5 Easy Winter Front Porch Decor Ideas to Steal
Naked trees. Yellow lawns. A general gray malaise. Winter can be hard on curb appeal and morale. But, adding some simple winter porch decor that celebrates this time of year, and not just the holiday season, is a great way to keep spirits bright all winter long!
Before decorating this outdoor space for cold weather, start with a clean slate. Sweep the stoop. Clean the windows. Remove dead plants (guilty). Take care of any minor repairs and give everything a good wipe-down.
This quick clean helps me feel like I’m welcoming in a new season and preparing for the months ahead.
Incorporate Natural Elements & Stick to a Color Palette
Finding wintery fresh greenery this time of year is relatively easy. I’ve seen evergreen branches at Trader Joe’s, my local plant nursery, and even hardware stores.
I knew I wanted a more modern feel for the front porch this year, so I chose a neutral color palette of black, green, and pops of white. Depending on your aesthetic, you could easily add pops of color with red berries, dried flowers, or even pine cones!
Aside from their gorgeous scent, evergreens are hardy, and their branches are full of texture. They make for great cold-weather decor because they’ll last longer without much upkeep. I went for holly, cedar, and spruce.
I do keep the plants moist to ensure they last as long as possible. And keeping them out of direct sunlight as much as possible will also keep them from wilting quickly.
Pro Tip: Ask for tree clippings wherever Christmas trees are sold. They’re usually free!
Don’t Ignore the Front Door
Admittedly, I’m a big front door wreath girly. I have one up every season because I feel like they add flair to our entry. I found this artificial cedar wreath from Arhaus and LOVE it. I added a green velvet bow to give it a little something extra.
My favorite way to incorporate artificial greenery is to make sure it’s surrounded by as much REAL greenery as possible. By mixing both artificial and real, neither competes for attention and they complement each other.
Winter Porch Pots
Creating winter porch pots was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be! The motto I always follow when it comes to arranging anything in a pot or a vase is “thriller, filler, spiller.”
In this case, I used the holly plant as the thriller, or centerpiece, of the pot. Then, I went in and added twigs from my yard to fill in some height. I also tossed in these lighted twigs to add a little glow at night. I tried (and failed) to find birch logs, but I think those could be really pretty additions, too.
Finally, I used seasonal plants, like cedar and pine, to fill in the space. I didn’t want to be able to see the dirt below!
Outdoor Winter Decorations
In addition to the porch pot, I found a cute little spruce tree and winter vining plant to add to the mix. Because I had the pre-lit twigs, I wanted to incorporate a bit more light to help balance it all and add a little winter coziness.
Plus, nothing says cozy like good, ambient light. These simple, solar-powered lanterns were just the ticket.
They charge during the day and automatically turn on when the sun goes down. The flame even flickers!
Use What You Already Have
Instead of buying new pots and a ton of new decor, challenge yourself to use what you already have! You might even be able to pull from some Christmas decor you’re ready to retire after the holidays – string lights, snowflakes, lanterns, etc.
I opted to keep my doormat and outdoor rug the same. I love them both and I truthfully have nowhere to store additional mats.
If you have a real Christmas tree, clip off some of the branches to refresh the urns in January (or February, I’m not judging).
Reusing pots after the summer and fall plants have passed, is a great way to give them a little extra life.
Winter front porch decor can easily be kept simple, just like the season. Winter isn’t meant to be too fussy. This season encourages us to slow down, simplify, and cozy up.
There’s no reason our front porches can’t follow suit.
