Winter holidays are a great time to display your personal style outdoors. Do you have a large porch, yard, or outdoor space - or is your space simply a foot or two by your front door. Honestly it doesn't matter - you can add basic items and create a magnificent holiday entrance.

Pine trees, cedar, holly bushes or any shrubbery can become a festive site. Begin with some LED, battery operated, or Solar string lights - you can go all out on your porch, shrubs and trees. Only a front door to work with, surround the door frame with lights. Warm white lights create a very welcoming sight, as well as enhancing a festive mood. Netted lights are easy and beautiful over shrubs. Wrap string lights around the base stems of trees, picket fences or porch posts. No yard, no problem -potted greenery looks festive with branches wrapped in string lights. A wreath on the door adds a warm welcome - make your own, purchase one, add lights, artificial or real greenery, bow, ribbon, - make it yours.

Low budget doesn't mean you need to skip the glitz and glam. Gather your empty pots, barrels, buckets and lets think about our options. Live in the country - take a hike and gather sticks, pine boughs, holly branches, really anything you find. Do you have a few large holiday ornaments, maybe silver, red, green, gold - or your favorite color, and some festive ribbon laying around.

Now you are ready to assemble - choose your bucket(s), pail(s), plant container(s) - arrange what you found in the woods. Oops - don't live in the country, option is to go to where Christmas trees are sold - Lowe's, Home Depot, free standing tree lot - often they will let you take stray branches! What a bargain. 3rd option - purchase artificial branches and greenery from a hobby or craft store.
You want to arrange them in your container then accent with a few ornaments, bows, fake or real holly - whatever you like. If you have little ones at home you could even make the arrangement playful with small wrapped packages, Santa's, reindeer and such. Want a natural look - simply leave out the ornaments and bows. Want snow - you can purchase some spray on flocking!

These basic steps can turn your entrance or your backyard entertaining area into a wonderful homecoming for any family and guests.  Enjoy the holidays - we would love to see your creations.

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