Creating Your Own Holiday Porch

snowglobe “I feel like I'm in a in the winter—you can turn in a circle and see the snow out every window.”

From family gatherings to shopping for gifts, the hustle and bustle of the holiday season can make it easy to neglect decorating your porch. Whether large or small, your porch is the perfect spot to display holiday cheer, since it is the first thing your guests will see. Spruce it up for the holidays with these decor tips from Tracy.

• GO FOR GREENERY. Wreaths and garlands are Christmas staples and can be used to dress up doors, windows, pillars, and banisters. Choose real greenery for the fresh scent or faux for its durability and reusability. Potted trees are a fun and easy addition to your porch. “I love having cute little trees everywhere,” Tracy says.

• INCORPORATE NATURAL ELEMENTS.

“I love to forage through the forest and find all the different greens and berries,” Tracy says. Year-round pots and window boxes are the perfect places to display your findings. Branches, chopped wood or small logs are another great addition. “I use the same red branches every year,” Tracy says. Fill up jars or lanterns with berries or pinecones for added festive detail.

LAYER IT UP! You don’t have to buy all new furniture for your patio or porch. Instead, dress up your bench or chairs with festive throws and pillows. Use different fabrics and patterns to add texture and interest. “It is pretty easy to keep what you already have and just layer pieces on top,” Tracy says.

ACCENT WITH RIBBONS AND BOWS. Use a small ribbon to tie up a group of branches or greenery, or a larger one to deck out your pillars or banisters. “I love adding a red bow to my wreaths,” Tracy says. Make it all one color, or play with colors and patterns for more holiday fun.

TICKING ALL THE BOXES. The benefit of building a home from scratch is that you can make it your own by fulfilling your design and functional needs. Built in 2016, this home was a dream come true for Tracy and her husband. “We had it drawn up the way we wanted it,” Tracy says. The beautiful and unique rooflines of the house are the result of this. “I wanted dormers to bring in light into the house and cathedral ceilings to give it an open and airy feel,” she says.