Have a Jolly Holiday Season: DIY Christmas Decorations for Exteriors
As the air grows chilly and neighborhoods sparkle with holiday lights, the season’s magic is everywhere. Decorating your home becomes a creative way to share joy and embrace the holidays — especially when DIY Christmas decorations enter the picture.
Showcase your seasonal spirit and add a personal touch with some whimsical DIY. All you need is a little imagination and a few craft supplies. From handmade wreaths to creative light displays, here’s some inspiration to turn your home into a merry masterpiece.
Why Go DIY for the Holidays?
Homemade holiday decorating is about more than just saving money — it’s about creating memories with your loved ones as you craft them.
Add a Personal Touch to Your Decor
A DIY wreath crafted with fresh pine from your backyard or a garland woven with ribbons from past holidays carries stories that store-bought decorations could never match.
Even small DIY touches, like handmade ornaments hanging from the porch or painted wooden signs, can make your home feel inviting and special.
Budget-Friendly and Fun for All Ages
The holidays are pricey enough. Your decor shouldn’t have to break the bank, too. Many DIY projects are budget-friendly and provide endless opportunities for quality family time. You can create gorgeous displays with inexpensive materials like cardboard, scrap wood, ribbons and old ornaments.
Children love arts and crafts, so make it a family project. Invite them to help you wrap lights around bushes or paint yard signs for Santa. It’ll save you money and build memories that will outlast any decoration from a big box store.
Creative Ways to Reuse and Recycle Materials
Sustainability and creativity can go hand in hand.
You can turn old clothing and fabric scraps into festive outdoor garlands or cozy pillow cases for your porch swing. You can also weave them into rustic bows and ribbons to decorate wreaths and garland.
Even simple materials like metal clothes hangers can be bent into wreath frames or shaped into stars and candy canes, then wrapped with greenery, ornaments or string lights for a cheerful and eco-friendly holiday display.
Reusing materials keeps costs low and gives your decor a charming authenticity. With a little imagination, anything can be transformed into holiday decor.
Outdoor DIY Christmas Decorations
Ready to deck the halls (and the walls) of your home? From fresh greenery to glowing displays, these ideas will help you turn your yard or porch into a holiday showcase that’s sure to impress your neighbors.
Greenery: Garland and Wreaths
Lush, fragrant greenery instantly brings the holiday spirit to life, adding warmth, texture and natural charm to outdoor spaces. Thoughtful placement and layering can transform ordinary railings, doorways and windows into festive focal points.
Need some direction on making stunning greenery? Follow these steps:
Trim and Prep Your Branches. Cut your pine, cedar, holly or eucalyptus to the desired lengths and remove any damaged or brown pieces.
Build Your Base. Lay out a few branches side by side, overlapping slightly and secure them with floral wire or twine.
Layer for Fullness. Continue adding branches, alternating directions and types for texture and volume.
Incorporate Decorative Accents. Tuck in berries, pine cones, dried fruit or small ornaments, securing them with floral wire if needed.
Add Ribbon or Finishing Touches. Wrap in repurposed ribbon or a string of lights for color and sparkle.
Check for Balance. Step back and adjust any sections so the greenery looks even and natural from all angles.
Once your pieces are ready, hang garlands and wreaths using hooks, adhesive clips or twine to avoid damaging siding, trim or windowsills.
Anchoring them securely while keeping surfaces intact lets you layer natural accents thoughtfully, creating a festive, inviting look that can brighten any outdoor space.
Light Displays
Lighting is the heart of any outdoor holiday display, from string lights to full-blown yard spectacles. You could outline your roofline with white lights for a timeless look or mix colorful bulbs for a nostalgic, playful twist. Wrap tree trunks, bushes and railings with string lights for an extra enchanting glow.
For a creative DIY project, fill mason jars with LED tea lights to line your walkway, guiding guests to your front door, or create oversized ornaments using clear globes filled with twinkling fairy lights.
Festive Signage
A cheerful sign instantly brings warmth and personality to your outdoor holiday decor, welcoming guests with festive charm.
Use these tips to create a festive sign that stands out in the neighborhood:
Choose Your Base: Pick wood, a chalkboard or a frame that suits your style and outdoor conditions.
Plan Your Message: Keep it short, cheerful and legible from a distance. “Merry & Bright,” “Let it Snow” or “Santa Stops Here” are a few favorites.
Decorate: Use paint, chalk, stencils, glitter or a light dusting of faux snow for extra flair.
Seal and Protect: If using wood or paper, add a weatherproof coating that withstands the elements.
Hang or Display: Position your sign near the front porch, along the driveway or anywhere you want to make a statement, using hooks, stakes or stands that won’t damage surfaces.
Whether playful or elegant, a well-designed sign can become a memorable focal point that enhances the spirit of your home.
Window Displays and Hanging Accents
To create a cozy, magical ambiance, frame your windows with garland, hang popsicle-stick snowflakes (a fun project for kids) and place battery-powered candles on your windowsills. From overhangs or porch ceilings, suspend lanterns or stars at varying heights to add visual depth and a warm, inviting glow.
You can also give old ornaments a fresh purpose as hanging accents — when light touches them, they shimmer, transforming your outdoor space into a holiday haven.
Fun Yard Displays
Ready for a fantastic DIY project that will make a big impact? Build a sleigh from wood pallets and fill it with wrapped boxes for a festive focal point on your lawn.
Here’s how to make a DIY pallet sleigh that will leave neighbors in awe:
Gather Materials: You’ll need wood pallets, screws or nails, sandpaper and paint or stain.
Prep the Pallets. Sand rough edges and disassemble boards as needed to shape the sleigh.
Build the Base. Arrange and secure the pallet boards to form the bottom and runners.
Add Sides and a Back. Attach vertical boards to create walls and a backrest.
Work On The Finish. Paint or stain the sleigh for a fun look and weather protection.
Decorate: Fill it with wrapped boxes, garlands or ornaments to complete the display.
Once your sleigh is in place, add playful touches like red-and-white painted PVC pipes for candy canes or tomato cages wrapped in lights to mimic small Christmas trees. It’s the perfect opportunity to let your creativity shine and transform your yard into a wonderland.
Stay Jolly This Holiday Season With Alsco®
Incorporating DIY Christmas decorations brings a personal, joy-filled touch to your home. With just a few simple materials and a spark of creativity, you can transform your exterior into a winter wonderland while creating cherished memories with your family and friends.
As you make your home merry and bright, it’s the perfect time to appreciate how your siding and finishes set the stage for the season. Alsco’s premium siding not only makes holiday lights and garland shine brighter, but it also enhances your home’s appearance well after the holiday season. Contact us today to get started on transforming your siding for year-round beauty.