How to Create an Illuminating Outdoor Holiday Home

Entry #829, December 11, 2011

One of my favorite holiday past times during the holiday season is driving through the neighborhoods with beautiful Christmas lights. From the overly imaginative to the tastefully done, the holiday season is a great time to light up your outdoor home.

I was admiring these creative ideas on Southern Living for festive outdoor lighting ideas that aren’t your ordinary 1970’s giant color bulb lighting! While those were festive 40 years ago, see the trend for more subdued lighting that still has a winter wonderland affect!

Starry Nights Basket

Make hanging baskets sparkle all winter long by lighting them from within. Use coiled vine baskets without liners, and push a 100-bulb string of small pearl lights from inside to out around each basket. Place clear plastic ornaments in the basket as filler. On top, pile a 50-bulb string of small white lights and a string of prelit metal stars to shine above.

Give your hanging baskets new life at night!

Luminous Lanterns

Old-fashioned lantern posts are classic, but this holiday season wrap them in lush garland and glowing globes for an ethereal holiday look.

Garland wrapped around your lanterns with lighting accents

Dreamy Door

Dress up a boring doorway with a red and green color scheme. A door outlined with garland, glowing lights, and red bows complements the hanging wreath. A grouping of poinsettia plants adds the perfect punch of holiday cheer.

Poinsettias and gorgeous garland and lights

White Magic

Give new dimension and beauty to an exterior building, such as a garden shed or detached garage, by illuminating it with winter white lights. Line the walkway with votives, too, such as these large metal votives specifically designed for outdoor use.

White lights make an outdoor shed glimmer!

Swags of Light

When creating an outdoor light display, work with the layout of your home, fence, or gate. Light swags work perfectly on the fence shown here, accented by a slender twig tree that sits in front of the tall brick pillar.

Dress up your gate, wall or entrance with swag lighting

Light up your holiday home this season!

For more holiday ideas on Stagetecture, click here.