How to Decorate Your Back Porch for Christmas

It's easy to get into a festive spirit come Christmastime. The Christmas tree is up, decorated, and lit. Stockings are hung from the fireplace. You have your Christmas town display out on the mantle or table. The front of your house is framed in cheerful Christmas lights. However, don't forget the back porch. Although most people see the front of your house and less of the back of your house, decorating your back porch can keep you in the holiday spirit and offer a little cheer to the rear of your home. Here are some tips and suggestions to decorate your back porch.

1. Holiday wreaths are a must during Christmas, whether hung at the front, in the back, or within your house. This Christmas, if you're crafty and looking for a project, try making your own wreath. Store-bought wreaths are pretty, but when you make your own wreath, it'll give you a sense of accomplishment and pride in your decorations. Once you have your wreath, either home-made or store-bought, decide on a location to hang it. The back door is the first place people tend to place a wreath, but consider other areas such as on the wall next to the door or nailed to the porch's railing.

How to Make a Wreath

2. Everybody loves Christmas lights. My street glows during December with all the lights people have tacked onto their houses. For your back porch, continue your Christmas lights from the front into the back. Use nails or 3M Decorating Clips to string your lights along the top edge of the porch's roof, down the support beams, weaved in and out of the railing, and around the door. There are many different types of Christmas lights available, such as the traditional colored lights, lights in the shape of icicles, blinking lights, and much more. Wander through the Christmas section at your local hardware store and decide on the look you want your lights to give your house.

3. If you don't want to use Christmas lights for your back porch's railing or support beams, try using evergreen boughs. You can either buy evergreen boughs at a hardware store or Christmas tree lot, or cut some from an evergreen tree in your yard. However, be mindful that you don't cut too many boughs from the tree so as not to damage it. Bunch the boughs together and, using string, tie them to the railing or support beams of your porch. Additionally, if you can't get your hands on real evergreen boughs, stores sell synthetic evergreen garland that you can wrap around railings and banisters. Some even some with lights.

4. Who says you can only have a Christmas tree inside? If your back porch has ample room and a free corner, purchase a second tree, either real or fake, and set it up on your back porch! Remember, if you're using a real tree, you'll need to remember to give it the same care as your inside tree. Once you have a spot chosen and the tree up, decorate it in the same fashion as a traditional tree. If you want to go one step further and give the wildlife something to munch on, hang bird feeders from the tree. To make a simple bird feeder, take a walk through the neighborhood and collect some pine cones. They should be large with open scales. Next, tie string or yarn to the pine cone so you can hang it from the tree. Third, spread peanut butter over the pine cone. Lastly, roll the cone in a dish of birdseed, coating the entire pine cone. Hang your bird feeders from your tree and watch as local birds and wildlife come to enjoy your treat. Please note, however, that these do attract animals to your property, and not only birds. You may find squirrels, deer, or the local stray visiting your back porch.

5. Does your back porch have a swing? Don't let the swing go unoccupied this Christmas. In the same manner in which you'd make a scarecrow for Halloween, you can make a stuffed Santa Claus or Mrs. Claus to reside on your porch swing. First, find a Santa or Mrs. Claus costume. You can find Santa and Mrs. Claus costumes in costume retail shops. Additionally, if you don't want to invest in a whole costume, many stores that sell Christmas decorations do supply Santa hats and beards. If you go this route, use red pants and a red jacket for Santa's clothes and a red dress and a white apron for Mrs. Claus. Next, using old newspaper, ball it up and stuff the arms, legs, and body of your Santa or Mrs. Claus until it has a realistic body shape. As for shoes, find Santa a pair of black boots, and Mrs. Claus a pair of red and white slippers. Then, for a head, you can use a ball, weighted balloon, or other round object that you can paint to look like Santa's or Mrs. Claus' face. Lastly, fit Santa's beard and hat onto his head; Mrs. Claus can get a bonnet and a pair of glasses. Sit Santa or Mrs. Claus on the back porch swing. For an additional touch, create both Santa and Mrs. Claus so they can keep each other company.