Looking for christmas porch light ideas that go beyond a strand around the door? Glowing stars, little trees and bright blue garlands give you plenty to choose from.
These pictures include porch lighting, nearby yard displays and a couple of unlit decorations to pair with your lights.
You can keep things simple with one lantern or go all out with a glowing entryway. I especially love the stars hanging above the chairs! For your own setup, choose outdoor-rated lighting and keep steps and walkways clear.
Christmas lighting ideas for your porch and entryway
glowing steps and green garlands
We’re starting off strong with these gorgeous light-lined steps. I love how the little bulbs run beneath each stair edge, with more lights tucked into the garlands along the railings.
Keep the doorway simple with two small trees and a red-bow wreath if you want to follow this look.
red bows around the door
How cute is this doorway? The big red bows and red, white and gold-colored ornaments make the lighted garland look extra festive.
Try a tall black lantern on either side to finish the arrangement. The glowing tree visible through the open doors is such a pretty extra detail.
a little tree in a tall urn
If you’re looking for something without lots of ornaments, this one is for you. A little tree covered in golden lights sits in a tall gray urn, with pinecones and rounded stones arranged around the base.
I’d leave the branches just like this. They don’t need a bow or a topper.
a tabletop lantern
Don’t want to decorate the whole porch? No problem!
This brown-framed lantern with a glowing pillar candle makes a lovely little table display.
For your own version, choose an outdoor-rated flameless candle. The rope handle is a cute detail to look for.
icicle lights and wrapped columns
I am obsessed with the greenery spiraling around these white columns. The short strands of icicle lights hanging below the porch roof are so pretty beside it.
If you want to go a step further, add lighted reindeer beside the porch like the ones here.
big colorful bulbs
The color lovers are going to love this! Red, green, blue and yellow bulbs hang in a loose curve across the snowy scene.
This close-up is all about the lights rather than a decorated porch. Try the same colorful bulb style along your porch railing if you want something brighter than an all-white strand.
red flowers and gold ornaments
How gorgeous is this wreath? The red poinsettia-style flowers, dark baubles and ribbed gold-colored ornaments look so pretty against the black door.
There aren’t visible lights on this wreath, so save it as a decoration to pair with your lighting rather than a lighted-wreath example. I’d choose a golden glow nearby to go with those ornaments.
trees beside the steps
This may just be one of my favorite entrances here. I love the different heights of the lighted trees, especially the tall one beside the steps.
The wreaths and overhead strands carry the same golden color across the porch. Skip the colorful ornaments if you want to keep this look just as simple.
a sparkling doorway and lanterns
If you are looking for lots of sparkle, then this one is for you. Tiny lights fill the narrow windows beside the door and continue around the arched window above.
The large floor lanterns are my favorite part. Group yours beside the greenery while leaving the middle of the entrance open.
stars above the chairs
I am obsessed with these hanging stars. They’re so pretty above the two chairs, plus the teal door looks gorgeous behind them.
Try hanging outdoor-rated star lights at different heights to follow this arrangement. A simple strand along the railing is all I’d add.
a sleigh with red plaid
How adorable is this little sleigh display? The red plaid throw, ribbon-tied gift and pinecone-filled greenery make such a cute combination.
This is another decorating reference rather than a visible lighting setup. To bring it into your porch light plans, you could place an outdoor-rated lantern beside the sleigh.
glowing gift boxes
Bring the lights beyond your porch with these glowing presents. I love the big red, gold and silver-colored bows against the bright white boxes.
They’re spread across the lawn here. For a smaller version, try a few lighted gift decorations beside your entry rather than across the whole yard.
tiny lights around white columns
Don’t want to cover your columns in greenery? No problem there! Try strands of little lights wrapped around them instead.
I love that you can still see the white columns between the strands. The lighted greenery stays up along the porch roof in this version.
candy canes along the path
How cute are these oversized candy canes? The red-and-white stripes look lovely with the tan bows and little bunches of greenery.
The lights sit among the greenery around them rather than inside the candy canes. Keep that mix if you want a decorated path leading up to your porch.
a big wreath and window glow
If you like a simpler house display, save this one. A large lighted wreath hangs between the windows, with little glowing trees along the front of the house.
This view shows more of the house than the porch. The candle-style lights in the windows are a lovely detail to repeat near your own entrance.
bulb strands over the seating
Don’t want lights that only work visually for Christmas? These swooping bulb strands are a pretty starting point. I love how they hang above the seating without covering the open side of the porch.
There aren’t Christmas decorations here. You could add a wreath or a small decorated tree to give this setup a holiday look.
a reindeer outlined in lights
This reindeer is just too cute. Little golden lights follow its tall antlers, back and legs, with the porch wreath glowing behind it.
Choose a slatted reindeer decoration if you like this look. I’d place it beside the path rather than directly in front of the steps.
jars full of little lights
I love these jars filled with tiny golden lights. The black stands lift some higher than others, so you can see each glowing jar.
For your own version, use outdoor-rated jar lights on a stable surface beside the steps. Keep the actual stair treads free rather than copying the placement shown here.
big red merry letters
Let the decorations do the talking with these big red MERRY letters. The little bulbs around each letter are so cute against the snowy background.
There’s already lighted greenery around the house, but the red lettering gives this display something different. I’d keep other nearby decorations simple.
blue lights and a glowing tree
Last but definitely not least, we have this bright blue porch. I am obsessed with the lighted bare-branch tree!
The blue garlands frame the entrance from the columns all the way across the top.
The little cone-shaped trees and lanterns continue the color beside the door. Try blue strands instead of golden ones if you want this icy-looking glow.