Home / Holiday Decorating / Christmas / Christmas Exterior: Garland, Wreaths & Lights
Holiday Decorating

A classic Christmas entry, garland, wreaths and glow.

The short answerFor an elegant Christmas exterior, hang a full pre-lit wreath on the front door and matching smaller wreaths on windows, then frame the door with thick pre-lit garland secured on hooks. Use warm-white lights only, add velvet or tartan ribbon in one color, and finish with lanterns and urns of greens. Set everything on an outdoor timer so it glows from dusk to bedtime.

Grandin Road and Frontgate exteriors share a formula: matching wreaths, a heavy garland, warm-white light and one ribbon color, repeated everywhere.

OccasionChristmasChristmas Exterior
Styling time2–4 hrsestimate
DifficultyEasy
Pieces6shoppable

Williams Sonoma prices are the lowest listed price as of Oct 15, 2026 and change often. Many seasonal pieces have few or no public reviews, so we pick on materials, craftsmanship and retailer reputation and show star ratings only when we could verify them.

Christmas Exterior: Garland, Wreaths & Lights
6 stepsCurated from premium retailers. Prices verified and dated.
Photo: Jez Timms on Unsplash
The Look

Palette & mood.

Traditional estate. Deep fir and cedar greens, warm-white light, red velvet or tartan ribbon, aged brass and black lanterns.

Fraser fir
Cedar
Velvet red
Warm white
Aged brass
Shop the Look

The pieces, curated.

Tick items off as you shop. Links and prices were checked on 2026-10-15. Seasonal décor sells out; if a piece is gone, match the material and color.

The statement pieces

3 items
'Twas the Night Before Christmas UV Protected Pre-Lit Faux Wreath & Garland
StatementPre-lit wreath & garland

'Twas the Night Before Christmas UV Protected Pre-Lit Faux Wreath & Garland

UV-protected pre-lit greens with classic red accents.

Williams SonomaEditor's pickFrom $139.95View →
Retailer prices as of 2026-10-15

Layers & finishing

3 items
The Styling

Style it, step by step.

  1. 01

    Plan power & safety

    Use outdoor-rated cords, a GFCI outlet and a timer. Check bulbs before hanging.

  2. 02

    Measure the door frame

    Plan about 1.5× the frame's height and width in garland so it looks full.

  3. 03

    Hang the garland

    Attach it with adhesive or gutter hooks, starting at the top center and working down each side.

  4. 04

    Hang matching wreaths

    Front door first, then windows at the same height, all with the same ribbon.

  5. 05

    Fluff & light

    Shape every branch tip and test the lights at dusk.

  6. 06

    Finish the steps

    Add lanterns and urns of greens, and light the path.

Watch First

See it done, then do it.

Our picks of the clearest inspiration and how-to videos. Credit and copyright belong to the creators.

Lifestyle with Melonie Graves

Christmas Front Porch Decorating Ideas 2025 | Simple Greenery Layers for a Timeless Entry

Layering greenery for a timeless entry.

Visit channel ↗
Ace Hardware

How To Hang Pre-Lit Garland - Ace Hardware

Practical garland-hanging how-to.

Visit channel ↗
Good Questions

Before you start.

How much garland do I need for a front door?

Measure up one side, across the top and down the other side, then add about 50% so it can drape and look full. A standard door often takes about 18–20 ft.

Warm white or cool white lights?

Warm white looks more traditional and expensive. Don't mix the two.

How do I hang garland without nails?

Use adhesive hooks rated for outdoor use, gutter or shingle clips, or a garland hanger over the door frame.

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