A Nutcracker Christmas Porch

For this year’s Holiday Style Challenge, Darnetha Myers, of ChippaSunshine, channeled her love for Christmas and dressed up her front porch using bright, festive colors. We sent her some Home Depot Christmas decorations and challenged Darnetha to create a holiday look that she could share with the world.

Read on to see how Darnetha created this beautiful nutcracker Christmas porch.

A Nutcracker Christmas Porch

Christmas is my very favorite time of the year and I’m always excited to deck the halls for the holidays. Throughout the year my design style is understated and simplistic. However, for the holidays I like to add a bit of whimsy, bright happy colors, festive patterns, and childlike fun, all while sticking to my overall style.

One thing I love about Christmas is twinkle lights. We often take the long way home so we can ride through the neighborhood to see all the pretty lights. Some neighbors go all out and some stick to only the front porch but no matter what, it all brings a smile to our faces. A simple thing as a string of lights, garland, and a wreath can add so much holiday joy for guests, family, or a passerby to see.

Hang Clip Lights

This year Home Depot provided the 2017 Holiday Style Challenge bloggers with a feature item to include in our projects. My feature product was icicle lights. I received a set of LED Light Shooting Star ClipLights Icicle Light Strings and ColorMotion ClipLights Icicle Light Strings.

I must admit it’s a little daunting when you think of climbing a ladder and stringing lights up on your roof. One thing I loved about these lights is the swivel clips that you can gently attach to your roof or gutters at any angle.

We attached the color motion icicle lights around the porch roofline using the clips. The swivel feature allowed us to place each light in a natural downward position. The shooting star icicle lights were added to the bottom ledge of the porch roof. One unique thing about these lights is if you cannot use the chips you have the ability to remove them. After removing all the clips off this set we positioned them into place using 3M Command outdoor light hooks.

Fresh greenery is something I look forward to during the holidays. On my front porch area, I do like to use faux garland and wreaths. The Norway wreath and matching garland have a fresh look with realistic Norway branches mixed in.

Often times when we are out shopping for a wreath or garland we cannot find one that matches our décor or current theme with a ton of plain pre-lit options. Today I will show you how to decorate a wreath and garland with ornaments.

Decorate a Wreath & Garland

---

Materials

• 32 in. Norway Artificial Christmas Wreath
• Pre-Lit Norway Garland
• Ornaments
• Floral Wire
• Wire Cutter

Step 1: Prep the wreath and garland

First make sure lights work. Then shape and fluff your wreath and garland by straightening the tips and bending them to look more natural. Shift tips to fill in any gaps.

Step 2: Attach the Ornaments

Pair bulbs together in groups of two to three and secure them together with floral wire, twist wire near base of ornaments. Make sure you have enough wire to properly secure the bulbs to the wreath and the garland.

Starting on one side of the wreath or garland, evenly disperse ornaments around the wreath or down the center of the garland. Secure pairs of ornaments to the wreath form with floral wire.

Step 3: Evenly Distribute Colors

Take a step back from time to time to see how your wreath or garland looks and to check if your color distribution is even.

Step 4: Show it off

Display your wreath by either hanging it on your front door or over a mantle. Wrap the 12 ft. lengths of garland around porch posts, railing, or around the door frame. Either way it will be beautiful and unique to your style.

When decorating outside with ornaments my tip is to opt for shatterproof ornaments. A great design feature of both the Norway garland and wreath is that it is battery powered meaning no cords to mess with and timed lights.

Finish the Look

To complete my porch, I added a red rolled metal bow to the gable with two nutcracker soldiers flanking the door. The nutcrackers are so much fun and a nod to the play that I love so very much.

I have the lights turn on at dusk. The wreath and garland have a soft steady glow from the twinkle lights. The color motion icicle lights dance with multi-colors almost to a tune. The shooting star lights are so pretty with a white light shooting down each icicle.

No matter your design style or theme I hope you add your festive touch to your home this holiday season. Don’t forget to stop by The Home Depot and shop their holiday decorations to help you add your special touch this holiday season.

For more DIY holiday ideas, see other articles in our Holiday Style Challenge series, and follow our Holiday Style Challenge board on Pinterest.

Visit The Home Depot’s online Holiday Decor Department for more Christmas decor.

The post A Nutcracker Christmas Porch appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

from Roofing Pro http://ift.tt/2zJFMoh

Curated by a professional Roofing Contractor

4 Easy Ways to Decorate A Small Porch for Christmas

This beautiful front porch was styled by Gloribell Lebron of I Don’t Know How She Does It for this year’s Holiday Style Challenge here on The Home Depot Blog. By adding fresh plants and other festive touches, Gloribell transformed her small space with these small porch decorating ideas.

Discover four easy ways you can give your small porch a Christmas makeover this holiday season!

4 Easy Small Porch Decorating Ideas for Christmas

Christmas is that special time of the year where our home gets ready to greet friends and family members. I like to make a welcoming statement by updating the décor of our front porch. Our Miami house was built in 1938 and provides a very modest receiving area for guests, but nonetheless, adding some elements that speak to the season is a must! I had to come up with some inspiring small porch decorating ideas to make the most of our space this season.

Add Greenery

I don’t believe in sacrificing the ambiance of a space because of a limited square footage. My biggest tip when decorating small porches it to add key elements for a special charm and to make the most of the area.

I started by adding two small PVC Bayberry Cedar trees (24 in. and 30 in.) inside pre-aged terracotta pots. The thing that I love the most about these trees (besides being pre-lit) it their Feel-Real branch tip technology. This technology makes them look almost like the real thing.

In other terracotta pots, I placed some plants that were similar to the Bayberry Cedar trees. Because of the cedar leaves, I chose lavender, rosemary and a succulent to decorate my porch. You might be wondering “why these plants?” Well, after Christmas has passed, they can be reused on my patio either as edible plants or simply to decorate my outdoor area. I’m always thinking about repurposing my decor!

Incorporate a Wreath & Garland

From this beautiful 18-in. Antlers adjustable wreath hanger, I placed my 24 in. Carolina pine artificial wreath (with clear lights). The simplicity of this wreath makes it look elegant and refined. I added a beautiful ribbon, some eucalyptus branches, silk flowers and some aluminum houses (see the DIY here) with some battery-operated tea light candles.

I also added the 9-ft. Carolina Pine Garland (also with Clear Lights) to the focal wall of this porch so that it matched the wreath on the door.

Utilize Lanterns

This amazing set of Moonrays Outdoor Metal Contemporary Lanterns were used to enhance the steps of our small porch. I filled them with pinecones and some LED lights inside. Also, some 8 in. and 6 in. shatter-resistant ornaments were placed on the floor to fill in any gaps left.

Snowflakes Light Projector

To wrap this area and to make it even more beautiful at night, I added the White Snowflake Projection Spotlight. This creates a wonderful illusion of a winter wonderland that I know both my daughters and guests will love!

Final Reveal

As you can see, I decorated this area taking into consideration its size and function, but also its style. Keeping the greenery simple and using terracotta pots served to emphasize the period of this house and the vintage bricks on the floor.

Remember that sometimes less is more and simple is always beautiful. Have an amazing holiday!

For more DIY holiday ideas, see other articles in our Holiday Style Challenge series, and follow our Holiday Style Challenge board on Pinterest.

Visit The Home Depot’s online Holiday Decor Department for more small porch decorations ideas.

The post 4 Easy Ways to Decorate A Small Porch for Christmas appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

from Roofing Pro http://ift.tt/2ALXmVq

Curated by a professional Roofing Contractor

Deck Out Your Tabletop for the Holidays

Deck Out Your Holiday Table With These Decor Ideas

The Martha Stewart Living™ holiday collection created three beautiful tablescapes that will add festive cheer to your holiday table. Read on for holiday table decorating tips from Martha Stewart Living.

Artificial greenery adorned with colorful ornaments, warm white lights and ribbon is a cheerful take on the traditional table runner. Small figurines add a whimsical touch to the tabletop scene. Use the figurines as decorations for other areas of your home when the dining table isn’t in use. Our pre-lit garland comes with battery-operated LED lights, so don’t worry about nearby electrical outlets. Find everything you need to create a beautiful tabletop from the Martha Stewart Living™ holiday collection!

Look 1: Merry and Bright

Add small wreaths illuminated with battery-operated lights to bring a soft glow to the table. Ceramic lanterns with joyful sayings and a snowflake design add pops of festive color. Complete the display with ornaments at each place setting.

Look 2: The Fun Kids Table

Young and old alike will be excited to sit at this beautiful kids table! Replace the lanterns with a friendly statuette reminiscent of Frosty and striped, festive candy canes in glass vases. Bright red linen napkins complement the decorations and a bow ornament wraps up the look.

Look 3: Bring the Outdoors In

To get this look, line the center of the table with a pre-lit garland and nestle ornaments into the branches. Then, use ornaments from the same color family or style to create a cohesive look. For something more playful, vary the ornament sizes and shapes. Instead of tapered candles or flowers, add silver reindeer as the centerpieces and anchor the garland with shaved wood tabletop trees sparkling with glitter. Continue the rustic feel with an aromatic sprig of Christmas tree at each seat.

The Martha Stewart Living™ holiday collection is available exclusively at The Home Depot. Shop trees, greenery, ornaments, home décor and more to add festive cheer to your holiday table! Read more holiday posts on The Home Depot Blog to get inspired this season.

The post Deck Out Your Tabletop for the Holidays appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

from Roofing Pro http://ift.tt/2msjDp6

Curated by a professional Roofing Contractor

Traditional Christmas Front Door

This traditional Christmas front door look was styled by Leslie Davis of Deeply Southern Home for this year’s Holiday Style Challenge. We sent Leslie a beautiful 17-ft. garland decorated with mixed pines and burgundy poinsettias and let her do the rest.

Read on to see how Leslie created two DIY planters for her Christmas trees!

Traditional Christmas Front Door

This is my favorite time of year to bring a festive look to the entry!

This year, I decided to flank each side of our Christmas front door with large outdoor trees. These trees come in traditional urns. I wanted to give them a bit more of a festive presence with these clean-lined DIY planters. They also add an extra bit of protection from wind.

DIY Festive Planter Tutorial

I painted the planters a deep red, Glidden California Claret, that coordinated with the oversized garland adorning the arch. The paint color can be customized to your own exterior style and colors.

The DIY planters are super simple builds, except for the addition of a few angle cuts. The good news is I’ve done my best to simplify the build. Even a math adverse person like myself can easily complete this project.

Materials

• 1 2 x 4 Pressure Treated Lumber
• 4 4 x 6 x 6 Premium Treated Picket Fence 
• Box of Spax #10 3 in. Screws
• Fence Brackets to be used as feet ( FB24Z optional)
• Potted Christmas Tree

Tools

• Drill/Driver
• Miter Saw 
• Table Saw (Optional)
• Brad Nail Gun

Step 1: Cut the Boards

Cut the fence boards to fit around the base of the tree planter. Above is a sketch of the finished sizes. Double check to make sure your tree base will fit inside these measurements.

Don’t worry, it’s much easier than it seems. The shapes are basic trapezoids.

Each piece is cut at a 5° angle on a miter saw.

If you have to modify the size of the planter, cut the top of the top board and the bottom of the bottom board so that the difference when subtracted is 3¼ in.

For ease and accuracy, I also kind of cheated for the measurement of the middle.

Once the top and bottom pieces were cut, I set a board in between them with one side cut at the 5° and then used a yardstick to find the other measurement. Easy peasy!

Repeat this for both the back and the two side pieces which are smaller.

Cutting the Boards to Size, Continued

To be sure all of my corresponding pieces are exactly the same size, I cut all of them at the same time. Here’s how I do it.

The board on the top is my first one, another board is lined up perfectly on the far edge. I pull the blade down (not powered) and line the top board with the blade. Once the lower board is secure against the fence and lined, I pull back the top board and cut. Then you end up with boards that are exactly the same.

Cut 2 x 4’s to 16 in. with 5-degree ends. I added the optional fence caps to these 2 x 4’s for extra weatherproofing. The caps elevate the fence boards off the ground so that they can dry faster and not sit on cold damp concrete.

Now that you have six front/backs and six sides and the support 2 x 4’s you are ready to assemble.

Step 2: Side Assembly

Clamp the three smaller side panel fence boards together. Using 3 in. screws, attach the 2 x 4 to panel.

Repeat on the opposite side so that you have two “legs.” It is handy to use an extra 2 x 4 to make sure everything is aligned properly.

Again, repeat these steps for the second side panel. Set aside.

Step 3: Build the Planter

Clamp the larger, front panels together.

Stand the panels up against the side that is on the ground and against the 2 x 4.

For ease of construction, it is helpful to use a brad nailer to hold the panels in place.

Repeat this for what will become the back.

Now you are ready to add the last side.

Nail it in place. With everything initially held in place with the nails, rotate the planter and reinforce with screws.

Add screws to both the front and back. It is helpful to use a ruler to check your spacing from the edge.

Step 4: Sand and finish

Sand each planter for a smoother surface. After painting, I decided to add trim to cover the screws. I had initially thought I might like the more “industrial look.” If that is the style that works for your decor, feel free to skip the trim.

Just like the “legs,” the trim will need to be cut at the 5° angle.

I used scrap fence boards for the trim by cutting them down on a table saw. If you don’t have a table saw you can purchase 1 x 2 material to use for the trim.

Step 5: Add the Tree

Now you are ready to add your tree!

Finish the Look for Your Christmas Front Door

The trees are the perfect accompaniment to the 17-ft. of garland that follows the brick arch of the entry.

The pair of lit wreaths continue the symmetry for a perfectly balanced, welcoming traditional Christmas front door.

For more DIY holiday ideas, see other articles in our Holiday Style Challenge series. Follow our Holiday Style Challenge board on Pinterest.

Visit The Home Depot’s online Holiday Decor Department for more beautiful Christmas front door decorations.

The post Traditional Christmas Front Door appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

from Roofing Pro http://ift.tt/2hBD3WY

Curated by a professional Roofing Contractor