How to Get Your Yard Decorated for the Holidays in One Weekend

A rustic Christmas decor display with an old crate and vintage iceskates.

The holiday season marks a time of the year when most homeowners are scrambling to get in the festive spirit. While decorating the inside of the home may be a breeze, getting the yard ready for the holidays is another story. If you are crunched for time or out of ideas, here's a quick guide on how to get your yard decorated for the holidays in as little as one weekend.

Upcycle

Making decorations out of old items is a great way to celebrate the holidays without breaking your budget. Old sleds, skis, and ice skates make great Christmas decorations as-is. You can also turn old tires into oversized ornaments and use old wood crates or wagons for accent pieces. Just fill these items with holiday decorations and you should be good to go.

Holiday Signs

Large signs are a great way to add some holiday flavor to your home. You can build these signs out of all kinds of scrap wood and decorate them to your liking. For example, you could purchase or make letters that spell the word "JOY," substituting the middle letter with a wreath. You can also paint a design on the sign using a stencil. These signs can be hung just about anywhere or simply propped up against the house.

Windows and Railings

A Christmas garland over the front door of a house.

Decorating windows and porch railings with wreaths and garland can really add some holiday cheer to your home. Wreaths are great for hanging on windows or doors, while ribbons and garland are easy to wrap around railings. Even better, you can finish hanging the accents in as little as one afternoon, depending on the size of your home.

Evergreens

If you're looking for a simpler way to turn your yard into a holiday wonderland, consider adding some fresh evergreens to the mix. These hardy plants fit perfectly with the holiday theme and can be placed on the front porch or driveway. You can add a little more style by planting them in a rustic container, such as an old wood pot or galvanized tub, adding clippings to complete the look.

Colorful Walkways

Lighting the walkways to your home can bring some Christmas cheer to your yard while helping people see better at night. You can use the traditional color scheme of red and green for the lights or opt for a more modern look with white LEDs.

Mailbox Decor

A mailbox in the snow decorated for Christmas with bows and garland.

The mailbox is often the first thing people see when they approach your home, so why not turn it into a festive decoration? You can jazz up the mailbox with a little bit of garland and a wreath, or go all out with oversized Christmas decorations, like large candy canes. Just remember not to go too overboard, or you will run the risk of distracting the mail carrier.

Front Porch Holiday Cheer

The front porch is another great space to decorate for the holidays. You can spruce up the front door with a colorful wreath or homemade snowman stencil. You can also add smaller accents around the porch, such as fake presents, holiday colored blankets, and garlands to really get into the Christmas mood.

Oversized Ornaments

Oversized ornaments are a popular holiday decoration. These ornaments are made out of large bouncy balls, old containers, and a little bit of spray paint. You can hang the ornaments from trees in the yard or suspend them in front of windows. Whatever you choose to do with them, they are sure to catch everyone's attention this holiday season.

Decorate Outdoor Trees

One of the easiest ways to get your yard ready for the holidays is to decorate existing outdoor trees. You can decorate the tree with light strings or traditional ornaments. If you have multiple trees, try and color-coordinate the decorations for the best look. You should also aim to get the brightest bulbs possible so that the lights are actually noticeable from the curb.