Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Style

21OAK may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

5 outdoor Christmas decorations that will make your house stand out

These outdoor holiday decorations will be the talk of the neighborhood

By
christmas front door and porch decorations
2mmedia / Adobe Stock

The holidays are almost here, and that means it’s time to Ho-Ho-Ho your way into some serious outdoor Christmas decorations. If you’re a die-hard Christmas enthusiast, it’s been a long year waiting for the festive season, and you don’t have to hold back anymore. Now is the time to treat yourself by finding some new holiday decor for the outside of your home that makes it really stand out from the crowd.

house exterior with christmas lights display
Fotomicar / Shutterstock

Our favorite festive outdoor Christmas decorations

Many festive designers concentrate their efforts on decorating the inside of the house, which makes sense given it’s a season of hosting friends and family for holiday events. That being said, the exterior of your home can benefit from more than just a string of lights. To take your outdoors to the next level, check out some of our favorite yard decorations for this season!

Recommended Videos

1. Outdoor topiaries

We’re obsessed with these colorful outdoor topiaries from Grandin Road. They make such a statement and work perfectly in a corner by themselves or as a pair book ending your front door.

We recommend investing in these pieces because:

  • The whimsical color and design remind us of a holiday storefront
  • They are handpainted and weatherproof
  • You can weigh down two of the sections with sand so it doesn’t tip or move
  • The pieces make a statement standing alone, but can also add color when set inside large topiaries

2. Santa’s sleigh

Spread joy this Christmas by giving passersby the classic image of Santa in his sleigh. This understated silhouette option from Pottery Barn sells for $199, and it’s a quick and easy way to add a little whimsy to your design.

  • The metal yard is durable enough to survive the harsh conditions of the season
  • The piece is easy to install with enclosed yard stakes
  • It’s lead and latex-free, making it family and animal safe

3. Yard deer

Don’t worry, these aren’t the plastic yard deer you’re used to seeing in classic family holiday movies. We love the antique look of these Montresor Deer from Ballard Designs. They range in price from $229 to $359 depending on which size you choose.

  • The vintage, weathered finish looks elegant and sophisticated
  • There are three styles to choose from, including fawn, sitting, and standing
  • Tie a red or plaid ribbon around their necks for added effect
  • The pieces are lightweight and easily moveable

4. Christmas bubble light

Hammacher Schlemmer is paying homage to the original Christmas light that has adorned many a family Christmas tree — the bubble light. This four-foot, $150 version is meant for the outdoors and is sure to be the talk of the neighborhood.

  • Anything nostalgic is a holiday season win
  • The light is complete with 115 twinkling red, green, and white LED lights
  • It has two metal stakes for easy installation

5. Oversized gingerbread men

Another amazing Grandin Road find, this set of three oversized gingerbread men is an adorable addition to your porch or other covered outdoor structure. The classic and well-known cookie-cutter design will melt hearts and bring about the nostalgic memory of the classic gingerbread cookie. These elegant and timeless pieces come in either a classic silver color or a lovely copper tone that compliments a rustic Christmas decor for your outdoor space.

  • A classic, chic design for the elegant outdoor space
  • The feet are flat so they are sturdy when placed
  • Includes fabric bows and faux greenery to place around necks

All these options are easy to install and bring the joy of the season to any home’s outdoor space. Be sure to adhere to safety practices for outdoor Christmas decorating and, to protect your investment and your design, ensure every pieces is properly secured so they don’t break or blow away in the blustery winter weather.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Julie Scagell
Julie Scagell
Former Digital Trends Contributor
I am a freelance writer based in Minneapolis, MN. My passions include my dogs, talking about my dogs, and taking pictures of…
10 creative pumpkin carving ideas no one in your neighborhood will have
Make your porch the star of the show with these carving ideas for your pumpkins
Three carved pumpkins sitting on a street surrounded by fall leaves

Pumpkin carving is a long-standing Halloween tradition that's adored by folks of all ages. If you look forward to this spooky season all year long and want to have the best-carved pumpkins on the block this year, you've come to the right place. With stylish, themed, and even dual-purpose designs, these 10 unique pumpkin carving ideas will have your neighbors green with envy.
Pumpkin carving with movie and character designs

When the kiddos on the block see these lovable characters and signature designs from the movies they love, you'll get all the compliments from both parents and their adoring kids for your uniquely decorated fall porch.
1. Mike Wazowski
Since this beloved Monsters, Inc. character already resembles the shape of a pumpkin, you basically just need to carve out his face with his distinctive single eye. Those trick-or-treaters will love seeing their favorite round monster on your porch. You'll probably even hear his name called out with the same adorable chants we heard from Boo and her friends in the iconic movie.
2. Death Star
The ominous starship weapon of the dark side is easily recognizable due to its circular shape, round crater-shaped gun, and the war-torn damaged section on the upper right side. Star Wars fans of all ages will love seeing this iconic relic from the films that are beloved throughout the generations. Check out this outline on how to cut out a Death Star pumpkin.
3. Tinkerbell

Read more
10 festive fall door decor ideas
Whether classic, trendy, or nontraditional, here are some stunning fall front door decor ideas to try this season
Fall wreath and pumpkins on front door on porch

From classic orange pumpkins placed neatly on the front steps to a simple and minimally designed fall wreath, there are several ways you can spruce up your fall door decor. If you’re struggling to find the right look for your space, we have some amazing autumn design ideas for your front door that are classic, nontraditional, trendy, and modern, so you can choose what you like best.
You can’t go wrong with the classics

As you begin curating a gorgeous fall front door aesthetic, you may want to peruse some of the classic looks to gain some style inspo.
Layer up your natural fall decor
A fall front door look wouldn’t be complete without natural autumn decor. Dried corn stalks, pumpkins in every shape and size, gourds, straw bales, bright autumnal flowers, and fall foliage are all examples of what you can use to create the right aesthetic. Frame your door with fall leaves and corn stalks. Layer straw bales on the porch and steps, sprinkled with pumpkins and gourds.
Perfect your fall wreath
A fall wreath on the front door is a simple yet efficient way to celebrate the season. This decor addition can be fun to DIY, or you can purchase a premade fall wreath from your local craft or home goods store. For a classic look, go with a wreath featuring fall foliage, pine cones, miniature pumpkins, or twigs. If you prefer a classy or more modern look, stick with metallic wreaths, twig-woven wreaths, or something with a more subtle, neutral color palette.
Add some plaid
Plaid is perhaps the most classic pattern used in fall textiles. Add some plaid to your front door space by layering your welcome mats or tossing a few throw pillows or blankets onto a porch swing to invite the plaid pattern to your space. You might also consider purchasing plaid-patterned faux pumpkins to add to your front steps lineup.
Fall flowers are great in warmer climates
If you live in a warmer climate, take advantage of the hotter fall days by adding a few potted fall flowers to your front door space. Be sure to use pots in various sizes, colors, and shapes to create a varied effect.

Read more
6 creative fall centerpiece ideas to bring your table decor to the next level
Your dinner table can elevate your guests' festive moods
Pumpkins and fall flowers arranged for fall centerpieces

Fall has arrived, and we can finally unpack those fuzzy sweaters, display the decorative pumpkins, and start planning fall gatherings. Before inviting guests over, though, you need to make sure your home is in tiptop decorative shape by lighting seasonal candles, throwing fuzzy blankets over the couches, hanging autumn wreaths on the front door, and designing the perfect fall table centerpiece. Centerpieces bring life to the table, whether it's an elegant vase for dinner parties or purple and white pumpkins for a Halloween bash.

Be sure to craft this piece with a light touch — there's a fine line between gorgeous fall centerpieces and a bunch of leaves and pumpkins tossed in the middle of the table. To create a showstopping piece that doesn't look tacky or messy, take inspiration from a few of our favorite designs below.
Pumpkins

Read more