18 Timeless Christmas Door Decorations for a Warm Welcome
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You've styled your spectacular Christmas tree with heirloom tree ornaments, finished making your signature holiday cocktail, and set the table to the nines with candles and fine china. But have you thought about what impeccable Christmas door decorations will greet visitors and neighbors when they come knocking? In many instances, the front door is the first place people get to see your tasteful holiday style. So, it's important to make an unforgettable first impression.
You can always go the traditional route with a timeless Christmas wreath with a classic red bow. Or maybe your style is something more dramatic, like a lush magnolia leaf garland framing the doorframe and seamlessly trailing down onto the porch. There's also a plethora of gorgeous dried and faux greenery options that will allow you to keep them for future holidays. Whatever you choose, it's important to think through how you will be able to hang the festive decorations with ease. Be on the lookout for magnetic or over-the-door hooks, which tend to be low effort to assemble and require no hammering of nails.
Ready to make your front door just as merry as your interiors? Take inspiration from these downright jolly Christmas door ideas from the country's top interior designers. Plus, we've thrown in a few of our favorite wreaths and garlands that we think would look absolutely stunning perched on your door. Here, our favorite Christmas door decorations.
An Oversized Wreath
Elegant guard dog statues flank the front door of this Richard Keith Langham designed Mississippi home known as Black Bear Lodge. In a setting of pine-filled woods that Langham describes as “in the middle of nowhere Mississippi,” the bold, red accents of the home make it stand out in a rustic, but refined manner. An oversized wreath brings just enough holiday spirit to this already cozy destination.
A Pot-Pourri of Greenery
Birmingham-based floral designer Mark Thompson uses a variety of trimmings in this festive display that's grand enough for any gathering. The tidy boxwood wreaths in contrast to the clippings of pine, Leyland cypress, Fraser Fir and winged elm create a very merry mashup.
The Gift of Glass
Mimi McMakin of Kimble Interiors celebrates in style for the holidays in her Palm Beach home which is packed to the brim with personality and spirit. However, when it comes to her outdoor decorations she lets the inside do the talking. Her towering 14-foot Douglas fir adds plenty of festive whimsy along with a smattering of beautifully wrapped gifts and can easily be seen through large glass doors.
Asymmetrical Framing
Don't disregard the doors inside your home! For a dramatic impact follow the lead of florist Mark Thompson and his smartly arranged swag full of jewel-toned pomegranates. Slate tassels from Samuel & Sons add a thoughtful contrast.
Classic Swags
For acclaimed designer Alessandra Branca, the antidote for a successful holiday get-together relies on creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere both indoors and out. Swags of greenery and twinkling lights punctuated with satin red ribbons bring the holiday spirit to the designer's Chicago townhouse.
Parade of Green
Floral designer Lewis Miller proves you can take a maximalist approach to decorating your door and porch for the holidays without all the glitter and cliches. A bounty of greenery leads family and friends into his 1850 Staatsburg, New York cottage for a jovial dinner.
Cedar and Chrysanthemum
At Jeffry Weisman's San Miguel de Allende retreat, a bountiful cedar and chrysanthemum garland directs guests into the courtyard for a lively holiday gathering. The festive garland gives you a white Christmas, wherever you are in the world.
Magnolia Garland
Designer Miles Redd and his client Sam Milner dressed up the outside of her 1920s Georgian-style brick house in Connecticut with subtle yet festive details. A magnolia leaf garland highlights the prominence of the door's stone frame while a matching wreath ties it all together.
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A Medley of Greenery
Subtle pops of greenery makes this Lowcountry hunting lodge by designer Andrew Howard feel festive without taking away from its classic raised-cottage architecture. Mixed fir garlands decorate the wraparound veranda while wreaths accent the windows and doors.
Boxwoods and Magnolia
"I want everything to feel hospitable, inviting, and comfortable," says designer Tammy Connor of the holiday decor of her Birmingham studio. Lively greenery like boxwoods and olive wreaths add seasonal touches throughout the studio. The entrance is marked by a magnolia-leaf garland and pine mistletoe.
Red and Eucalyptus
A native New Orleanian and renowned designer, Suzanne Rheinstein often relies on the entertaining lessons she learned as a young southerner to host extravagant soirees. For this holiday celebration at her Los Angeles home, Rheinstein honors her southern roots while embracing California with the aroma of biscuits floating throughout the house and citrus and plenty of candles decking the halls. The befitting red front door of her Colonial Revival is decorated with a fragrant eucalyptus wreath.
Fir Garland and Wreath
Even in a light snow shower, Christopher Spitzmiller's impeccably designed and decorated Clove Brook Farm in Hudson Valley stands out. Spitzmiller and his dog, Fanny, put the final touches on their outdoor holiday decorating with a matching fir wreath and garland at the entrance. The Greek Revival house is painted white with shutters in Benjamin Moore's Hale Navy.
Ribbon-Wrapped Wreath
Designer Darryl Carter's understated approach to holiday decorating feels both warm and welcoming without veering on the kitschy side. The exterior of his Washington, D.C. townhouse is decked out in noble-fir wreaths. The one on the door features a subtle gold ribbon that connects it to the gold decorations and ribbons throughout the interiors.
Floral Wreaths
The late Ann Getty, an acclaimed interior designer and philanthropist, always took great pleasure in entertaining her guests during the holiday season. She was involved in everything from finalizing the menu and selecting musicians to the decorations adorning her spectacular 1913 residence in San Francisco. The wreaths of fresh greenery add a seasonal flourish to the entrance.
Red Bow Wreath
The red carpet is always rolled out during the holidays for anyone visiting designer Richard Keith Langham's 1890s townhouse on the Upper East Side. At the entry and in the hall, wreaths and greenery announce the holiday spirit as Langham welcomes guests.
Simple Wreath Trio
For his weekend retreat in Hillsdale, New York, decorator Shawn Henderson aimed to modernize the interiors, but still keep the cabin's key historic details. A trio of fresh wreaths at the entrance dial up the home's 19th-century charm for the holidays.
Twig and Cedar Wreath
Instead of opting for the usual pine or spruce wreath, English designer Veere Grenney commissioned florist Shane Connelly to make a custom crown of hazel twigs and cedar for this London townhouse. The touch adds a festive note to the front door and highlights the quirky door knocker.
Subtle Greenery
In snowy Lake Champlain, the holiday spirit is ever-present, but an added touch of greenery adds just the right amount of cheer to this Gil Schafer designed wonder. On the glass doors are two larger wreaths and two smaller ones flank either side of the house.
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