Read on a friend's blog the other day where her dh twisted his ankle while hanging lights up on the roof. He was lucky he didn't fall off.

Garland with lights would be nice around your front door.

I know that it's on the second story, but I'd love to see a big lighted wreath in the peak above the front door.

Terriks - I would too but don't think I can bribe DH enough to hang one (and then take it down if the wind doesn't do it for him!).

Garland is a nice idea - I don't mind putting small finish nails into the wood trim to hang it, just trying to avoid scratching fiberglas front door or putting holes in vinyl siding/vapor barrier (another reason for not putting a big wreath in the gable).

With the lovely farmhouse like simplicity of your home, why not opt for window candles only? That used to be how most homes were done where I grew up north of Boston. I thought it just lovely, homey and easy on the energy bill....and a bit "greener".

With garland and wreaths I think it would be charming and in keeping with the style of the house. :)

jant - I'm a simple "white lights on the tree" sort too, DH likes colored lights. DD is only 6 so the more colored lights the better for her - but I insist on only white icicle lights if any on the house (and lucky for me we have no bushes or trees she can put colored lights on). I may lose the battle for the indoor tree, but I'd like to keep the exterior tasteful. Maybe I can get away with no lights this year b/c of the extension cord issue?

So candles in the windows, garland around the door (lighted if possible since the only lights we have are the coach lights on either side of the door), and wreathes where? One on each side of the door? Or on all the windows (ten including the garage window)?

Why not go to the nursery and pick out a couple of evergreen shrubs, leave them in pots on the porch and use white lights on them. Then after Christmas, you could add them somewhere in your landscaping. I guess you could find some regular pre-lit artificial trees for that space too. (I'm guessing after Christmas they'd be on sale too)

If I had your lovely front porch I'm afraid there would be no stopping me--I'd have to have some kind of lighted tree on it, LOL!

Oh, also, what about decorating an old sled with garland and propping it up somehow? You know, Rate my Space is a good resource for checking out what others have done for holiday decor...
http://www.roomzaar.com/rate-my-space/Holidays/gallery.esi

//I do not know why, but sometimes I can't post a link!??!

I like simplicity too, but I think a straight string of lights (blue is my favorite!) would look nicer than icicle lights, which so many are doing these days. In the daytime they look messy because they're not lit.

Add a lighted wreath on each side of the front door, then wrap some inexpensive garlands around the pillors of your porch. Then voila! :)

I'm so jealous you have such a beautiful house to decorate for the holidays. :) I love the classic look of white lights, wreaths, garlands, and candles in the window. Another option besides lights is spot lights on unlit wreaths and garland.

Hi again,

I don't think your DD's holiday will be crushed if you don't do exterior lights. I never really have understood the "outlining" of a house's lines anyway. ( I grew up within 3 miles of the most TACKY, overdecorated neighborhood in MA. It would draw thousands of visitors who laughed their way through...it probably still does.) That last pix would convince me to just to the window candles....and greenery. It just kills the house IMHO. Lights on little trees in urns was a great idea too.

Thanks roobear - but no wreath on the door b/c I don't want to try to touch up stain (I had a hard time touching up after pulling a hair out).

jan - a wreath on either side of the door, the candles and garland? Would lighted garland be too much with (unlit) wreathes so close? I think I'd have to skip lighted trees in urns if I did garland though. Have to be fake trees - I think all the nurseries are closed for the season (except for selling wreathes and garlands). There wasn't much of a selection when I was looking a few weeks ago. Unless I dig up 2 of the dwarf Alberta spruce by my transformer LOL!

I'll get the candles out tomorrow or this weekend, take a pic and we'll go from there (if I could get more PS help). DS is selling wreathes for Boy Scouts, I didn't order one b/c I don't want one on door, but they are so nice I'm thinking of having him stash 2 away for me as soon as he gets to his station where they're selling extras on Sat.

Jant, I agree I don't like the icicle lights either, but I thought I read the OP was interested in putting some up so I thought I would do a visual with it in, just to get an idea.

Spot lights on an unlit wreath and garland on the doorway might look better than a lighted wreath and garland.

More pics for fun. . .

I think just the candle lights in the windows and lighted garland around the door would be very pretty. Maybe a big red bow on each of your outdoor lights beside the door. I wouldn't even do an outside wreath, I think one on each side of the door with garland also would be too much there. An old timey type of wooden sled would look nice propped up near the door. You have a great porch to work with and the symmetry of your windows will make the window candles work great.

Got the candles out of the attic - only have 6 since that's how many front windows we had in the old house. I'm thinking if I have the front door lights on, I'm better with just 5 candles upstairs? Though the 2 windows near garage are DD's, don't know if I trust her with electric candles yet.

Also, got DH to briefly hold a neighbor's wreath up b/t door and DR window before delivering them tonight. What do you think (size, placement, no lights OK if I leave coach lights on)?

{{!gwi}}

{{gwi:1520029}}

I looked in 1 store for same size candles and nice-looking garland this afternoon but DD was complaining of stomachache - didn't see anything I liked. I have to have a day without her to shop (Xmas gifts too, though I'm trying to buy online niece is asking for things I can't find except on eBay - same gift DD got last year). It's been constant dr appts, sick kids home, etc. this week.