Reese Witherspoon Christmas: 20 Southern Porch, Tree and Handmade Gift Ideas Inspired by Her Holidays

Reese Witherspoon Christmas decorating proves a holiday home can feel polished and still handmade. The actor and producer told People that her family likes to decorate the porch with poinsettias, ribbons and garlands, and that she still makes watercolors and cards as gifts, just like she did as a child. Her front door, framed in thick garland with a wreath in the center, got a full feature in Homes and Gardens, and her silver tree with red and white ornaments and bows has been shared all over decor media this fall. She has also admitted that a from scratch gingerbread house turned into an epic disaster. These 20 Reese Witherspoon Christmas ideas are inspired by her holidays, not endorsed by her, and every one can be made on a small budget with craft store basics, thrift finds and a little Mod Podge..

Start Your Reese Witherspoon Christmas at the Front Porch

Reese Witherspoon has said her family likes to decorate the porch with poinsettias, ribbons and garlands, and her own front door was shown framed in thick garland with a wreath in the middle. That simple formula is the heart of the look. Frame the door first, add one big wreath, then line the steps with red plants. If you want to plan the entire entry in one go, browse these front porch Christmas ideas before you shop..

You will need: Faux garland long enough to frame your door, removable adhesive hooks, an evergreen wreath, red velvet ribbon, 6 potted poinsettias.

How to make it: Stick hooks along the door frame and drape the garland over them. Hang the wreath, add a bow and set the poinsettias on the steps in pairs.

Line the Steps With Red Poinsettias

Poinsettias are the first thing she mentions when talking about her porch, and they are the cheapest way to get that bold Southern welcome. Buy plants in matching sizes so the steps look planned, and set them in pairs from the bottom stair up. Poinsettias are tropical and sulk below about 50 degrees, so bring them inside on cold nights and set them back out in the morning. More ideas live in this poinsettia decor roundup.

You will need: 6 to 10 red poinsettias, terracotta pots one size larger, red acrylic paint, Mod Podge Matte, a foam brush, saucers.

How to make it: Paint each pot rim red and seal it with Mod Podge Matte. Drop the nursery pots inside, add saucers and line the steps in pairs.

Wrap the Porch Rail and Columns in Garland and Bows

This Reese Witherspoon Christmas idea works on almost any house with a railing or posts. Swag garland along the top rail, catch it at each post, and cover every catch point with a big red bow. The repetition is what makes it look expensive, so keep every bow the same size all the way across. Faux garland is fine up high because nobody inspects it closely. For more swag shapes, see this garland arch tutorial.

You will need: Faux evergreen garland, zip ties, 2.5 inch red wired ribbon, floral wire, scissors, a tape measure.

How to make it: Measure the rail and add one extra foot per swag. Zip tie the garland at each post, then wire a bow over every tie and fluff the tails.

Hang a Greenery Tree on a Rustic Door

Not every door wants only a round wreath, and a little tree shape adds charm. A flat tree made from evergreen sprigs, twigs and small ornaments gives a farmhouse door the same garland feeling, with a little more personality. Build it on a cardboard triangle so it stays light enough for a removable hook. It also looks great on a gate, a shed or a back door that rarely gets attention. These fabric wreath ideas show more shapes to try.

You will need: Cardboard, faux evergreen sprigs, small red and gold ornaments, twine, hot glue, a removable outdoor hook.

How to make it: Cut a cardboard triangle and glue sprigs from the bottom up, overlapping like shingles. Add ornaments and a twine star, then hang it.

Pull Up a Rocking Chair for a Reese Witherspoon Christmas Porch

A rocking chair says Southern porch faster than any decoration. If you already have one, give it a holiday job with a pillow, a folded throw and a small basket of pinecones beside it. If you do not, thrift stores often sell worn rockers cheaply, and a coat of paint makes them look new. Angle the chair toward the door so it feels like it is waiting for guests. This Christmas porch bench has more seating ideas.

You will need: A rocking chair, outdoor paint in white or black, a weatherproof pillow, a small basket, pinecones.

How to make it: Sand and paint the chair and let it cure overnight. Add the pillow and set the basket of pinecones by one leg.

Fold Plaid Throws and Add Pinecones

Plaid is the friendliest pattern in a Southern holiday home, and it pairs perfectly with red and white. Drape a throw over the rocker, tuck a second one in a basket by the door and scatter a few pinecones and red ornaments nearby. You can even make a no sew throw from fleece in under an hour. For more pattern pairings, browse this plaid Christmas decor.

You will need: Two plaid throws or 2 yards of plaid fleece, sharp scissors, pinecones, a few red ornaments.

How to make it: For a no sew throw, cut 4 inch fringe on all four sides of the fleece. Fold it in thirds and style it with pinecones and ornaments.

Hang Vintage Ice Skates With Greenery

Old skates hung by their laces feel like a winter postcard, even in a warm Southern town. Look for a worn pair at a flea market, tie the laces together and hang them on a door, a post or a hook by the entry. Tuck evergreen sprigs and a bow behind the blades, and cover the blade edges with felt so nobody gets scratched. This vintage sled decor has more vintage finds that work the same way.

You will need: Vintage ice skates, evergreen sprigs, red ribbon, felt pieces, hot glue, a sturdy hook.

How to make it: Glue felt over each blade edge. Knot the laces, slide the greenery behind them, add a bow and hang them from the hook.

Copy the Reese Witherspoon Christmas Silver Tree

Homes and Gardens spotlighted her silver tree with red and white ornaments and bows, and it is one of the easiest looks to copy. A silver tree does the shimmer for you, so you only need two ornament colors. Hang the larger red ornaments deep inside, the striped and white ones near the tips, and finish with lots of small bows. For more metallic ideas, see this silver Christmas decor.

You will need: A silver tinsel tree, 40 to 60 red and white ornaments, 3 yards of red ribbon, a white tree skirt.

How to make it: Hang the large ornaments first, then the small ones. Tie about 25 small bows and clip one into every gap.

Keep the Palette to Red, White and Silver

The reason the Reese Witherspoon Christmas tree looks so crisp is the short color list. Shop your own ornament box first and pull only red, white and silver, then fill the gaps with an inexpensive bulk pack. Mix finishes so it never looks flat: some glitter, some shiny, some matte. Store everything else for next year. This red and white Christmas decor shows more ways to use the same palette.

You will need: Red, white and silver ornaments in mixed finishes, a storage bin, a sorting tray.

How to make it: Sort every ornament by color for your Reese Witherspoon Christmas tree and keep only the three color set. Count it, then buy just enough to fill the gaps.

Paint White Snowflakes on Red Ornaments

She has said she still paints and makes things by hand for the holidays, and painted ornaments are a fun place to start. Plain red ornaments from the dollar store turn into keepsakes with a white paint pen and a little patience. Sketch simple snowflakes or stars, let them dry, then seal with Mod Podge so the paint does not chip. You will find more designs in these hand painted ornaments.

You will need: Plain red ornaments, a white paint pen or acrylic paint, a fine brush, Mod Podge Gloss, a cup to hold each ornament.

How to make it: Paint one side and let it dry in the cup, then paint the other. Brush on a thin coat of Mod Podge Gloss and dry overnight.

Make a Reese Witherspoon Christmas Magnolia Wreath

Magnolia leaves are the signature greenery of the South, with shiny green tops and velvety brown backs. Mixing both sides gives a wreath depth without adding another color. Clip branches from a neighbor’s tree with permission, or buy dried magnolia that lasts for years. A coat of Mod Podge on faded leaves brings back the shine. Pair it with the ideas in this farmhouse Christmas decor for a complete look.

You will need: 30 to 40 magnolia leaves, an 18 inch wire wreath frame, floral wire, pruners, Mod Podge Gloss.

How to make it: Wire the leaves in bundles of three, alternating fronts and backs. Work around the frame in one direction and brush faded leaves with Mod Podge.

Set a Southern Table With Red and White China

Carry the Reese Witherspoon Christmas palette indoors with red and white china and a long runner of magnolia leaves. Transferware turns up at thrift stores all year, and mismatched patterns look charming as long as they share one color. Tie each napkin with a short length of red ribbon and tuck a few small ornaments into the greenery. See this vintage china Christmas decor for more ways to style old dishes.

You will need: Red and white plates, a white tablecloth, magnolia and evergreen stems, red ribbon, small red ornaments.

How to make it: Lay the runner first so it is centered, then set the plates. Tie each napkin with ribbon and add the ornaments last.

Paint Watercolor Christmas Cards Like Reese Does

Reese Witherspoon has said she makes watercolors and cards as gifts, the same way she did as a child. You do not need art lessons for this one. A loose ornament, a sprig of holly or a single tree is enough, and wobbly lines look charming in watercolor. Paint straight onto folded cardstock so the art becomes the card. For a little history first, read about these first American Christmas cards.

You will need: Watercolor paper cards, a basic watercolor set, round brushes in sizes 4 and 8, a jar of water, paper towels.

How to make it: Sketch lightly in pencil, wet the shape, then drop in color and let it bleed. Add berries and leaves once the first layer dries.

Set Up a Little Card Painting Station

The secret to painting a big stack of cards is setting up once and leaving it out. Clear a corner of the kitchen table, tape down a few cards and keep water and towels within reach. Paint the same simple design ten times and each one gets easier and looser. Kids and guests can join in whenever they pass by. For an easy beginner technique, try this one stroke painting.

You will need: A watercolor set, brushes, painter’s tape, a stack of blank cards, two water jars, a towel.

How to make it: Tape the cards in a row. Paint the first layer on all of them, then go back for details while the first ones dry.

Wrap Gifts in Kraft Paper and Greenery

Handmade gifts deserve wrapping that looks handmade too. Plain kraft paper is cheap and lets red ribbon and greenery stand out. Tie each box with baker’s twine, slip a sprig of evergreen under the knot and add a painted tag. It matches the warm, cozy feel of a Southern holiday table and costs very little. More pretty wrapping ideas are in this Martha Stewart gift wrap.

You will need: A kraft paper roll, red and white baker’s twine, evergreen sprigs, scissors, double sided tape.

How to make it: Wrap each gift with tape hidden in the seams. Tie twine twice around, knot it on top and tuck in the evergreen.

Paint Your Own Watercolor Gift Tags

If a full card feels like too much, start with tags. Blank kraft tags take watercolor and paint pens well, and you can make thirty in one sitting. Paint a tiny ornament, a holly leaf or a red bow, then brush on Mod Podge Matte to protect the art from smudges. They also make sweet keepsakes to hang on the tree afterward. Find more styles in these DIY gift tags.

You will need: Blank kraft tags, watercolors or acrylics, a fine brush, Mod Podge Matte, red twine.

How to make it: Paint the design and let it dry. Seal with a thin coat of Mod Podge Matte and thread twine through the top.

Tie Every Package With Gingham Ribbon

Red gingham is pure Southern charm, and it ties the porch, the tree and the gifts together. Wrap a simple box, layer a strip of white lace around it and finish with a big gingham bow. Add a red heart or ornament tag for a personal touch. Buy gingham by the spool so you have enough for jars, napkins and the tree. More packaging ideas are in this gift packaging roundup.

You will need: Red gingham ribbon, white lace trim, kraft or white paper, a small red tag, hot glue.

How to make it: Wrap the box and glue lace around the middle. Tie the gingham over it and fluff the loops.

A Jar of Memories Is the Sweetest Reese Witherspoon Christmas Gift

She has shared that one of her kids gave her a jar of memories and compliments, and another gave her five letters to open over a year. It is one of the sweetest Reese Witherspoon Christmas ideas because it costs almost nothing. Write short memories on small pieces of colored paper, fold them and fill a jar. Add a blank tag and a bow. Browse these sentimental Christmas gifts for more heartfelt ideas.

You will need: A mason jar, red, white and kraft paper, a pen, gingham ribbon, a kraft tag.

How to make it: Cut paper into 1 by 4 inch pieces and write one memory on each. Fold or roll them, fill the jar and tie on the ribbon.

Laugh Off the Gingerbread House That Falls Apart

Reese has admitted that her from scratch gingerbread house was an epic disaster that simply collapsed, so her family now uses a kit. That honesty is the best part of a Reese Witherspoon Christmas: perfect is not the point. If your walls cave in, take a funny photo, laugh and move on to the kit. For more gingerbread decor that never falls down, try this gingerbread Christmas decor.

You will need: A gingerbread kit, extra royal icing, a few cans to prop the walls, a serving board.

How to make it: Build the walls against the cans and let the icing set for an hour. Add the roof, then remove the props.

End Your Reese Witherspoon Christmas With a Kit House Tradition

A kit turns gingerbread into a relaxed afternoon instead of an engineering test. Set out bowls of candy, give everyone a piping bag and let each person decorate one wall. Display the finished house on a cake stand with cookie trees and a dusting of powdered sugar snow. It quickly becomes the centerpiece everyone remembers. For more decorating ideas from famous homes, see these celebrity Christmas trees.

You will need: A gingerbread house kit, extra candy, piping bags, a cake stand, powdered sugar.

How to make it: Assemble the kit and let it set. Decorate one wall at a time, then sift powdered sugar around the base.