Come tour my Cozy Cottage Christmas Plaid Porch!
Welcome to this year’s Christmas porch decorated in a cozy cottage style! Every year for almost every season, I love decorating my porch. This year I decided to stick with a traditional theme with reds, greens, and plaids! If you primarily decorate with neutrals year-round, I recommend the Christmas season to change it up and bring in some color for a change of pace and fun. Plaids and buffalo check patterns are always in style during the holidays. If you have been reading the blog for a few years, you might remember the year I decorated the porch in a farmhouse style with black and white buffalo check, and also another year where I used a red and black buffalo check style. Be sure to check those posts out if you love a buffalo checked theme. You can never go wrong with plaids this time of year! Let’s continue the tour, and I hope something catches your eye and inspires you to decorate your porch this season.
Tip 1: Spruce up a basic wreath by adding a large ornament such as ice skates, bells, or even extra ribbon.
Let’s start our cozy cottage tour with the front door. A beautiful greeting every time you come and go with make your spirits bright even on the coldest of winter days. A wreath on the door is the first thing you can do to start your decorating. Wreaths can get pricey very quickly, but you can spruce up an old or basic wreath by adding extra ornaments or ribbons. I love the plaid ribbon that I used to hang the wreath this year, and the adorable ice skates add some much charm! You can use a thumb tack on the inside of the door to help secure your wreath.
Tip 2: Combine inexpensive garlands together to create a more full, lush look.
You can weave several inexpensive garlands together and create a gorgeous new look that is personal and meaningful to you. You can add leftover Christmas ornaments from a different year, ribbons, or even berries from your yard if you have them available. If you are shopping at a popular craft store, be sure to also look in the greenery section for faux greenery that might not be located with the Christmas decor. I’ve found that the wedding aisle has gorgeous greenery that you can use year-round. Add a fun doormat to finish off your door decor.
Tip 3: Hang garlands and bows on railings with floral wire.
Be sure to securely fasten your garlands as the wind can easily carry them away otherwise. A great way to do this is by using floral wire. Pick a few places where your garland naturally lines up with the railing in an inconspicuous place and twist the floral wire around the railing. This small and easy step can save your garland! The plaid bows that you see on the upper level of my porch were also hung with floral wire.
Tip 4: Consider decorating a tree for your porch, and adding decor under your tree to help fill space.
Wrapping empty boxes is a great way to fill the space under your outdoor tree. Faux gifts under the tree adds charm! Also, using a crate or similar style box for the bottom of your tree will hold up to the outdoor elements better than a traditional style Christmas tree skirt. Using faux gifts outside is easier in a rural neighborhood with less foot traffic. If you do live in an area with a greater chance of theft, you can think of other ways to decorate under your tree such as using sleds, lanterns, and extra crates to help fill the space.
Tip 5: Use ornaments that you might not ordinarily use indoors.
A porch tree is a great way to use ornaments that you might not use otherwise! Most of us have more ornaments than we can use on one or two indoor trees. Let your porch tree borrow some of those ornaments this season! Your delivery drivers will be amused and smile at your Christmas decor, and as Buddy the Elf loves to say, “I just like to smile! Smiling’s my favorite.”
Tip 6: Mix and match complimentary plaids to naturally add texture and dimension to your design.
Mixing plaids is not necessarily as tricky during the holiday season. Most Christmas plaids are various shades of reds, greens, and black. All of these patterns look lovely together in wrapping paper and ribbons. Try looking for the oversized ribbon to make a bigger impact on your gifts.
Tip 7: Use battery powered LED lights in your outdoor porch decor.
If it has been a while since you’ve scoped out the lighting choices, you will absolutely love what stores have to offer these days. You can find battery powered LED lights for your wreaths, garlands, and trees! Most faux trees these days are pre-lite, but if you are using an older faux tree for your porch, you need to check out the lighting choices! You can leave them running all day and night without fear of them getting too hot.
Tip 8: Add some blankets and toss pillows to instantly make the porch cozy.
I love these faux fur plaid pillows on the rocking chairs. The oversized lantern is being used as a table to hold Santa cups and logs on the bottom. So cute!
Tip 9: Add wreaths to your windows for classic, gorgeous Christmas decor.
Find some inexpensive, basic wreaths and add the large style faux berries to make a bigger impact from a distance. Berries are typically cheaper than adding ribbon to each and every wreath.
Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today, and I hope that you enjoyed the Cozy Cottage Plaid Christmas tour!
Sarah says
I love all of this, especially the beautiful greenery and plaid! Your Christmas tree and wreath are absolutely gorgeous too! I still need to decorate my porch, but I always get nervous about leaving the cushions and pillows on my outside furniture in the winter. Is there a way you keep the pillows on your chairs clean and looking nice throughout the season? My cushions always get dirty and discolored if I leave them out in the cold. I have to get an at the end of the winter if I decide to leave them on the furniture. Do you have any tips?
Cathy says
Beautiful Porch! Where did you get your garland?
Beth says
Thanks! The garland is from At Home Stores mixed with a few from Walmart.
Gena says
Love this! So inspirational because plaid is my favorite color! Happy Thanksgiving!