Santa Sleigh Decor: 13 Porch and Yard Displays That Stop Every Car on the Street
Santa sleigh decor has a way of making grown adults slow down their cars and smile. A big red sleigh on the lawn, a little one full of presents by the front door, or a sleigh glowing on the roofline tells the whole street that Christmas has arrived at your house. It brings back that childhood feeling of listening for bells on Christmas Eve. The good news is that you do not need to buy an expensive sleigh from a garden center. With some plywood, an old chair, a wheelbarrow or even a handful of craft sticks, you can make one that looks like it came straight from the North Pole. Some of these take a weekend, and some take an hour at the kitchen table. Here are the sleigh displays that get people talking, plus tips to make them safe and sturdy all season..
Santa Sleigh Decor That Steals the Show
A sleigh is the one Christmas shape everyone knows at a glance. Put one in the yard and it instantly becomes the star of your display, even if the rest is simple. Pair a big sleigh with a few reindeer, some greenery and warm LED string lights, and the whole house looks like a holiday card. Pick the size that fits your space, from a full lawn sleigh to a tiny tabletop one, and build from there..
You will need: A sleigh project from this list, LED string lights, greenery, stakes or weights for outdoor pieces.
How to make it: 1. Choose one main sleigh for the spot people see first. 2. Add a few supporting pieces like reindeer or wrapped boxes. 3. Light it all with outdoor LED strings on a timer.
Plywood Santa Sleigh Decor With a Reindeer Team
This is the project that went viral. A DIY Santa sleigh display on Facebook pulled in about 142,000 reactions and nearly 100,000 shares. The sleigh is cut from plywood, painted glossy red with gold trim, and set in front of a line of reindeer cutouts. It is big, bold and looks amazing from the street. The cutting is a job for an adult with a jigsaw, but the painting is fun for the whole family. Would your yard have room for the full team?
You will need: Plywood sheets, a jigsaw (adults only), exterior paint in red, gold and brown, stakes, a pencil.
How to make it: 1. Draw the sleigh and reindeer shapes on plywood with a pencil. 2. Have an adult cut them out and sand the edges. 3. Paint, let dry, and stake each piece firmly into the ground.
Pallet Wood Sleigh for the Porch
Pallet boards give a sleigh that warm, rustic farmhouse look. Two curved side pieces, a few boards for the seat and back, and you have a sleigh that fits right on the porch. Fill it with greenery, pine cones and a plaid bow. It does not need to be perfect, because the rough wood is part of the charm. Rustic Santa sleigh decor like this suits farmhouse and cabin style homes best. Have you got a stack of pallets waiting for a project?
You will need: Clean heat treated pallet boards, screws, a drill and saw (adults only), sandpaper, greenery.
How to make it: 1. Have an adult cut two curved sides and several seat boards. 2. Screw the boards between the sides and sand rough spots. 3. Fill with greenery and add a big bow.
Santa Sleigh Decor as a Planter
A small metal or wooden sleigh makes a perfect planter for winter greens. Fill it with a plastic liner, then pack it with evergreen cuttings, red berries, pine cones and a few birch branches. It looks like Santa just dropped off a load of the forest. This kind of Santa sleigh decor lasts all season in cold weather. Will yours sit on the steps or beside the door?
You will need: A small sleigh, a plastic liner or pot, potting soil or floral foam, evergreen, berries, pine cones.
How to make it: 1. Put the liner inside the sleigh and fill it with soil or foam. 2. Push in tall evergreen at the back and shorter pieces at the front. 3. Tuck in berries and pine cones.
An Old Wooden Chair Turned Sleigh
An old wooden chair from a thrift store can become a sweet sleigh. Take off the front legs, add curved wooden runners, and paint it bright red. Drape a plaid blanket over the seat and add a few wrapped gifts. It looks so cute on a porch or in an entry. People will never guess it was a five dollar chair. Upcycled Santa sleigh decor also keeps old furniture out of the landfill. Do you have a wobbly chair you have been meaning to fix?
You will need: An old wooden chair, two curved boards for runners, screws, red paint, a blanket.
How to make it: 1. Have an adult remove the front legs and attach curved runners. 2. Sand and paint the chair red. 3. Add a blanket, gifts and a little greenery.
A Kid Size Sleigh Photo Prop
A small sleigh just big enough for a child to sit in makes the best holiday photo spot. Set it in front of the tree or a wall of greenery, add a blanket, a few gifts and some lights, and you have a mini photo studio. Family and friends will want their picture taken every time they visit. Keep it indoors so it stays dry. A soft rug or faux fur underneath makes the photos even cozier. Who will be the first to pose in it?
You will need: A wooden box or crate, plywood sides, red paint, a cushion, a blanket.
How to make it: 1. Attach curved plywood sides to a sturdy crate. 2. Paint it red and let it dry. 3. Add a cushion and blanket so it is comfy to sit in.
Santa Sleigh Decor Full of Wrapped Gifts
Nothing says Santa is coming like a sleigh overflowing with presents. Wrap empty boxes in weatherproof paper or plastic gift wrap, stack them in the sleigh, and tie them with big bows. Use different sizes so the pile looks full. This is one of the easiest Santa sleigh decor ideas, and it looks wonderful in photos. Just remind the family that these boxes are empty. Are you tempted to peek inside?
You will need: A sleigh, empty boxes, plastic or waterproof gift wrap, packing tape, ribbon.
How to make it: 1. Wrap boxes in waterproof paper and tape the seams well. 2. Stack them from biggest to smallest. 3. Tie on big bows and secure the pile with a hidden zip tie.
Glowing Santa Sleigh Decor in LED Rope Light
A sleigh outline made of LED rope lights glows all night and looks magical from far away. Bend the rope light around a simple wire or wooden frame, add a few reindeer shapes, and set it on the lawn. Keep it on the ground rather than the roof so nobody needs to climb a ladder. Use outdoor rated LED lights and a timer. It is the kind of Santa sleigh decor kids remember for years. Will you go warm white or colorful?
You will need: Outdoor LED rope light, a wire or wood frame, zip ties, stakes, an outdoor timer.
How to make it: 1. Shape a sleigh frame from wire or thin wood. 2. Zip tie the LED rope light along the outline. 3. Stake it into the lawn and plug it into an outdoor timer.
An Old Wheelbarrow Turned Sleigh
An old wheelbarrow already has the right shape. Paint it red, fill it with greenery and a few wrapped boxes, and park it in the yard. It is cheap, it is fast, and it is easy to move around. Add a strand of battery LED lights for evening sparkle. It is a funny, clever twist that makes neighbors laugh. Do you have an old wheelbarrow in the shed?
You will need: An old wheelbarrow, outdoor spray paint (adults, outdoors), greenery, gifts, battery LED lights.
How to make it: 1. Clean the wheelbarrow and have an adult spray paint it red outdoors. 2. Fill the tray with greenery. 3. Add wrapped boxes and battery LED lights.
A Mini Craft Stick Sleigh Centerpiece
Not every sleigh needs to be big. A little sleigh made from craft sticks makes a sweet table centerpiece. Glue sticks into two curved sides, add a seat and fill it with tiny ornaments or candy. It is a great project for a rainy afternoon, and kids can help with the painting. If you love yard displays, our Christmas yard decorations have even more ideas. Spray paint the sticks before gluing if you want a smooth finish. How many little sleighs will you make?
You will need: Craft sticks, wood glue or a glue gun (adults), red paint, small ornaments.
How to make it: 1. Glue sticks side by side to make two sleigh sides and a base. 2. Paint everything red and let it dry. 3. Glue the pieces together and fill with ornaments.
A Vintage Sled Porch Sign
An old wooden sled with metal runners is the cousin of Santa’s sleigh, and it looks perfect leaning by the front door. Add a swag of greenery, a plaid bow and a small wreath, and it is done in ten minutes. Thrift stores and yard sales often have old sleds for a few dollars. This Santa sleigh decor idea also works in a small space. Did you have a sled like this growing up?
You will need: A vintage sled, a greenery swag, a plaid bow, a small wreath, zip ties.
How to make it: 1. Lean the sled upright beside the door. 2. Zip tie a greenery swag across the top. 3. Add the bow and hang a small wreath in the middle.
A Sleigh Window Display
If you live in an apartment or have no yard, put your sleigh in the window. A small sleigh with a few gifts, some fake snow and battery LED lights glows beautifully at night, and passersby can enjoy it too. Add a few paper snowflakes on the glass. It is a cozy way to share the holiday spirit with the street. Window Santa sleigh decor is also safe from wind, rain and snow. What can people see from your front window?
You will need: A small sleigh, little wrapped boxes, faux snow, battery LED lights.
How to make it: 1. Lay faux snow on the windowsill. 2. Set the sleigh in the middle with small gifts. 3. Weave battery LED lights around it and set a timer.
A Tabletop Sleigh With Ornaments
A small decorative sleigh filled with ornaments makes a lovely coffee table or mantel piece. Pick ornaments in two or three colors that match your tree, add a few sprigs of pine and a ribbon, and you are done. It looks rich and polished, but it takes minutes. Swap the ornaments for pine cones after Christmas for a winter look. Indoor Santa sleigh decor like this can come out every year for decades. Which color ornaments would you use?
You will need: A small decorative sleigh, shatterproof ornaments, pine sprigs, ribbon.
How to make it: 1. Lay pine sprigs in the bottom of the sleigh. 2. Pile ornaments on top, largest first. 3. Tie a ribbon to the front as reins.
