Christmas Porch Bench Decor: 15 Cozy Setups That Make Your Front Porch Look Like a Holiday Card

A Christmas Porch Bench is the easiest way to make your whole front porch feel like a holiday card, and it only takes one seat. Think about the homes you slow down for in December. Most of them are not covered in lights from top to bottom. They have one cozy spot by the door with pillows, a blanket and a little greenery that says come on in. A bench gives you that spot. You can style it in an afternoon, change it with the weather and pack it all away in one bin in January. The ideas below use thrifted pillows, old sweaters, pallet wood, rain boots and plenty of free pine from the yard. Pick a few, mix them up and get ready for the neighbors to stop and stare..

Christmas Porch Bench Decor Starts With a Holiday Card Setup

Your Christmas Porch Bench does not need a big budget, it needs layers. Start with a white or natural wood bench right beside the front door so it frames the entrance like a picture. Add two or three plaid pillows, a folded knit blanket and a fresh pine wreath hung on the back rail with a big velvet bow. Tuck a little wooden sled at one end and stack a few small presents wrapped in plain kraft paper on the floor. Every piece is cheap on its own, but together they look like a scene from a card. Which corner of your porch is begging for this?..

You will need: A porch bench, 2 to 3 plaid pillows, a knit throw, a pine wreath, a velvet ribbon, small empty boxes, kraft paper and red ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Place the bench close to the door so it frames it. 2. Hang the wreath on the back rail with a long ribbon loop. 3. Layer the pillows and fold the throw over one arm. 4. Wrap empty boxes in kraft paper and stack them at one end.

A Willow Basket of Rolled Plaid Blankets

A basket of blankets beside the seat makes the whole porch feel like an invitation to sit down. Roll three plaid throws tightly, stand them up in a round willow basket and tuck a sprig of pine between them. Thrift stores are full of wool and fleece throws in red and green, so this can cost only a few dollars. On cold evenings, guests can grab one while they wait for the door to open, and the colors look lovely from the street. Who in your family would grab the first blanket?

You will need: A round willow or wicker basket, 3 plaid throw blankets, and a few pine sprigs.

How to make it: 1. Fold each blanket in half lengthwise. 2. Roll it tightly from the short end. 3. Stand the rolls upright in the basket. 4. Tuck pine sprigs between the rolls and set the basket by the bench leg.

Christmas Porch Bench Pillows in Old Sweater Covers

Old sweaters make the coziest pillow covers on any Christmas Porch Bench. Look for chunky cable knits in cream, red and forest green at the thrift store, or raid the back of your own closet. Slide a pillow form inside the body of the sweater, cut off the sleeves and stitch the top and bottom closed. The knit texture looks soft and warm next to cold wood, and nobody will guess the covers cost less than a cup of coffee. Do you have a sweater nobody wears anymore?

You will need: Thrifted sweaters, square pillow forms, fabric scissors, a needle and thread or fabric glue, and pins.

How to make it: 1. Turn the sweater inside out and lay a pillow form on it. 2. Pin around the form and cut off the sleeves and extra length. 3. Stitch or glue the open edges, leaving one side open. 4. Turn it right side out, insert the pillow and close the last seam.

A Thrifted Church Pew Porch Makeover

Old church pews show up at estate sales and salvage shops all the time, and they make a stunning long porch seat. A coat of soft sage green paint, lightly sanded on the edges, gives it a gentle farmhouse look. Drape a white faux fur throw across the seat, set two small potted evergreens at each end and run a pine garland along the back. A pew holds three or four people, so it is perfect for family photos on Christmas morning. Would a long seat like this fit your porch?

You will need: A thrifted wooden pew or long bench, sandpaper, outdoor paint in sage green, a paint brush, a faux fur throw, and two potted evergreens.

How to make it: 1. Clean the pew and sand it lightly. 2. Paint two thin coats and let them dry fully. 3. Sand the edges a little for a worn look. 4. Add the throw, the trees and a garland along the back.

Christmas Porch Bench With a Wreath on the Back Rail

Your front door is not the only place for a wreath. Hang one from the back rail of your Christmas Porch Bench and it instantly becomes the star of the porch. Mix pine and cedar for a full look, then wire in dried orange slices and a red plaid bow. Use a long ribbon loop or a zip tie so it sits right in the middle of the backrest. Two plaid pillows on the seat finish the picture. Want to try drying your own orange slices this weekend?

You will need: A pine or cedar wreath, dried orange slices, floral wire, a plaid ribbon, and zip ties.

How to make it: 1. Wire the orange slices around the wreath in small groups. 2. Tie a big plaid bow at the top. 3. Loop ribbon or a zip tie around the bench rail. 4. Hang the wreath and center it on the backrest.

Pine Garland Swagged Along the Seat

A garland across the front of the seat gives the bench a soft, full skirt of green. Swag it in two or three gentle dips and fix it with small command hooks or zip ties under the seat edge. Wire in pine cones and red berry picks every foot or so for color. Weave a strand of battery fairy lights through it, the kind with a timer, so it glows safely every evening without any cords. It looks beautiful from the sidewalk at night. How many dips would your bench need?

You will need: A 6 to 9 foot pine garland, pine cones, red berry picks, floral wire, battery fairy lights with a timer, and small hooks or zip ties.

How to make it: 1. Attach the garland at both ends of the seat front. 2. Add one or two middle points to make gentle swags. 3. Wire in pine cones and berries. 4. Weave the fairy lights through and set the timer.

Christmas Porch Bench Mini Tree in a Crate

A small live tree beside your Christmas Porch Bench adds height and life to the corner. Set a knee high potted evergreen inside a rustic wooden crate and wrap the crate with a wide burlap ribbon. Hang just a few small red ornaments so it still looks natural. After the holidays, you can plant the little tree in the yard and watch it grow with your family every year. That turns a porch decoration into a sweet tradition. Where would you plant yours in spring?

You will need: A small potted live evergreen, a wooden crate, burlap ribbon, a few shatterproof red ornaments, and a saucer for water.

How to make it: 1. Put a saucer in the bottom of the crate. 2. Set the potted tree inside. 3. Wrap burlap ribbon around the crate and tie a bow. 4. Hang a few ornaments and water the tree weekly.

A Cookie Tray for Carolers and Neighbors

Turn the seat into a little giving station on busy December evenings. Bake a batch of sugar cookies, pack two or three in small clear bags and tie each one with red and white baker’s twine. Set them on a white enamel tray with a wooden bowl of candy canes. Carolers, delivery drivers and kids walking home from school will love the surprise, and it makes your porch the friendliest one on the block. Bring the tray in at night so the cookies stay fresh. Who would you love to surprise first?

You will need: Homemade or store cookies, small clear treat bags, baker’s twine, an enamel or metal tray, and a bowl of wrapped candy canes.

How to make it: 1. Bake and cool the cookies. 2. Place two or three in each bag. 3. Tie each bag with twine. 4. Arrange them on the tray with the candy canes and set it on the bench.

Christmas Porch Bench Buffalo Check Pillows With Felt Trees

Buffalo check is the classic cabin look, and it shines on a Christmas Porch Bench. Buy plain red and black flannel pillow covers or sew your own from a thrifted shirt. Cut simple pine tree shapes from green felt and stitch them on with white blanket stitches so the edges show. The hand stitching makes the pillows look like something grandma made, and kids can help pick the tree shapes. Bring the pillows inside when it rains or snows so they last for many years. Will your trees be tall and skinny or short and round?

You will need: Buffalo check pillow covers, green felt, white embroidery floss, a needle, fabric chalk, and scissors.

How to make it: 1. Draw a tree shape on the felt with chalk and cut it out. 2. Pin it to the front of the pillow cover. 3. Sew around the edge with a blanket stitch. 4. Insert the pillow and add it to the bench.

A Wooden Bowl of Pine Cones and Oranges

A big wooden bowl on the seat is a quick way to fill an empty end of the bench. Fill it with pine cones from the yard, cinnamon sticks, dried orange slices and a few cedar sprigs. Everything here is natural, so it can sit outside in cold weather and still look good for weeks. Shake each cone and brush off any loose dirt or needles before you bring the bowl near the door. It smells wonderful when you open the door on a cold day. What natural treasures could you collect on your next walk?

You will need: A large shallow wooden bowl, pine cones, cinnamon sticks, dried orange slices, and cedar or pine sprigs.

How to make it: 1. Shake and brush the pine cones clean. 2. Let them dry on a towel. 3. Fill the bowl with cones first. 4. Tuck in cinnamon, oranges and greenery on top.

Christmas Porch Bench Painted With Stenciled Snowflakes

Give a tired old seat a fresh life by painting your Christmas Porch Bench barn red and adding white snowflakes. A cheap plastic snowflake stencil and a small foam brush are all you need for the pattern. Dab the paint lightly so it does not bleed under the stencil, and scatter the flakes in different sizes. Red and white look cheerful all winter long, so you can leave the bench just like this until spring. It is a great project for a dry, mild weekend. Would you go classic red or try a deep green?

You will need: A wooden bench, sandpaper, outdoor paint in barn red and white, a snowflake stencil, a foam brush, painter’s tape, and a drop cloth.

How to make it: 1. Sand and clean the bench. 2. Paint two coats of red and let them dry. 3. Tape the stencil to the backrest and dab white paint lightly. 4. Lift the stencil, move it and repeat in different spots.

A Weekend Pallet Wood Bench You Build Yourself

No bench yet? Build one from free pallet wood in a weekend. Look for pallets stamped HT, which means heat treated and safe for home projects. Pull the planks apart, sand them smooth and screw them onto a simple frame with four sturdy legs. A walnut stain hides the rough spots and makes the wood look old and loved. Ask an adult with power tool experience to help with the cutting and drilling. Once it is done, a plaid blanket and a little evergreen bough make it porch ready. Have you seen free pallets near you?

You will need: 2 heat treated pallets, a pry bar, a saw, a drill, wood screws, sandpaper, wood stain, a rag, and safety glasses.

How to make it: 1. Take the pallets apart and pick the best planks. 2. Cut planks for the seat, legs and braces with adult help. 3. Screw together a frame and attach the seat planks. 4. Sand, stain and let it dry before using it outside.

Christmas Porch Bench Rain Boot Planters

Outgrown rain boots make the cutest planters beside a Christmas Porch Bench. Fill the bottom of each boot with a little gravel so it does not tip over, then stuff it with fresh pine branches and red winterberry sprigs. Tuck a couple of pine cones on top. Kids love seeing their old boots used again, and it is a fun way to keep a memory instead of tossing them. Red boots are the most cheerful, but yellow or green work too. Whose old boots are sitting in your closet right now?

You will need: A pair of old rain boots, a cup of gravel or small stones, pine branches, winterberry or faux berry sprigs, and pine cones.

How to make it: 1. Pour gravel into each boot for weight. 2. Push the pine branches in first. 3. Add the berry sprigs in front. 4. Top with pine cones and set the boots by the bench leg.

A Cozy Dog Bed Tucked Under the Seat

Your dog loves watching the street as much as you do, so give the family pup a spot of its own under the seat. A round plaid dog bed with a folded fleece blanket looks festive and keeps paws off the cold porch floor. Add a water bowl and a favorite rope toy so the spot feels like home. Bring the bed inside on very cold nights and always let your dog come in when it wants. It is a small touch, but every visitor will smile when they see it. Does your dog have a favorite window to watch from?

You will need: A round dog bed in plaid, a fleece blanket, a water bowl, and a rope toy.

How to make it: 1. Measure the space under the bench. 2. Pick a bed that slides in easily. 3. Fold the blanket on top. 4. Set the bowl and toy beside it.

Christmas Porch Bench Runner Made From a Tartan Scarf

Finish your Christmas Porch Bench with a runner made from a long tartan scarf. Lay it along the seat so the fringed ends hang down over both sides, just like a table runner. Add a little birdhouse and two pine cones on top for a sweet woodland touch. It takes one minute, costs almost nothing if you find the scarf at a thrift store, and ties all the reds and greens together. For more ideas for the rest of the porch, see our Christmas Front Porch Ideas, and read a little history of the porch while your cocoa cools. Which of these will you try first?

You will need: A long tartan or plaid wool scarf, a small wooden birdhouse, and two pine cones.

How to make it: 1. Wipe the seat dry. 2. Lay the scarf down the middle of the seat. 3. Let the fringe hang evenly on both ends. 4. Add the birdhouse and pine cones on top.