Winter Porch Decor: 14 Cozy Cheap Ideas That Keep Your Front Steps Pretty Until Spring
Winter Porch Decor is the secret to a front door that still feels warm and welcoming once the holiday lights come down. Every January the same thing happens: the Christmas boxes go back to the attic, and the porch suddenly looks bare and a little sad. It does not have to be that way. With a few evergreen branches, some birch logs, a pair of old snowshoes and a cozy wool blanket, your front steps can look fresh and inviting all the way to the first spring tulips. Below are 14 easy ideas with simple supply lists and steps, most of them made from yard clippings, thrift store finds and things already sitting in your garage. None of them shout Christmas, so you can leave them up for months. Pull on your warmest mittens and let’s step outside..
Winter Porch Decor Starts With Evergreen Urns and Birch Poles
If you only change one thing about your Winter Porch Decor this year, fill your summer urns with evergreens and tall birch poles. They look fresh in the snow, they cost almost nothing if you trim your own shrubs, and they stay pretty for months in the cold. Add a stack of birch logs and a bench with a plaid wool blanket and your front door looks like a cozy mountain lodge. It feels calm and clean after all the holiday sparkle. Which corner of your porch would you start with..
You will need: Two large urns or planters, a bag of potting soil or sand, fresh evergreen cuttings like pine, cedar and fir, three to five birch poles per urn, a few big pine cones and pruning shears.
How to make it: 1. Fill each urn with damp soil or sand and pack it firmly. 2. Push the birch poles into the center first, then tuck evergreen cuttings all around the edge so they spill over. 3. Wedge pine cones between the branches and water the soil lightly so it freezes and holds everything in place.
Crossed Snowshoes Instead of a Wreath
Once the Christmas wreath comes down, the door can look empty. A pair of old wooden snowshoes crossed in an X fills that space with rustic charm and says winter without saying holiday. Thrift stores, garage sales and online marketplaces often have them for a few dollars. Tie them together with a cream wool ribbon and tuck a sprig of cedar and two pine cones at the center. Hang them on a sturdy over the door hook. Guests always ask where you found them. Do you have an old pair hiding in the garage?
You will need: A pair of vintage wooden snowshoes, a wide cream wool or felt ribbon, a small bundle of cedar or pine, two pine cones, floral wire and a heavy duty over the door hook.
How to make it: 1. Cross the snowshoes in an X and wire them together where they meet. 2. Wire the cedar sprig and pine cones over the join, then tie the ribbon in a big bow to hide the wire. 3. Hang them on the door hook and check that the door still closes easily.
Old Ski Porch Bench
Old wooden skis are easy to find at ski swaps and thrift shops, and they make one of the most charming benches you will ever see. The skis become the seat and the backrest, screwed onto a simple wooden frame. The curved tips at the top look playful and instantly say mountain cabin. Paint the frame white or leave it natural, and throw a grey wool blanket over one end. It gives visitors a spot to sit while they pull off snowy boots, and it pairs nicely with our winter entryway ideas just inside the door. What colors are the skis you can find?
You will need: Four to six old wooden skis, a simple wooden bench frame or two sawhorse style legs, outdoor wood screws, sandpaper, clear outdoor sealer and a drill and saw used by an adult.
How to make it: 1. Sand the skis lightly and seal them with clear outdoor sealer. 2. With an adult using the saw and drill, build or buy a simple frame and screw three skis across the seat and two up the back. 3. Check every screw is tight and the bench does not wobble before anyone sits on it.
Winter Porch Decor With Living Spruce Trees in Burlap
Living trees are the smartest Winter Porch Decor you can buy, because they keep giving long after the season ends. Dwarf Alberta spruce trees in plain pots look neat and green in the snow, and once spring arrives you can plant them in the yard. Wrap each pot in natural burlap and tie it with jute for a soft, cozy look. Set one on each side of the steps and the whole entrance feels balanced. Garden centers often mark them down right after the holidays. Where would you plant yours in spring?
You will need: Two small dwarf Alberta spruce trees in pots, two squares of natural burlap, jute twine, scissors and a little potting soil to top up the pots.
How to make it: 1. Water the trees well, then let the pots drain. 2. Set each pot in the center of a burlap square, pull the fabric up around it and tie it with jute. 3. Place the trees by the steps and water them on mild days when the soil is not frozen.
Red Twig Dogwood Window Box
Summer window boxes often sit empty all winter, but they are the perfect frame for a splash of color. Bright red twig dogwood stems stand up straight and glow against snow and white siding. Tuck fresh evergreen branches around them, add a few glossy magnolia leaves and finish with big pine cones. Everything stays fresh in the cold for weeks. If you have a dogwood shrub in the yard, trim a few stems and it costs nothing at all. Would you choose red stems or yellow ones?
You will need: Your empty window box with its old soil, a bundle of red twig dogwood stems, evergreen cuttings, a few magnolia leaf stems, large pine cones and pruning shears.
How to make it: 1. Loosen the old soil in the box and water it so it is damp. 2. Push the dogwood stems in along the back, then fill the front with evergreen cuttings that hang over the edge. 3. Tuck magnolia leaves and pine cones in the gaps and let the soil freeze to hold it all.
Birch Log Holder From an Old Crate
A neat stack of birch logs looks clean and bright beside a front door, and an old wooden fruit crate makes the perfect holder. The white bark pops against dark doors and grey siding, and it pairs with everything from plaid to plain white. Stack the logs tightly so they stay put in the wind, then add a few pine cones and a sprig of evergreen on top. These logs are just for looks, so they last for years. Craft stores sell bundles, or ask a friend who is clearing trees. Would yours sit by the door or on the steps?
You will need: An old wooden fruit crate or apple box, eight to twelve short birch logs, a few pine cones, a sprig of evergreen and clear outdoor sealer for the crate.
How to make it: 1. Seal the crate with clear outdoor sealer and let it dry. 2. Stack the birch logs inside, biggest on the bottom, so they sit tight and level. 3. Set pine cones and the evergreen sprig on top and place the crate near the door.
Winter Porch Decor Idea: A Cedar and Pinecone Door Swag
A teardrop swag is the grown up cousin of the wreath, and it is perfect Winter Porch Decor because it looks wintry and woodsy rather than festive. Layer long branches of cedar, white pine and juniper so they hang down like a waterfall, then wire on clusters of pine cones. A cream wool bow at the top keeps it soft and simple. Fresh greens last for weeks outdoors in cold weather. You can make one in half an hour with clippings from the yard. Which greens grow near your home?
You will need: Long branches of cedar, white pine and juniper, a few pine cones, green floral wire, a cream wool or felt ribbon, pruning shears and a door hook.
How to make it: 1. Lay the longest branches flat, then stack shorter ones on top so the shape narrows at the top like a teardrop. 2. Wrap the stems tightly with floral wire and wire on clusters of pine cones. 3. Tie the bow over the wired stems and hang the swag on the door hook.
Wool Mitten Garland on the Railing
Every family has a basket of single mittens whose partners vanished long ago. Here is a happy way to use them. String a length of jute twine along the porch railing and clip the mittens on with wooden clothespins in a cheerful row. Mix colors and patterns so it looks playful, like a little winter clothesline. Kids love helping and it makes neighbors smile on gray days. When spring comes, wash the mittens and pack them away for next year. How many lonely mittens are hiding in your house?
You will need: Eight to twelve odd knitted mittens, a long piece of thick jute twine, wooden clothespins and two small hooks or ties for the ends.
How to make it: 1. Tie one end of the twine to the railing post and stretch it along the rail. 2. Clip the mittens on with clothespins, leaving a little space between each. 3. Tie off the other end and pull the twine snug so the mittens do not blow off.
Sweater Wrapped Flower Pots
Old sweaters that are too worn to wear make the coziest pot covers. Cut the sleeves or the body into tubes, slide them over plain terracotta pots and fold the top edge down like a turtleneck. Plant a small round boxwood in each pot and line them up on the steps. The cable knit texture looks so warm and inviting in the snow. A thrift store sweater costs a dollar or two. This is one of those ideas that makes guests stop and touch it. Which old sweater would you sacrifice?
You will need: Two or three old cable knit sweaters, three terracotta pots, three small boxwood plants, potting soil, scissors and a few stitches of yarn or fabric glue for the cut edges.
How to make it: 1. Cut a tube from each sweater a little taller than the pot. 2. Slide it over the pot, fold the top down and secure the cut edge with a few stitches or fabric glue. 3. Plant a boxwood in each pot and set them on the steps where they will not tip.
Porch Swing Winter Nest
Most porch swings get ignored once it turns cold, but a few soft layers turn them into the coziest spot outside. Lay a cream faux sheepskin over the seat, drape a chunky knit blanket over the back and add two plaid wool pillows. On sunny winter afternoons it is lovely to sit outside with a hot drink and watch the snow. Keep a wooden storage chest beside the swing so the textiles can go inside it on wet days. It feels like a little ski lodge right at home. Would you sit out here on a snowy morning?
You will need: A faux sheepskin throw, a chunky knit blanket, two plaid wool pillows and a wooden storage chest or a deck box with a lid.
How to make it: 1. Brush off the swing and lay the faux sheepskin across the seat. 2. Drape the knit blanket over the back and set the pillows at each end. 3. Fold everything into the chest on rainy or very snowy days so it stays dry.
Winter Porch Decor With Wooden Snowflakes on the Wall
Big wooden snowflakes are one of the cheapest Winter Porch Decor crafts you can make, and they stay up happily until March. Glue white painted craft sticks and paint stirring sticks into star shapes, adding small pieces at the tips for a lacy look. Hang three or four in different sizes on the siding beside a window or above a bench. They look striking against dark walls and soft against white ones. Hardware stores often give paint sticks away for free. How many snowflakes would you hang?
You will need: Free paint stirring sticks, jumbo craft sticks, wood glue, white outdoor paint, clear outdoor sealer, sawtooth hangers and small outdoor nails.
How to make it: 1. Glue three paint sticks across each other at the center to make a six point star and let it dry. 2. Glue short craft stick pieces onto each arm to form little V shapes. 3. Paint it white, seal it and add a hanger to the back.
Vintage Milk Can of Winter Branches
A vintage milk can has a lovely farmhouse feel, and filled with tall winter branches it becomes a striking piece by the front steps. Mix red winterberry twigs for color, curly willow for movement and fresh pine boughs for green. The tall shape means you need only a few stems to make a big statement. Look for milk cans at flea markets or farm sales, or use a tall galvanized bucket instead. Put a few stones in the bottom so it stays steady in the wind. Which branches can you snip from your own yard?
You will need: A vintage milk can or tall galvanized bucket, a few heavy stones, red winterberry branches, curly willow stems, fresh pine boughs and pruning shears.
How to make it: 1. Drop the stones into the bottom of the can for weight. 2. Add the tallest curly willow stems first, then the winterberry branches. 3. Tuck pine boughs around the rim so they spill over the edge.
Winter Porch Decor in Evergreen Hanging Baskets
When the summer ferns are gone, the empty hooks along the porch beams are waiting for some Winter Porch Decor. Refill the old hanging baskets with fresh evergreen cuttings, cedar, pine cones and sprigs of red berries. Because they are up high, they catch the eye from the street and frame the whole porch. The soil from summer holds the stems in place, and the cold keeps everything fresh. Faux berry sprigs work fine and last longer. It is a two minute job per basket. Do you still have last summer’s baskets?
You will need: Old hanging baskets with their soil, fresh evergreen and cedar cuttings, small pine cones, red berry sprigs and floral wire.
How to make it: 1. Water the old soil so it is damp and easy to push stems into. 2. Push longer cuttings in around the edge so they hang down, then shorter ones in the middle. 3. Wire the pine cones onto stems and tuck in the berries before hanging the baskets back up.
Winter Porch Decor That Ends With Wooden Deer Silhouettes
Finish your Winter Porch Decor with a pair of simple wooden deer standing in the snow beside the steps. Painted white, they look graceful and calm, almost like real deer stopped for a visit. Trace a buck and a doe from a free outline onto plywood and have an adult cut them out. A stake on the back holds them steady. They suit the whole season, not just the holidays, and right now searches for winter porch ideas are rising fast on Google Trends, so you are right on trend. Would you paint yours white or leave them natural wood?
You will need: Half a sheet of exterior plywood, a printed deer outline, a jigsaw used by an adult, sandpaper, white outdoor paint, clear outdoor sealer, wood screws and two wooden stakes.
How to make it: 1. Trace the outlines onto the plywood and have an adult cut them out with the jigsaw. 2. Sand the edges, paint both sides white and seal them. 3. Screw a stake to the back of each deer and push them firmly into the ground beside the porch.
