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Appealing Holiday Door Décor |
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Written by Christel Hall
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Thursday, 12 November 2009 |
You can make a dramatic splash with your outdoor holiday decorations or keep things simple.
By putting the main focus on your home’s entrance, you’ll set a mood that keeps the ‘Ho-Ho-Ho’ in your holiday budgets.
Here are a couple of local, professionally decorated examples, as well as three simple ideas from decorators and suppliers for making your entryway festive and inviting.
Caughlin Ranch Residence
Reno Lawn and Landscape’s Christmas Décor division provides multi-year residential and commercial contract services that include install, take down, maintenance (especially useful for complicated lighting or weather damage), and storage.
In this simple but classic red-and-green installation, they provided:
Lighted garland, bows, and four wreaths
LED lights on all rooflines, sidewalk to steps, and 1,600-light tree-wrap
Light timer
Licensed, bonded, professional installers
Approximate cost for materials/install/take-down/maintenance/storage: $1,690 (Christmas Décor provides 20% discount for all new customers)
Approximate man hours from start to finish: 6
Marketing and communications manager, Steve Fine, points out that LED lights use 1/10th the energy of mini-lights; 1/100th the energy of traditional bulbs. “When compared to past lighting efforts, you’ll quickly see real savings on your electric bill,” he said. “Plus, they’re the strongest and most durable lights you can get. While they cost more up front, they burn brighter and there’s very little damage over time.”
Also available from Christmas Décor is a good selection of daytime décor items, such as elaborate wreaths and garlands, silhouettes, banners, and motifs (Nativity, Snowmen, Santa on a Harley). They can also set up programmable light controllers to coordinate lighting with your selected music.
Manzanita West Residence
Moana Nursery’s home décor service will help you shop for holiday elements to make your entryway inviting. They also provide install and take-down services.
Buyer Julie Muhilly uses the large planters near the entrance, removing summer plants and adding begonias, kale, and evergreens.
This elegant red wreath is off the shelf, but you can order one custom to fit a specific theme. Julie said, “We picked an oval because this door is longer. And because 24-inch wreath holders are hard to find, we used a large 4-inch suction cup on the door’s glass to avoid nail holes.”
Wire garden tuteurs (birdcages) hold white mini-lights and glossy bird ornaments. (Lights can be on a timer or remote control.)
Two layers of elaborate garland with bells and pine cones
Copper buckets hold pine cones, berries and greenery
Holiday boxes add to the homeowner’s convenient garden bench
Light fixtures embellished with two, angled greenery picks, with feathers, cones and berries
Approximate cost for materials and install: $2,000
Approximate man-hours: 7 (plus 1 ½–2 hours for planning, shopping and selecting items)
Want to Do It Yourself?
Nature’s Wreaths
Custom cherry wood double doors are enhanced with two triple-wreath hangings. Using dried fruits and plants that grow naturally in your area are regional elements to consider for door décor. Use glimmering ribbon long enough to create both the bow itself as well as the length needed for the successively larger wreaths.
Half-Door Garland
Simple, yet elegant, this garland highlights the radius top of this custom fiberglass door. Using décor set above the door lets both elements stand out. Choose artificial, multi-element garland for decorations that stay up longer. If you prefer the fragrance of fresh greens, choose live garland and embellish with artificial picks, pods, flowers, and berries.
Fruit & Flowers
This homeowner uses stately glazed ceramic planters, adding greenery with red flowers to mimic the door’s dramatic red. Add a large fruit and flower wreath to create a simple, but elegant, triad that draws your eye and invites you to the party! n
Christel Hall is a freelance business writer living in Minden, and owner/operator of PRowrite Public Relations. |
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