7 ways to increase festive curb appeal

If you’re looking for Christmas porch decorating ideas this year, then you’ll find them right here, as we’ve gathered together some inspo-a-plenty for all your doorstep design desires.

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Giving the outside of your home the festive curb-appeal it deserves is a great way to get into the holiday spirit and by celebrating all things festive in this way, it can really set the tone for the rest of your homes Christmas decor scheme too.

This tradition not only provides a warm welcome for your arrival home each day, but will make guests and neighbors smile, so decorating a porch really is a joyful activity.

So, if you’re ready to dust down your front step, wind some foliage and light the lights, this is the guide for you.

1. Go big on greenery for a statement entrance

Is there anything more striking than an oversized foliage garland? This grand display from Frontgate frames the front door in style with plenty of greenery, not to mention beautifully wrapped gift ornaments and a welcoming dog complete with Santa hat and festive collar of course. There’s plenty of symmetry at play here along with the seasonal additions that give a glimpse into the fun and quirky personality that resides within.

2. Add a very welcoming, welcome mat

Switch up your regular door mat for one with a cute festive message to bring some distinctly witty personality. Almost too good to wipe your feet on, these fun additions give your porch an immediate boost and help to ring in the changes. Saint Nic will be sure to stop by here.

Shop the West Elm hand-painted doormat.

3. Jingle your bells with these dandy door decorations

Gallery: Gifts for gardeners: 24 delights for the green-fingered (Real Homes)

These are our favourite buys for our green-fingered friends and family

If you’re looking for gifts for gardeners, you’ve come to the right place. Whether your green-fingered gift recipient needs new gardening gloves, or they have everything they could possibly need apart from a beautiful book on gardening, we’ve got something to please everyone who likes looking after plants.

1. A PRACTICAL (AND STYLISH) OUTDOOR STORAGE UNIT

The industrial trend isn’t just limited to our interiors, any style conscious gardener will tell you it’s seeping into our gardens too. This outdoor storage unit from Cox & Cox not only looks gorgeous but is also a very practical way to store everything from wellies to a hose. It costs £275, so it’s a special buy for someone special in your life (who needs some special storage).

2. SLATE TAGS? FAB STOCKING FILLERS

Is there anything more satisfying than a well organised shed? Okay, well for you there might be, but for your green-fingered friend few things are more pleasing. These slate tags from Garden Trading are the perfect way to keep potting sheds and greenhouses neat and tidy.

3. A WINTER GARDENING ESSENTIAL: A FLASK

Keep their cuppa warm while they battle with the unruly buddleia with this Orla Kiely flask. The triple-insulated stainless steel keeps food and drink hot for up to 12 hours; it has a capacity of 500ml and is an ideal gift for any Orla Kiely fan, too.

4. A COPPER WATERING CAN (LOOKS GOOD INDOORS)

You don’t have to be a gardener to appreciate this gorgeous copper watering can. But while us magpies may just be thinking how great it would look on our kitchen shelves, this watering can is the real deal. Made by Haws, who have been handcrafting watering cans in for 130 years, the quality is top notch.

5. AN ON-TREND BIRD FEEDER

A bird feeder and a super cute garden decoration in one! Wildlife’s happy eating from it, we’re happy looking at it, what’s not to love?

6. AN EASY WAY TO BRING THE OUTSIDE IN

Looking to treat a plant lover that doesn’t have a garden? These terrariums from Graham & Green are a great way to bring some of the garden into the home. Fill them up with succulents and they become a pretty low maintenance, mini hot house, just stick them in some indirect sunlight, give them an occasional spritz of water and you’re sorted.

7. AN ACTUALLY QUITE FASHIONABLE HAND RAKE

8. A GARDEN INSPIRED WEEKLY PLANNER

Give the plant enthusiast in your life the chance to enjoy a cuppa in the warm while still in view of what they love most (plants, presumably) with this beautiful floral coaster from Ohh Deer. Find more botanical coasters at Etsy.

9. AN IMPRESSIVE VEG PATCH PRINT

This vintage tropical plants print from Ohh Deer is either going to fill them with envy or just inspire them to take their passion for gardening with them on holiday. Find more tropical plant prints at Etsy.

10. A SPADE

It may not be the most exciting gift but a good digging spade is an essential. This super tough spade from Burgon & Ball is endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society (for all you non-gardeners that’s basically the ultimate accolade in the gardening world).

11. SOME CLASSIC GARDENING GLOVES

If you want your friend’s gardening gloves to match their bedroom wallpaper, this Burgon & Ball pair are a winner. Obviously we are just all about the lovely classic print but these gloves also have plenty of gardening credentials – lightweight, but still durable with an adjustable strap for secure fastening.

12. A SEED BOMB TO HELP BEES

Chuck this biodegradable Pollinator Beebom into any corner of the garden and see this buzzing mix of wildflower seeds grow into colourful, nectar-rich flowers to entice bumblebees and honey bees.

13. A SEED CALENDAR

We just love this idea. This beautifully illustrated calendar provides gardening tips each month, plus a packet of seeds and information on the insects that they will attract to the garden. The perfect gift for nature lovers.

14. A LIFE SAVING PLANT TOPPER

For the gardener whose fingers are more black than green, give their plants a better chance with this copper plant topper.

15. A PAIR OF GARDENING BOOTS

Upgrade from the standard countryside green wellies to these Hunter gardening Chelsea boots. Designed in collaboration with the National Trust, these boots are lined with neoprene, incredibly durable yet very flexible.

16. A COPY OF PERIOD LIVING MAGAZINE

If you know someone who loves looking at beautiful gardens, grab them a copy of Period Living magazine, which features different plots every month, plus lots of inspiration and advice for keen and casual gardeners. In the shops now – or get a better deal with a subscription and treat them to an issue every month.

17. A WARMING FIRE PIT

Treat someone who loves the outdoors (but hates the cold) to a warming fire pit that will keep extremities from turning into icicles on crisp winter evenings and become the centre of garden parties in the summer. This cast iron fire pit from Waitrose (literally what can’t you pick up from there nowadays?) is beautifully simple in design but large enough to hold a pretty stealthy fire.

18. A MEMBERSHIP TO INSPIRE

For a gift that keeps on giving, get the gardener in your life a membership to the National Trust. The membership includes free entry to over 500 places, free parking at most National Trust car parks plus a subscription to the inspiring National Trust Magazine.

19. HELP GET THEIR SEEDS ORGANISED

How about replacing that ugly trug your gardening friend lugs around the garden and get them a stylish (but of course practical) gardening caddy? This is perfect to just keep by the back door with a couple of tools in it, you could even treat them to the matching twine dispenser.

20. A BOTANICAL NOTEBOOK FOR INSPIRATION

Keep them organised with this botanical diary, plus it’s filled with lots of useful gardening tips and bits of information about the Royal Botanical Kew Gardens.

21. TEA TIME TREATS

Jazz up their well-earned tea break with these beautiful hand-decorated Bouquet biscuits from Biscuiteers. Covered in a pretty floral design, the tin makes a lovely way to store seeds, twine or other gardening essentials.

22. TEST THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH A GARDEN QUIZ BOOK

Are your green-fingered friends fluent in the latin flora? Are they well versed on their vegetable varieties? A fun gift that will challenge but also help improve their gardening know how, the RHS Gardener’s Quiz & Puzzle Book has over 400 brainteasers from plant identification to garden history.

23. BRING MAGIC TO THEIR OUTDOOR SPACE

Whether they have acres of garden or a snug urban patio, festoon lights make a great present for anyone with an outdoor space no matter the size. Suspended over an outdoor dining area they are great for keeping the party going after dark on lazy summer evenings, or when draped through trees they can bring cosy sparkle to look out on over winter. Choose the LED connectable festoon lights from Lights4fun and you can customise length, light colour and cable colour – don’t worry, battery powered lights are also available if they don’t have an outdoor power source.

24. A PAPER POT MAKER FOR THE ECO GARDENER

If they love gardening, chances are they want to minimise their impact on the environment. With the simple paper potter device you can say goodbye to pesky plastic pots and create your very own biodegradable pots with old newspaper – ingenious!

25/25 SLIDES

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening… If you’re hankering after some decorations Rudolf would be proud of, how about this gorgeous door decal. Hand-tied silver bells are set against a sturdy leather strap and complete with a leather loop for hanging. Adored with a wreath these make a striking and musical note for your front porch area. Outdoor Christmas decorations and lights help illuminate the pathway as well as provide a festive warm glow.

4. Add a wreath for an impactful door

The perfect addition to your door, whatever the time of year, has to be a Christmas wreath. These seasonal beauties always look good but at Christmas time they really come into their own and pack a punch of holiday season styling to your door. Whether you choose to go fresh or faux, they can be embellished with add-ons such as a string of lights, a bow or plus pine cones for that forestry feel. Remember to stick to a color theme and use throughout the decorations so keep the look feeling together.

Shop this look here at Frontgate

5. Embrace a candy cane palette for your doorstep scheme

Mrs Claus would definitely approve of this cosy porch area. Full of Christmas cheer it would brighten anyones day who happened to be walking by, or be lucky enough to sit out and enjoy a cheeky Christmas cocktail or two. Create your own winter themed haven with some candy cane inspired seasonal touches in red and white and don’t be shy with soft furnishings. The more cushions, the merrier.

Get the look by hanging this rustic wooden sign from Etsy

6. A seasonal swag could be just the thing for your door

A festive foliage swag is a perfect way to add some winter landscape to your front door. Go small or large with one of these shapely drops of evergreen sophistication. This pre-lit version boasts real pine cones and silver dollar eucalyptus not to mention berries in all their glory. Go for a shop bought one like this one from Crate&Barrel, or try making your own wreath and just using part of it, with some carefully chosen branches and fix with a beautiful ribbon.

7. Lean into this porch deco idea

It’s a sign of the times, seasonal times that is. This rustic wooden Be Merry porch board will bring a little more holiday feeling to your doorstep with it’s jolly message and cheery bold color. Lean against a wall or bench and adorn with a holly sprig or two to complete the look and get ready for all the ho, ho, ho’s. Shop the look online.

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