Lighting experts reveal how to light a porch for Christmas – 5 tips from expert designers

A well-lit porch is the perfect way to welcome guests to your home this Christmas. It establishes a cozy Christmas feel before anyone has even set foot in your home.

However, it can be easy to get your porch lighting wrong. Too dim and your home won't feel welcoming, too bright and it can ruin your privacy.

I spoke to lighting experts about the best ways to light a porch to welcome guests to your home this Christmas, and they gave me 5 insider tips to create the perfect festive porch lighting.

Light-up wreaths and garlands

A wreath is a classic way of welcoming guests, but you can elevate the look with a light-up wreath. You can find light-up garlands, too. These are an efficient way of creating decor and light in one go. Rather than just using string lights, light-up wreaths and garlands create greenery and light, making for a cozy porch. Christmas lighting expert Patricia Derpinski says 'Garlands, wreaths, and other natural touches soften the look and make everything feel more inviting. '

They're versatile options, too. You don't just need to use a wreath on your door, but you can also place it on a wall or over a railing. Garlands are usually placed around the front door, but you can also wind them around pillars or railings to introduce some greenery. They're easy to find - you can get a lit wreath and garland set at Pottery Barn, for example, most major retailers offer similar products. Alternatively, you can make your own wreath and weave in some string lights for a similar effect.

Just make sure your wreath has proper weatherproofing. Outdoor lights should be at least IP55 rated so that they can stand up to a little wind and rain. On top of that, just like Christmas lights, it's good to find a wreath with a timer or a remote control to make it easier to run.

Patricia Derpinski

Patricia Derpinski is the lead designer at Hudson Holiday Decor, transforming homes, businesses, and events into magical festive landscapes.

With over 25 years of experience, Patricia’s work spans luxury residences, upscale office spaces, and elite commercial properties, where she creates awe-inspiring holiday experiences that perfectly reflect the unique personality of each client.

Icicle lights

Icicle lights are a classic for a reason. These lights hang down in strands and bring texture as well as light. Rather than played-out string lights strung across a wall, icicle lights create visual interest. They envelop the porch and create a cozy, safe space separate from the world.

Best of all, they subtly evoke icicles and falling snow, so they're festive without being too obvious.

A mistake many people make with their icicle lights, however, is buying sets with thick wires. If the wire is too obvious and heavy it will weigh the lights down and they'll look sparse and limp. If you can, try and use icicle lights like these at Amazon - they're thin and light, so you get the lighting effect without obvious wires.

Lights in front door trees

Trees on porches offer a great way of introducing some lighting, and you have a lot of options. You can go the classic route and use some string lights here. For efficiency, try net lights, which are much faster to set up and take down than string lights. You can just throw the whole net over the tree or shrub in one go.

However, you could also try some dramatic uplighting. You don't need anything fancy - even cheap spotlights like these from Walmart will do the trick. Place the spotlights at the base of the tree and light it up from underneath. It's the perfect way to create festive lighting without resorting to overt Christmas lighting.

Candles and lanterns

You won't want to use these for practical lighting, and they'd be too much hassle for every day use. However, candles can be a great way to create a cozy vibe this Christmas. A porch is a great place for a traditional lantern because it's sheltered from the wind, so your candles won't blow out.

The best spots are on the steps up to the porch or the doorstep. Keeping the candles on the flat ground makes them harder to knock over and reduces the fire risk, and it's a great way to make your lighting more cohesive. If you have icicle lights in the eaves, the light is all coming from overhead, but candles on the steps can balance out the look.

Decorate your sconces

A final clever way to create Christmassy lighting isn't to introduce any lighting at all. If you have sconces or ceiling lights, adding some Christmas decor is the perfect way to invent cozy, welcoming lighting. Some bows or garlands around your sconces can make your everyday practical lighting much prettier.

A porch isn't the only place to light over the holidays. Learning how to light a garden path for Christmas is a crucial part of nailing your outdoor Christmas lighting. On top of that, stay away from harsh-toned lights - lighting designers taught me that this is one of the easiest ways to avoid tacky Christmas lighting.