How to Style a Festive Front Door for the Holidays

It’s almost here: that wonderful time of year when all around town the lights go up, tinsel twinkles from the trees, and children ooh and ahh over larger-than-life lawn ornaments. If all that merry and bright excitement has you eager to join in the decorative festivities, you’ve come to the right place. Etsy offers a treasure trove of whimsical, wintry accents that are perfect for showing off your seasonal spirit—animatronic snowman optional.

This holiday, for a simple, stylish take on outdoor decor that’s extension cord-free, we’re decking our front doors with a selection of tasteful, rustic touches that give off enchanting log cabin vibes. Click play to see how this picturesque porch comes together, then shop below to create your own warm welcome for all those who enter your home.

Nothing says “season’s greetings” quite like a magnificent wreath, and this elegant handmade number will look stunning all winter long as the focal point of a cottage-chic decor scheme. Its lush layers of faux olive leaves give a whole new meaning to the word “evergreen,” and will retain their silvery luster from that first egg-nog-laden shindig through years of festive get togethers. For a final modern flourish, top it off with a personalized wood calligraphy sign hand-lettered with your family’s name—an inviting way to receive carolers or cookie tin-carrying neighbors.

Greet travel-weary guests with tidings of comfort and joy by staging a toasty, ski lodge-inspired setup, handsomely anchored by a handcrafted firewood rack. (This one’s fashioned from reclaimed wine barrels—what could be more warm-spirited than that?) No wood-burning stove? No problem! Plush birch log pillows make for a charming trick-of-the-eye that also double as comfy cushions if you opt to use them couch-side. And so long as you’re indulging your playful nature, rekindle that childlike wonder with retro-style pennants that show Santa you’ve still got your North Pole-pride. To round out the peaceful scene, mini cedar pines and fir swags (of the wilt-proof variety) tie the entire look together in a tidy burlap bow. 

No idyllic December display would be complete without a dash of holiday magic, and a darling red-nosed reindeer, handcrafted in small batches from leftover tinder, is just the thing to transform your porch into the ultimate woodsy wonderland. From its four branched out legs to the tips of its twiggy antlers, this rustic Rudolph is ready to spread cheer to every jolly reveler who’s lucky enough to cross its path.

Photographs by Paul Kim.

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