Home Exterior Holiday Decorating

Christmas Exterior Decorating Ideas

Entry Doors

When decorating, be careful to protect your door. Avoid putting a nail in the face of the door, as this can lead to damage in the future and could void your door warranty from the original manufacturer.

Use a door hanger to hang a wreath from the door knocker, or place a tack on the top of the door frame and use a clear fishing line to hang a wreath.

Windows

To keep them in good operating condition (and to keep your warranty valid), it’s important to never drill into the frame or sash of your windows. Plus, in an emergency, egress windows should never be blocked by furniture or holiday decorations.

Window Naughty List:

• Never put nails or screws in a vinyl window frame to hold up decorative lights or holiday wreaths. Also, do not glue, staple, or tape lights to a window frame.
• Do not place lit candles on a window sill, nor the edge or sash.
• Never decorate windows with anything that could impede opening if you need to use the window as an escape route during an emergency.
• Do not place real pine branches or cones on the window frames or sill. Fresh pine sap can leave nasty stains after the holiday season is over.
• Do not spray “fake snow” from aerosol cans on your windows. The “snow” residue can be hard to remove after the holidays and can hamper the operation of your window if it sticks to the sash or hardware.

Window Nice List:

• Use suction cups on the window glass to hang glass ornaments, plastic snowflakes, or glass icicles so that light can come through the windows to enhance the decorations.
• Use suction cups with hooks to hang small wreaths inside a double or single-hung window. Use a clear fishing line to loop the wreath gently over the window hardware.
• Make your curtain rods work during the holidays. Remove the curtains and hang ornaments from the existing rods on different lengths of fishing lines or colorful curling ribbons.
• Swags of garland or evergreen wreaths inside the home may be put up by affixing them to the wall, not to the windows themselves.

Siding

Insulated vinyl siding will help keep you and your guests warm and cozy this holiday season but will require a little creative decorating to keep it at its energy efficient best.

Siding Naughty List:

• Never drive nails or staples through your insulated siding. This may void your warranty from the original manufacturer. The holes can allow moisture to penetrate behind the siding and cold air to get through.
• Soffit and Fascia are also not good places to affix decorations due to moisture seeping through nail holes.

Siding Nice List:

• Use release tape to affix garland and wreaths to your home’s exterior. We suggest Command Strips. They will allow you to hang any decorations and easily clean up after the holidays.
• Use clip-on light hooks for lights along the gutter line of your home. They can easily be affixed to the gutter and keep your lights in a straight, tidy line.

Following these simple suggestions will keep your home beautiful this holiday season and your guests cozy all year long and for many years to come.