Holiday Front Porch and Entryway Ideas That Last Past December

The way to make holiday porch and entryway decor last past December is to build it in two layers. The base layer is winter decor that has nothing to do with a specific holiday: a natural coir doormat, evergreens, lanterns with flameless candles, and warm white light. The holiday layer is what you add on top for a few weeks: red ribbon, ornaments, and a Christmas-themed mat or sign. On January 2, you take off the top layer and the porch still looks finished through February.

Here is how to put each layer together, how to size the doormat, and how to carry the look inside the front door.

Start with a neutral base layer

Pick pieces that suit cold weather in general, not one holiday. Natural fibers, greenery, black metal, warm wood, and soft white light all read as winter. Red and green, Santa, and "Merry Christmas" lettering read as December only.

• A plain or lightly patterned coir doormat.
• Evergreen planters, a wreath, or garland without holiday-specific trim.
• Lanterns at different heights with flameless candles inside.
• Warm white string lights instead of multicolor.

That base can go up right after Thanksgiving and stay until the first warm days of spring.

Choose a doormat that does the work

The front mat takes more abuse in winter than any other season: snow, salt, slush, and leaves. Coir, made from coconut husk fibers, is a good outdoor choice because its stiff bristles scrape shoes clean.

Size it to the door

• Single door (about 36 inches wide): an 18" x 30" or 24" x 36" mat. Aim for a mat that covers most of the door's width.
• Double doors or a wide entry: 30" x 48" or larger, so both doors have mat in front of them.
• Leave a few inches of clearance so the storm door or screen door swings freely over the mat.

Mats that stay up all winter

The 24" x 36" natural coir solid color door mat is crafted from coconut husks, according to its listing, with a naturally bristled texture for cleaning dirt and mud from shoes. A solid mat like this works in every season, and it gives a holiday mat something to sit on if you like layering.

For a winter touch that is not tied to Christmas, the 18" x 30" blue and white coir snowflake winter door mat is listed at about an inch thick and is a natural swap for a December-only design once the holidays are over. For double doors, the 30" x 48" natural and black coir welcome mat is listed at 1.5 inches thick and wide enough to span a pair of doors.

If you love a seasonal message, keep a Christmas mat and a winter mat and swap them in January. You can see both kinds in doormats.

Light the porch with lanterns

Lanterns are the hardest-working winter decor you can buy. They look right on a porch from November through March, and they light the steps on short, dark evenings.

Group them in odd numbers and different heights on either side of the door, or on the steps. The set of three brown lattice glass and metal floor lanterns is listed at 23.75 inches tall, and a set of three makes an easy odd-numbered group beside the door.

Use flameless candles near the door

Real flames next to dry garland, a wreath, or a coat brushing past are a risk. Flameless candles avoid that and can run every evening for weeks. The 6" ivory flameless indoor outdoor pillar candle has a flickering feature, according to its listing, and is listed at 5.75 inches tall and 3 inches wide, a good fit inside a mid-size lantern. More lanterns and candles are in candles and holders.

Add the holiday layer

This is the fun part, and it should be easy to remove. Keep everything holiday-specific in one or two bins so you can take it off in an afternoon.

• Ribbon: tie red or plaid bows onto the wreath, lanterns, and planters. They come off in minutes.
• Ornaments: cluster shatter-resistant ornaments in a planter or tuck a few into garland.
• Signs and mats: a "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" mat on top of a neutral base mat.
• Picks: add berry or pinecone picks to evergreen planters and pull the berries out in January if you want a plainer look.

Bring it inside the front door

Your entryway is the first room guests see, and it is where the porch decor should continue.

A tree for a narrow entry

A full tree rarely fits in a foyer, but a slim one can. The 6' slender pine Christmas tree has a slender shape that its listing describes as easy to place in tight spaces, and it includes a tree stand. Set it in a corner near the stairs or beside a console table.

For a tree that can stay up into January as winter decor, consider a flocked one with the ornaments removed after the holidays. The 8' slender flocked pine Christmas tree has flocked branches for a snowy look and is unlit, according to its listing, so you can add the warm white lights you are already using on the porch. It is listed at 96 inches tall and 50 inches wide, which suits an entry with a high ceiling.

A tabletop tree on the console

If floor space is tight, put a small tree on the entry table. The 4' pre-lit full pine Christmas tree is listed for use on the floor or a tabletop and comes with 150 white lights and a stand. Browse more sizes in Christmas trees.

Inside the door, add a second mat or a small washable rug to catch whatever the outdoor mat misses. Two mats, one outside and one inside, keep far more salt and grit off your floors than one.

What to keep up after the holidays

• Keep: the coir or winter mat, lanterns and flameless candles, evergreen planters and a plain wreath, warm white lights.
• Remove: ribbons in holiday colors, ornaments, Christmas mats and signs, Santa and reindeer figures.
• Optional: a flocked or white tree, stripped of ornaments, can stay in the entry through January.

Plan for delivery time

Holiday decor is only useful if it arrives in time. U.S. orders are usually processed in 1 to 5 business days and delivered in about 4 to 10 business days, with free shipping on orders over $120 to the contiguous U.S. Starting October 3, we also ship to Canada, with delivery in about 4 to 13 business days including processing and free shipping on Canadian orders over $500. Ordering by early December leaves a comfortable margin.

FAQ

How do I decorate a porch for winter, not just Christmas?

Use a neutral coir mat, evergreens, lanterns with flameless candles, and warm white lights. Keep red and green accents and holiday lettering to removable pieces like ribbons and mats.

What size doormat do I need for a front door?

For a standard single door about 36 inches wide, an 18" x 30" or 24" x 36" mat works well. For double doors, choose 30" x 48" or larger.

Are flameless candles safe outside?

Many are made for indoor and outdoor use. Check the listing, place them inside lanterns, and keep them on a covered porch when heavy rain or snow is expected.

When should I take down holiday porch decor?

Most people take down holiday-specific decor in the first week of January. If you built a neutral winter base layer, the porch stays decorated until spring.

Can I put an artificial Christmas tree on my porch?

We would keep it just inside the entry instead. Rain, snow, and outdoor outlets are hard on any artificial tree, especially one with built-in lights.