Christmas decorating doesn’t have to stop at the front door. Your garden, porch, windows and outdoor spaces can all become part of your Christmas decorations, whether you want a simple and traditional look or something a little more magical.
From outdoor Christmas lights and festive door wreaths to winter planting and simple window decorations, there are plenty of ways to bring some Christmas cheer outside.
If you’re wondering how to decorate your garden for Christmas, here are 10 outdoor Christmas ideas to inspire you this year.
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Add outdoor Christmas lights
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Outdoor Christmas lights are one of the easiest ways to transform your garden for the festive season. They can highlight existing features, adding a warm glow to your outdoor space and make your garden look inviting after dark.
You don't need to cover every inch of your garden with lights. Instead choose a few areas you’d like to highlight such as a tree, fence, doorway, pathway or garden structure.
Try:
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Icicle lights along rooflines and fences
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String lights wrapped around trees and shrubs
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Stake lights along pathways and borders
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Statement light decorations against fences or walls
Warm white lights can create a softer, more traditional look, while colourful lights are ideal if you want something more playful.
When planning your display, think about how the lights will look from inside the house as well as from outside. A few well placed lights can create a lovely view through the window on dark winter evenings.
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Hang a Christmas wreath on your front door
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A christmas wreath is an easy way to make the entrance to your home feel instantly festive.
Traditional evergreen wreaths work beautifully with natural outdoor spaces, while wreaths decorated with berries, pine cones, ribbons or baubles can add more colour and texture
Your front door is often the first thing people see, so it makes a natural focal point for your outdoor Christmas decorating. For a fuller festive entrance, pair your wreath with a garland around the door or seasonal planters either side of the entrance.
You could also add lanterns, outdoor lights or a festive doormat to bring the whole display together.
If your front door is already surrounded by greenery, try choosing a wreath that complements those plants rather than competing with them. Natural textures and foliage can create a particularly timeless Christmas look.
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Create a festive entrance with a Christmas doormat
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Sometimes it’s the smallest details that make the biggest difference.
A festive doormat is a simple way to add some christmas character to your font entrance without needing to completely redecorate.
Choose a design that works with the rest of your display, then layer it with other simple decorations such as a wreath, lanterns or winter planters.
This is also a great option if you have limited outdoor space. Even a small porch or doorway can feel festive with a few carefully chosen details.
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Give your windows a festive makeover
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Your windows don’t have to be forgotten when you’re decorating outside. They can become a part of your Christmas display and help connect your indoor and outdoor decorations.
Christmas window stickers are an easy, temporary way to add festive details to your home. Look for stars, snowflakes, Christmas trees or other seasonal designs.
Another easy way to bring some life to your windows this christmas is using wipeable liquid chalk pens to draw festive designs onto your windows yourself!
You could also place lights around windows to create a warm glow that can be enjoyed from both inside and outside.
If you have several windows facing the front garden, you don't necessarily need to decorate every one. Focusing on one or two visible windows can create a more subtle look while adding plenty of Christmas atmosphere.
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Dress up your winter planters
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Winter planting can become part of your Christmas decorating too.
Fill pots and containers with a mixture of evergreen foliage, berries, and seasonal plants can add colour and structure to your garden when many summer plants have died back. They also make an easy way to create a festive display around your front door, patio and garden entrance.
For an extra festive touch, add:
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Small christmas decorations
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Pine cones
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Twigs and branches
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Fairy lights
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Festive ribbon
Try combining plants with different heights and textures to make your containers more interesting. Evergreen foliage can provide the structure, while berries and other seasonal details add colour.
The best thing about using plants as part of your outdoor display doesn’t have to come down immediately after Christmas. With the right planting, your containers can continue looking good throughout winter.
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Decorate a garden tree
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If you have a tree in your garden, why not make it part of your Christmas display?
Outdoor-safe lights can be wrapped around the trunk and branches to create a simple illuminated feature. Smaller trees and shrubs can also be decorated with suitable outdoor Christmas decorations.
If you’re using lights, start by planning where your power source is and how you’ll safely position cables and extensions. Always make sure decorations and electrical products are suitable for outdoor use.
It’s a great way to make use of what you already have in the garden rather than starting from scratch. You can keep the look simple with just lights, or add suitable outdoor decorations for a more festive traditional festive display.
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Add a festive garden feature
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Sometimes one statement decoration is all you need.
A single statement decoration can become the focal point of your outdoor Christmas display, particularly if you have a smaller garden or don’t want to decorate every area.
Think illuminated stars, reindeer, snowflakes, Christmas trees or other freestanding Christmas decorations.
Position one near your front entrance, patio or in a visible part of the garden where it can be enjoyed from the house.
If you’re using a larger decoration, think about its surroundings too. Leaving a little space around a statement piece can help it stand out rather than getting lost amongst lots of smaller decorations.
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Use your fence as part of your christmas display
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Fences and garden walls can provide the perfect backdrop for outdoor Christmas decorations, particularly if you don’t have much floor space.
Hang lights along the top of a fence, use a large illuminated decoration against the wall or add greenery and garlands to create a more traditional look.
You could also use a fence to create a backdrop for a seating area, planter display or garden feature.
Making use of vertical space is particularly useful in smaller gardens. Rather than filling the floor with decorations, look upwards and think about how fences, walls, pergolas and other garden structures could become part of your Christmas display.
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Add festive touches to your porch or patio
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Your porch, patio or seating area can become an extension of your Christmas decorations.
You don't need lots of decorations to make a small outdoor space feel festive. Instead, combine a few different elements to create a layered display.
Try combining a few simple elements, such as:
Wreath + lanterns + winter planter + outdoor lights
Different heights, textures and materials can make a simple display feel much more considered. For example, position a tall planter or lantern alongside a wreath, then add warm white lights to bring everything together after dark.
If you have outdoor seating, you could also add a few seasonal textiles or simple decorations to make the area feel more inviting during the colder months.
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Don’t forget the smaller details
Once you’ve added your main decorations, look around your outdoor space for the little areas that could use a festive touch.
A pathway could be aligned with lights. A bench could have a cosy blanket nearby, a planter could be topped with pine cones and berries. A doorway could be finished with a garland.
These smaller details can help tie the whole display together without making your garden feel cluttered.
The key is to make your outdoor space feel like an extension of the Christmas decorations inside your home, rather than creating a completely separate display.
How to decorate your garden for Christmas without going overboard
You don't need to completely transform your garden to make it feel festive.
Start by choosing one or two focal points. This could be your front door and a garden tree, or your patio and a large outdoor decoration.
Then build around these with smaller details such as lights, planters and greenery.
For a more natural christmas look, stick to greenery, warm white lights, wood, wicker and traditional decorations. For something brighter and more playful, introduce colourful lights, statement decorations and colourful baubles.
It can also help to repeat a few colours or materials throughout your display. For example, using the same warm white lights around your doorway and garden tree can make the different areas feel connected.
The best outdoor Christmas displays are often the ones that work with the space you already have.
When should you put up your Christmas decorations?
There’s no set date for decorating your garden for Christmas, but late November and early December are popular times to start adding outdoor decorations.
If you’re using live winter planting you can start preparing containers earlier in autumn. This gives plants time to settle before decorating Christmas and means your winter displays are ready when you want to start decorating.
Outdoor lights and decorations can then be added as you get closer to Christmas.
And if you’re looking for outdoor Christmas lights, it’s worth planning your display before you start decorating so you know where you’ll need power, hooks, fixings and extensions leads.
Planning your layout first can also save you from buying more decorations than you need.
How can I make my garden look festive without lots of decorations?
You don't need lots of Christmas decorations to create a festive garden.
Focus on a few key areas, such as the front door, pathway or garden tree. Add outdoor Christmas lights, a wreath, winter planting or one statement decoration, then use smaller details to bring everything together.
Using natural materials such as evergreen foliage, pine cones, berries and branches can also add plenty of seasonal interest without making your garden feel too busy.
Make your garden part of Christmas
Christmas decorating isn't just about the tree and living room. With a few simple additions, your garden and outdoor spaces can become part of the festive atmosphere too.
Whether it’s a wreath on the front door, a few lights around the garden tree or a winter planter filled with seasonal colour, outdoor christmas decorating can be as simple or elaborate as you want it to be.
For everything you need to bring your festive outdoor display together, explore our Christmas Shop, packed with decorations, lighting, wreaths and more.