If you live in a country that celebrates Christmas, then there is a very good chance that some people in your village, town or city use outside Christmas decorations of one type or another. In some neighbourhoods, though, there may be a proliferation of Christmas decor and lighting, as neighbours compete with each other, or just get together with the desire to make their home the centre of attraction in their region for Christmas displays. The small concentrations of extreme outside decorating for the festive season certainly happens in some neighbourhoods in England, my country of origin. It also happens here in the Philippines, where I now live; for example, Danao City in Cebu province made national news with the way the local people had proudly set out their elaborate decorations a few Christmases ago. Unfortunately, I moved from Danao the year before that started to occur. In some examples, houses and gardens will be totally festooned with outside Christmas ornaments and other Christmas decorations. However, not all of us want, or need, to get too carried away with the outside Christmas decorations, and just want to do something quite restrained and tasteful, just to let everyone know that ours is a house with a warm festive welcome in store. What to Use For Outside Christmas Decorations Many of the ideas you can use for outdoor Christmas decorations are based on those decorations and ornaments you would use inside. However, decorating the outside of the house and garden does bring with it a few different options, as well as presenting some concerns that you should bear in mind with certain types of decor. Here are just a few ideas for your outside Christmas decor: Christmas Lights Here in the Philippines, many homes have outside Christmas lights, and this is reflected in my Christmas story, set in Palawan. Those Christmas lights are often draped around windows and porches, but also sometimes on grottos, trees and bushes. An important consideration with outdoor lights is the electrical safety, as not all sets of lights are suitable for outdoor use. However, lights on the outside of a house are an effective way of displaying your festive intent. You can also have an outside display by having the lights around the inside of the window, but visible from the outside. Christmas Trees As great as it is to have a Christmas tree in the home, it can also look good outside, or at least in the porch. If you have a suitable tree growing in the garden, then it is just a matter of arranging your lights and ornaments; or, you can buy a real or artificial Christmas tree just for the outside. That does not stop you having a tree inside as well, of course! One idea I particularly like for outside is perfect if you have a drive or pathway in your front garden. By placing small Christmas trees either side of the driveway, from the entrance gate to the front door or porch, you can create a lighted avenue which passers-by will enjoy a much as you. This special Christmas tree display can easily be achieved by artificial prelit trees made for that purpose. Other Ideas For Outside Christmas Decorations There are lots of other Christmas decorations and ornaments that can be used outside, or at least be seen from the outside. Wreaths and garlands are a traditional welcome at the front door or porchway, and with such a good choice of artificial wreaths and garlands available today, some prelit, it is relatively easy to find something attractive to add to your outside decor, even if it does need the cover of the porch. Another idea for the garden itself is plant stakes with a Christmas design, which can be made from metal and able to withstand winter weather outside. If you search hard enough, you may also find some special Christmas statues and ornaments made from concrete or fiberstone. There is much scope for having outside Christmas decorations, but it can also be easy to get carried away once you start. So it may not be a bad idea to set a budget before even starting your outside decorations for the holiday season. |
