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Decorating for the holidays is a cherished tradition that brings joy and warmth to many homes. However, with the rising cost of living, it’s essential to find budget-friendly ways to make our homes festive and inviting. In this blog post, I’ll share with you my most popular and cost-effective front porch Christmas decoration. This DIY decoration is perfect for spreading holiday cheer without breaking the bank.
I have been making this simple front porch Christmas decoration for years. It by far is my most popular viewed video/post across all my social media sites. The best part, it’s very inexpensive to make and you can reuse many items each season.
To get started on this DIY project, gather the following supplies:
- Wooden crate – Here is a link for a similar wooden crate that I used.
- Greenery (cedar branches, white pine branches, or your choice)
- White lights
- Berries
- Sticks
- Pine cones
- Ribbon
- Birch bark branches
- Fence board or a piece of wood
- Burlap
Sometimes it’s nice to ‘see’ someone while they are explaining things. If this is you, check out the link to my YouTube video below!
Step 1: Scavenger Hunt in Nature:
It’s time to get outside and enjoy some fresh air. You need to go on a scavenger hunt in the woods to find sticks, birch bark branches, and greenery. Always be mindful of the environment, avoiding private property and only collecting from low branches or fallen items. For greenery, cedar and white pine branches work well, but feel free to use what’s available on your property. You can always skip the nature walk and purchase these items but it will be a lot more expensive.
Step 2: Assembling the Crate:
- Find or buy a wooden crate. I bought mine at Rona and stained it this dark walnut colour. Here is a link to one similar you can order.
- Next line the crate with burlap to conceal branches and cords.
- Arrange some greenery around the outside of the box.
- Add birch bark branches, red sticks/twigs, and additional greenery for a layered effect.
Step 3: Adding The Lights:
I prefer white lights but you can add coloured lights if you prefer. I wrap the lights around the greenery. You don’t have to be too fussy with the lights. It always looks great. Just try and even the lights out as best you can around the box so it looks nice and full. Get creative with the arrangement, experimenting with different colors or adding new elements each year.
Step 4: Crafting the ‘JOY’ Sign:
For my ‘JOY’ sign, you’re going to love this! I used an old broken fence board to make this sign. I took hockey tape and put the tape around the edges. Now, I wish I would have sanded the board a bit before I painted it because it would make writing on it easier but I didn’t. If I made another wooden sign like this, I would recommend you sand the middle of your board.
I then painted the middle section with black chaulkboard paint. I write a different word every season with plain old white chalk. This sign has held up pretty well all things considered.
Step 5: Final Touches:
- Place the ‘JOY’ sign behind the crate for a personalized touch.
- Add larger birch bark branches to the sides for balance. Again, I got these branches in the woods. They had fallen from one of our trees. I reuse them every year.
- Include greenery, berries, and a burlap ribbon on top for a polished finish.
This DIY front porch Christmas decoration is not only visually stunning but also a sustainable and budget-friendly way to celebrate the holiday season. Get creative, reuse materials, and enjoy the process of making your home festive without spending a fortune.
Family Favourite Christmas Treat
Are you looking for an easy treat to make for a Christmas gathering? You have to try these Magic Bars. My family requests these Magic Bars every year at Christmas time. The combination of milk chocolate, nuts and coconut is simply delicious! They melt in your mouth.
Comment Below
Do you decorate at Christmas time? Do you change colours or themes every year? Comment below and share your creations with our community so you can inspire others to embrace the joy of affordable holiday decor.
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