Welcome Home Tour, 12 Days of Christmas, Day 9, Front Porch Decor

I was hoping I could make that title a little longer, but sorry, that is as long as it gets.  Today you are in for a special 12 Days of Christmas post because Day 9 not only shares lots of ideas for your front porch, but I am also participating in a Welcome Home Tour with other bloggers, so be sure to visit the other links at the bottom of the page.

On the ninth day of Christmas

Beyond The Picket Fence gave to me

A front porch that is as cute and cozy as can be.

So let me start by saying that this past summer I completely redid my front porch decor.  You can see the details of the makeover HERE 

and while I loved it for summer and fall, these colors weren't going to cut it for Christmas.  So all that decor, which had been emptied of its flowers long ago, went into storage and new things replaced it.  I started by replacing the plant shelf by the front door with my red ladder.

This ladder I acquired years and years ago by saving it from a friend's dump pile.  Last Christmas is was inside--you can see it HERE.

A dear friend recently borrowed it holiday photo shoots and when she returned I set it on the porch.  I decide it would work perfectly in place of the plant shelf.  I added a chalkboard to it,

an adorable vintage mailbox tied with a ribbon, 

a red striped box with candy canes for visitors, and fresh greenery.  

Speaking of fresh greens, I made a fresh garland for the first time ever.  I am very happy it with it.  You simply wrap wire,and wrap wire, and wrap wire until you get the fullness and look you want.  I then added some PLASTIC Christmas balls (I used glass at first and after breaking 3 decide I better go for the plastic ones).

I love the fresh smell of the pine boughs as we come home.  I also have the scrap wood wreath that was my Day 3 project this year (tutorial HERE) hanging on my front door

and a milk box with a small tree in it by the front door.

Looking from my front door to the other end of my porch is my loveseat with a thrift store, holey, but still warm wool blanket, an old window, and a cute Frosty Popcorn can with ice melt in it.

I used ornaments hung with baker's twine to dress up the window.

I added a few flannel shirt pillows (from last fall) on the chairs under the front window,

and an old pop crate filled with the last of my fresh greens and some antlers with ornaments on the table.

Under the table, the fabric covered lid for the ottoman has been stored, and filled the crate with pine boughs in a metal bucket and a rusty wheel.

A chalkboard that I painted a Montana outline on (it looks a little skewed in this photo, but is normal in real life) got a winter sentiment.

One more touch I love to do every year is to add thrift store ornaments to my bird bath and this year, my mailbox.  They are bright and festive and look so pretty when a light dusting of snow fall on them.  

Don't get me wrong, I will be enjoying my porch decor mostly from the indoors because it is too darn cold, but I hope the Christmas decorations and cozy atmosphere will welcome friends and neighbors. And hopefully there are some ideas here you can use!

Now it is time to visit all of the other homes on the tour:  Enjoy!

Monday

All Things Heart and Home , Restoration Redoux , Sweet Pea

Tuesday

Girl in the Garage , Setting for Four , What Meegan Makes , Cedar Hill Farmhouse , Simply Fresh Vintage

Wednesday

Confessions of a Serial DIYer , Shabby Art Boutique , Mrs. Hines' Class , Our Southern Home

Thursday

White Lace Cottage, Artsy Chicks Rule , Fresh Idea Studio, Post Cards From the Ridge , Petticoat Junktion

Friday

Beyond the Picket Fence , House on the Way, Lilacs and Longhorns, Serendipity Refined, Unskinny Boppy

Linking up at FUNKY JUNK INTERIORS