//Getty Images

Don't want to put up a real tree in your yard? No problem! As long as you have some hooks, you can easily set up a tree—or an entire forest—made completely out of string lights. It'll definitely catch eyes as admirers pass by.

Bring Your Tree Outside

putting up the christmas decorations
AleksandarNakic//Getty Images

Or if you do want an actual Christmas tree outside your door, make it a big one. Go all out and welcome guests into your home with the holiday spirit as soon as they step onto your porch.

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Display a DIY Wreath

white felt christmas wreath
Melissa Ross//Getty Images

You know what they say: A family that crafts together stays together! Proudly display one of your Christmas crafts for all the world (or your neighborhood) to see.

Make a Meltproof Snowman

waiting for santa
svetikd//Getty Images

No snow? No problem. Put up a fake snowman to capture that holiday vibe who won't change with the temperature.

Decorate All Parts of Your Property

red barn in the snow rural winter scene
Kristen Prahl//Getty Images

Barn, garage, she shed—don't forget a single space around your home as you're setting up your Christmas decorations. Even a simple, classic wreath can tie in the whole festive look.

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Embellish the Outdoor Lamps

front door and porch light on old stone house at christmas
Matt Champlin//Getty Images

Guests may not be looking for holiday greenery and ribbons on your lanterns, but they'll definitely notice that your house looks a bit more festive than the one next door.

Don't Forget the Backyard

an outdoor space in the winter decorated with holiday decor
Kara Williams

You may be thinking to yourself that it's time to pack up the outdoor furniture for the year, but we wouldn't be so quick—and neither would decorator Kara Williams. Decorate a tree or two in your backyard, throw some pillows and blankets onto your outdoor couch, and light up the fire pit for a cozy evening with your family.

Add Poolside Decorations

luxury villa decorated with christmas tree, gift boxes and ornaments in snowy weather
onurdongel//Getty Images

While we wouldn't recommend having this much water in your pool when there's snow on the ground (that's well past time to winterize it), adding some elegant lanterns and a chic wreath on the deck is a great way to incorporate Christmas everywhere.

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Think of the Lovebirds

christmas decoration
KristianSeptimiusKrogh//Getty Images

Whether you're trying to set up two of your friends or simply love love, a huge bundle of mistletoe is the way to go for your Christmas decor. That way, you can make sure every single person who enters your home has to step under the festive plant.

Ditch the Red

christmas decorated porch with little trees and lanterns 3d rendering
2Mmedia//Getty Images

Silver and gold, silver and gold... Make an elegant statement with greens, golds, and silvers on your front door display. This glamorous decor really sets the vibe going forward for your guests, so make sure to dazzle them!

Cover All Your Bases

house decorated for christmas
Lisa Hilderbrand

"An antique home is the perfect backdrop for classic decorations. I weave together fir, cedar, white pine, and boxwood for a door garland. hang matching window wreaths, and fill the holly with white lights," says interior designer Lisa Hilderbrand of her festive outdoor decorating traditions at this Connecticut house.

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Keep It Understated

red front door decorated for the holidays
Sara Ligorria Tramp

For a front porch holiday display that's equal parts festive and chic, decorate a tree with metallic ornaments, hang a garland around the door, and make it glow with string lights. Emily Henderson also gave this front porch a seasonal update with a plaid doormat.

Turn It Into a Winter Wonderland

outdoor winter decorations
JAMES MERRELL

Charlotte Moss's Manhattan townhouse gets the full holiday decorating treatment, which includes the patio, even if guests won't even set foot out there. She made the outdoor fireplace as welcome as possible by hanging whimsical Spanish moss on the trees and a large wreath. "Step outside and it feels like you're entering the world of Narnia," she says.

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