Your home is very beautiful. Here's a vine tree I have in my house that would look great on one side of your doors...if you like this rustic look. This one has hearts on it because it was up in Feb. But the birds & loading it with lots of lights would look great with your brick walls. Have fun! Jeanne S.

What a really beautiful porch! It will be such fun to decorate it. White lights and garland are always a good idea in my book, LOL. I am looking forward to seeing what you do. Congratulations on your lovely new home.

Karen

Thanks to both of you for the thoughts! In looking closer, I don't think garland will work across the top of the doors because the porch roof is too low. But something like that vine tree or a topiary or small tree would--would it look funny to have just one on my porch? I usually see people put one on each side of their front doors. Also, how big should a topiary or small tree of some kind be?

Purrus, your house is very nice. Congrats on having such a great place to decorate.

If there is not enough room to decorate on both sides of the door, have you considered focusing on the corner to the left of it? A tree, maybe a bench, bucket of fresh greens, that sort of thing?

You could finish up with wreaths or garlands elsewhere to balance it out.

Good luck, and enjoy your new house.

Lee

Congratulations on your lovely new home! I'm seeing nice fluffy big red bows on each side light, a nice sized evergreen tree in that big pot sitting centered on the wall next to your door. You could put lights, red bows, etc. on it--maybe even add a few pots of red poinsettias near the base of it. You could even add a chair or bench in the corner and sit a basket of greenery and pinecones next to it. Tie everything together by using the red in each area. Hope you will share pics when you get it all decorated and I know you will love spending Christmas in your new home. ;o) Luvs

These are great ideas! I will definitely put the red bows around the lights on either side of the door. I'm also going to wrap greenery with lights around the wrought-iron scrollwork post. The urn belonged to the previous owners (these are real-estate pictures) but I have thought about putting a tree over there--would there be a limit as to the size? I don't want to overwhelm the porch but a tiny one might look ridiculous.

Each door will have some kind of red wreath on it.

Would draping garland from the front of the porch roof be too much with everything else? I don't want gaudy--I want classy.

Lighted garland around the wrought iron post would be lovely! And I really liked all the suggestions to make a focal point of that big corner. Put poinsettias in that big pot if you do a tree in the corner. The pot is so big, I'd think maybe 3-4 ft tree would be a good size if you do a tree in it. Embellis things with the pretty red berries or sparkly picks with berries, as Luvs mentioned about tying red together in your setting.

Unfortunately in our Inspiration Christmas Album, I don't think I did one just for porches. I should see if I can find enough photos to do one. Thanks for the idea.

hugs, Karen

Purplemoon, I love the thought of a smallish tree with red berries and sparkly things. Unfortunately that pot isn't mine though I wish it were-it belonged to the woman who used to live here. So that won't be an issue. I do have two black wicker chairs on the porch, and I suppose one could stay, but the other I'll bring inside before winter fully sets in (when I decorate the day after Thanksgiving). With that in mind,would the scale for the tree change? I don't know whether a single small tree would look funny by itself.

Thanks for all of the advice so far! I would love to see a decorating inspiration album for porches! Where are the other decorating inspiration albums?

Here's a few ideas I found on Flickr. Sorry the beautiful urn didn't get to stay. Tho you can realistic looking plastic ones if you want for a Christmas tree.

a lit twig tree.

I think this would better with a 'snowy' base. Trio trees like this are at Michaels and probably easy to find at other places.

I thought the soft colors were nice on this tree in the urn, tho wish they'd put in an empty urn or something different as the base.

{{gwi:1454548}}

hugs, Karen

Very nice house!

IMO you could easily use a 7' tree to the left of the door. Put lots of lights and some large ornaments and ribbons on it. Wrap empty boxes as gifts for beneath the tree but weight them with rocks first so they don't blow away. Use foil papers and outdoor ribbon.

Have you thot about putting lights on the hedge? You could also get some pathway markers - either electrical or solar. Small twinkle lights in deciduous trees always look magical to me and I see you have at least a couple near the house.

I look forward to seeing your finished decor!

Purr, here's the link to all our Forum inspiration albums.
The Christmas one has a lot of sub albums, tho some of the other Holiday ones do too.
Enjoy.
hugs, Karen

Here is a link that might be useful: Forum Inspiration albums

wow, you have so many options. I immediately pictured lit topiaries in the area to the left of the door :)

jeannespines, I just ***LOVE*** that vine tree!!! Did you make it? is it free-form (hollow in the center)? what kind of vine was used? I want to make one!!! :)

I see you! lol

I say go big and bold! A big ole tree with lights.. do you have a bench or a table and chair? I like the wreaths that are cut in half. You know ... a BIG round wreath centered on your door, only it is split down the middle so each door can open ... I like those! One on each would be pretty too!

So you ave another urn? Put a tree in each one and place under each light?

Purr,

Just a thought for a different look: how about a trio of Christmas trees (different sizes) in the corner, decorated with just pine cones and icicles? --And maybe just plop them in shiny galvanized buckets...Or you could add some red birds to go along with the bows on the sidelights. The gals will tell you that I like rustic and natural, and I'm going to decorate a pencil tree like that for my dining nook.

- Magpie

I love the idea of a trio of trees like the ones you can get from Michaels - they are slim and don't take up a lot of room. I tend to go rustic also. Another idea would be a sled draped with a pair of skates and some pine branches and big red ribbon with simple white lites around the porch. You have gotten some great ideas from everyone - have fun and congrats on the new home ......

Lynne

WoW, lots of great ideas here! Like the "triple tree" idea also! Another natural/rustic lover here also!

partymusic...thanks...no, I did not make the tree...inspired by a gal who does make them from a craft show a couple yrs. ago...but I didn't get it done. This was an after-Christmas find a couple yrs. ago...yes, it's free form...and I think it's grapevine or those tough vines that grow up hardwood trees sometimes (not poisionous ones!)

Hi everyone!!! Updates for you!

I completed my decorating this weekend but of course I am still open to ideas. Here's what I've done so far (pic taken at night, sorry)

Thoughts? I actually already had that little 4.5'' tree, and put some velvet bows on it that I already had, so it was pretty cheap (good, since we are house-poor right now).

Looking forward to your comments--thanks for all your help so far!!

You've been busy!

The first thing that came to mind for me was that it would be nice if the tree was elevated 2-3 feet and bring it out from the corner a foot or so. I've put my little tree on a table draped with a cheapo sheet to give it a little more oomph.

Instead of putting lights on your little trees in the yard, try them on the hedges as luckygal suggested...and/or on the trunks of the large tree at the corner. They have the mass to make a better statement for you.

I think you have a great start on your decorating.

I understand 'house poor' REALLY well from experience!!

I do wish you had a taller tree on the porch. Taller and slimmer. I think it would be so beautiful in that corner. If we lived closer you could borrow my DS's large sled and prop it in the corner with a big bow and some greenery.

I LOVE how you brought the lights and greenery down your wrought iron column. Looks good day or night.

The lights wrapped around the trees in front of your window are not my favorite. It takes away from the pretty tree seen through your window. Notice how much more elegant that last picture of your house is with those trees turned off. Just my opinion. Please don't take offense.

I really like your wreaths and matching bows on your porch lights.

You have a very beautiful home. I know it will be a very special 'First Christmas' there.

Betty

I like your end results too.
Your home looks lovely.

I was thinking about raising the tree up a little too.
Perhaps by placing it in a clay pot, painted red.
Putting some bricks inside to elevate the tree and hide the bricks with some moss or faux snow.
JMO..
You've done a wonderful job...enjoy your first Christmas and many more to come.

jane

I think things are looking good and hope you are enjoying your results. Your home looks beautiful so being house poor will be worth it.

If you have any colored lights I think they would be nice for a contrast on your bushes. I love white but sometimes just one solid color will make things pop. Lights are pretty cheap for what they do.

Punk

Definitely prop the tree up on some large base or find a taller tree. If you have any cement blocks you can stand it on the blocks and then slip a large cardboard box (UHaul perhaps?) around the blocks and make it look like a giant present. Bettyd might be right about the colored lights on the tree for some color.
Are you having fun???

Agree w/ raising the tree up. got a clay pot you could turn upside down? I prefer the white lights. Looking good! congrats on your new home:)

Hi everyone! Sorry for the delayed response--been very busy with work.

I do agree with needing to raise the tree up. I have a large box that should work and will see if I can procure some faux snow. I think I also have some old bricks lying around. HMMMMMM.

I actually like red and white lights, as well as blue and white--but my neighbor has blue and white, so I think I'll stick with red and white for a candy cane look.

I agree that the lights on the japanese maples aren't my favorite, and that they detract from my christmas tree indoors. I guess I could put them on the bushes to the left of the porch? (There are some large overgrown evergreen bushes to the left, though I'm not sure they show up well in the pictures...)

I AM having fun--love decorating my new home for the holidays! Such a fun time! I still have work to do indoors--we're having a party in a week and I have a lot to do before then.