Do you decorate the outside of your house for Christmas? Lights, wreaths, plastic figures and the inflatables?

[debm55]

Last edited Mon Nov 27, 2023, 11:32 PM - Edit history (1)

The day after Thanksgiving, people were decorating in my neighborhood. It looked like a winter wonderland without the snow. I have to admit, when my son was young. we went cheesy with the decorations. Now it is a simple door wreath and some garland. I can't wait to get home and see the Inflatables all over the place. Sometimes simplicity is better.especially when you are older.

[CrispyQ]

1. I hate the inflatables.

I like like lights & lit up trees best.

[debm55]

4. Yes, and in the morning they are flat in the yard until evening when they are

inflated again.

[unweird]

54. We do full inflation 24/7

That flat, deflated look… yeah, no. I don’t like that look either. We had to drop last year for a cold front with wind but respectfully covered them with a tarp while they were deflated. We don’t need iced-up flat plastic dinosaurs on our sidewalk.

[debm55]

55. Good-- See you're from Pittsburgh. So am I . Southern suburbs.

[unweird]

74. Northside here if you get to drive by

We’ll be in full on DINOEL mode this weekend with the Dean Martin Christmas loop playing 10am-8pm. Until the cops come or neighbors show up with pitchforks. Oh and we should have a few more inflatables up by then too. I was hoping for at least a dozen or more and only have ten up so far.

[debm55]

75. Well, The police will come any way, because you are not allowed to block the sidewalk.

[unweird]

78. Sidewalk is still accessible

Neighbor already pointed out I have to leave room for strollers and wheelchairs. So we put up stanchions and chain to hold the dinosaurs closer to the house and allow for foot traffic on the sidewalk.

[debm55]

7. I used to like the lights that looked like ice. Had it buy new ones every year as they would tangle up or get eaten by

creatures. I used to love keeping them up until the end of January. TY

[jimfields33]

24. We put out a huge Santa Claus, raindeer, frosty

But not inflatable. We put up a huge manger with Mary Joseph and Jesus with some plastic animals. A huge north star and angels. And of course lights. It’s beautiful and the neighbors seem to love it.

[debm55]

25. Do you have young kids? I use to do all that when I was younger but no longer young. I have one neighbor, that blasts

Christmas carols every evening. I like carols but I want to call the shots when I have them playing or not. Bah Humbug

[jimfields33]

47. Kids at heart.

And I love Christmas music but don’t have it part of decorating. I think it is horrible for anyone to have to hear anything that is heard at another home. Rude!

[debm55]

61. Nice that you still have the spirit. On Halloween, we had the dueling spooky music from both ends of the street

[MOMFUDSKI]

68. Our neighbor across the street goes gonzo with

the outdoor decor. Actually won the best decor award here on Treasure Island few years back. A bazillion lights and music. I just have to look out the window for all the Christmas I might want. I watched him struggle yesterday trying to put the lights to the top of his palm tree. He is 77 with bad knees. But good on him

[debm55]

72. Yes, I don't want to be climbing ladders anymore. I'm only 68, but don't want to take a chance.

[riversedge]

28. I would never buy the inflatables either. Love the rest and decorate as much as I can.

[debm55]

31. Thank you riveredge

[Ocelot II]

2. Maybe a wreath if I get around to it.

Inflatables are a blight on the landscape.

[debm55]

8. YES!

[zanana1]

113. I'll do you one better.

A wreath and a candle in the front window.

[debm55]

114. I like the simple act of a wreath and candle.

[Phoenix61]

3. I go all out but no inflatables.

Lights on the gutters on the front of the house and lots of yard ornaments. I’m almost out of attic space to store it all so that’s a limiting factor.

[debm55]

11. My house is situated on land where we have a porch that is one story above the ground. and is 8 by 10 in size. Don't get

me wrong--I have an a 8 room house ==three stories high and I would make and put wreaths in all the windows and doors. We had plastic gingerbread family and a house. Because of the height of my house, we never had lights on the gutters except for the porch.

[Fla Dem]

5. Wreath on front door and front windows, candles in the windows, holly swags around the entrance.

Really cut back over what I used to do.

[debm55]

14. yes I do use the window candles. Yes, have cut down. Used to have a different themed tree in every room--8 trees. but

Last edited Tue Nov 28, 2023, 11:20 AM - Edit history (1)

no inflatables.

[Mr.Bill]

6. Not anymore.

I'm too old to climb ladders. I may put some lights in the windows, but that's about it for outdoors visibility.

[debm55]

15. Agree, age has us too. I don't want my husband climbing the ladders for lights.

[vapor2]

9. Have never done lights but had a minion inflatable

last year and the wind all but destroyed it.

[debm55]

16. Sorry,

[GP6971]

10. Lighted wreaths on the front door

and front windows. Been cutting back for years.

[debm55]

17. Thank you.

[sakabatou]

12. Nope.

Just three hanukkiah in the window.

[debm55]

18. Thank you.

[a kennedy]

13. We have two house wreaths, front and back, and my mail box greenery......

that’s it…….we used to do a ton, just can’t do it anymore. I miss decorating, but just can’t do it anymore.
Will do same decorating inside house….just not outside.

[debm55]

19. Agree. I would actually use a personal day from work to decorate.

[sinkingfeeling]

20. Used to hang icicle lights on all 4 of my porches, but not

since I sold that house. Just bought a small inflatable koala bear to sit in my porch swing on my tiny Illinois house. Also have a 3 foot tree.

[debm55]

21. Thank you sinkingfeeling.

[MiniMe]

22. I do a wreath, but don't do much else

[debm55]

23. MiniMe sounds like me. I do the candles in the windows on the first floor only. TY.

[louslobbs]

26. We did our backyard here in Palm Springs with just lights, all solar powered.

We ended up using 8,000 lights placed upon 65 cactus, agave, aloe and Pygmy palms. It ended up looking like a winter wonderland…here’s a picture🎄💕

[debm55]

27. Beautiful and it uses solar power?

[louslobbs]

29. Yes, all solar powered! Just the cost of the lights this year.

They come on around 5:20 and they stay on until around midnight. We love them!

[3catwoman3]

33. How delightful!

I thought I did a lot, putting lights on 27 bushes and trees.

How long does it take to do all that?

[louslobbs]

37. This project took about five hours and I ended up pulling cactus needles out of my fingers

All that evening lol. It was worth it though! Thank you!

[electric_blue68]

45. Ouch! Both areas are lovely.

[louslobbs]

94. Thank you

🙏

[louslobbs]

36. Here's one of the opposite side of the house with the mountains and palm trees.

We’re not religious, just two spiritual guys who love the colorful lights.

[debm55]

39. Wow, that is beautiful. You are both very talented,

[louslobbs]

44. Thank you! He is very talented, but I happily

did this decorating on my own. He did bring me two cups of pumpkin flavored coffee with pumpkin pie creamer lol! When I started the temp outside was about 53 degrees, when I finished, it was 71. The hardest part was stringing between cactus…I can still feel phantom cactus needles in my hands lol. He was great moral support though.

[LoveTheDU]

108. beautiful!!

And I love Palm Springs (not in the summer)
Thank you for sharing this beautiful photo of your decorations accented by the palms and mountains

[mucifer]

30. I bought a light up Menorah for the lobby of my condo. I just wanted me and the other

Jewish woman in the building to feel like it was our home, too. So much Christmas stuff in the lobby.

[debm55]

32. That was very nice of you mucifer.

[CanonRay]

34. Tree inside, also garlands

Lights outside, but nothing worth driving down my street.

[debm55]

35. Remember simplicity is best. You gave me a wonderful idea for a future OP. TY

[OldBaldy1701E]

38. Nope. HOA ruined anything like that. Too many restrictions. (n/t)

[debm55]

40. Even a wreath? Bummer

[OldBaldy1701E]

42. Oh no, we have one of those.

The owner gets one every year from the Scouts. But, it is too much of a hassle to bother with much else thanks to the Gesta... I mean the HOA.

[unweird]

41. DINOEL: Inflatable Xmas Dinos + Dean Martin

I have ten inflatable Christmas dinosaur inflatables up so far crowding the sidewalk in front of our townhouse. We don’t have a front yard so I’m taking up half the sidewalk. I plan to put up a few more when I get another weather box for the plugs. But we won’t be displaying the Hanukkah dinosaur-rabbi inflatable, neighbor feedback was concern for safety.
We also will have the Dean Martin holiday song playlist running on a speaker out front. Or will have by this weekend. We call it DINOEL.

[debm55]

43. OH, whatever floats your boat.

[unweird]

49. They float alright

And room for more!

[debm55]

100. OMG That is so darn funny. You know what? I kinda like it.

[electric_blue68]

46. If I had a house I'd probably do lights, wreaths, garlands, some ornaments. Electric candles in windows....

And 🧡 Luminares lining the walkway.
All this if I was younger as well.

When we visit our cousins in NJ and they drive us back to the town where we can take a bus back to the GWB Bus terminal - we see plenty of 🧡 decorated houses. We love it!

Here in NYC I love it when people decorate their fireescapes! 👍🧡

[Emile]

48. Nope. I have enough to do around here without adding to it.

[debm55]

86. True, very true. TY Emile

[Niagara]

50. I decorated a small amount outside the house this year.

I purchased oversized Christmas tree ornaments from the Dollar General store. The colors that I bought are dark blue, light blue and silver. I hung them on my garden Shepard's hooks and all my Shepard's hook have double hooks.


I was at Ollie's and found multicolored garland. I didn't know it at the time I purchased it, but the garland sparkles in the sunlight. I draped the garland from the top of the Shepard's hooks main poles from top to bottom and secured with zip ties.


It's simple and cute. Better yet, no one had to climb a ladder to place the decor.



This is the first year in over 11 years that I got to put a Christmas Tree that actually sits on the floor. Our previous cat would chew on the tree branches and would vomit the pieces up. For years, we had to place a 3 foot flatback tree on a wall to keep the cat from chewing on the branches.

I'm excited about my tree this year.

[debm55]

63. That's great. I don't like to climb ladders or have my husband do it. I put garland around the porch railing and maybe

if the Dollar Store has it , I use red bows. I buy my fake candles there too. I have a alpine tree for the house--small version,

[Niagara]

81. I'll try to post photos later, Debbie!

You're decorations sound like mine, simple and delightful!


I like it!!

[debm55]

83. Are you getting any snow up there?

[Niagara]

85. It's snowing in my area.

It's not sticking yet ...knock on wood.

I saw vehicles this morning on the 290 that were snow covered.

[electric_blue68]

115. Sounds pretty. 👍

[Niagara]

116. Thank you, electric blue68.

If you can see post numbers, I shared a few photos in post #109.

[MiHale]

51. Used to decorate outside...

not so anymore. Lights around the front window…inside. In the former days we did it for the kids, now the kids do it for their kids.

[debm55]

57. Yes, Now you can enjoy without the hassle

[FalloutShelter]

52. Used to do lots of lights,

But Mr. has back issues, and the string lights are a pain… literally, so I just bought a holiday projector.
I have a lighted wreath on the door and the projector covers the house in snowflakes. Works for me.

[debm55]

80. That sounds very nice,

[woodsprite]

53. No inflatables, but I did just order 2 lighted wireframe deer for the 'front' of our house.

I figured we needed something to go where our Halloween cemetary usually sits. Our house is weird. The true front of our house shows only to our neighbors backyards. You might be able to see it between the houses if you look up the hill. The side with only the garage and short driveway is what shows to the street. We also have lights around our garage door. I always wanted to put up fake trees or some kind of large decoration either side of the garage door (planters in the summer), but so far I haven't won that argument. Gimme time....

[debm55]

73. I used to have those deer- painted white with white lights. Now you got me thinking what I did with them. I like them.

[peacefreak2.0]

56. I have a nice fresh wreath to decorate and

put on my door. My neighbors across the street have a shit ton of stuff on their postage stamp sized lawn. Lighted deer, 7’ Santa, a headless snowman and penguin putting the head on (decapitated snowman) a Santa hanging out of a second story window (B&E Santa). Rather than being annoyed I’m dying to see what the hell they’re going to do next. At least there’s no Christmas buzzard. Yet. 😂🤣😂🤣

[debm55]

60. Give it time, They will find more stuff to put in their yard.

[Bluethroughu]

58. White twinkle lights, wreaths and garland...

But this year I decorated one of the evergreens with colored lights to stand out, and my neighbors texted me to say they loved that.

We live near a tree farm and the owners like when we all decorate, it sets the mood for their customers.

[debm55]

65. I think white twinkle lights are beautiful.

[Bluethroughu]

106. Thank you, me too. Simple is always an easy look.

Happy Holidays.

[Unwind Your Mind]

59. I put the wreath on the door for Thanksgiving

And the potted tree out front has lights on

Other than that, we just do one string of lights across the front under the gutters. Newish ones that look like the multi colored big bulb ones we had when I was a kid.

Those aren’t up yet, this weekend is probably not happening, next weekend for sure!

[debm55]

67. We called them the Charlie Brown Lights, LOL. Be careful putting the lights up.It sounds like it is going to be very

nice.

[doc03]

62. I will take the little tree out of the closet and plug it in. nt

[debm55]

69. doc03---sounds simple and nice.

[MOMFUDSKI]

64. Wreath on the door.

4-ft tree in the house. Santa pillow on the couch. Bah

[debm55]

70. No Bah, It sounds like it will be very nice,

[underpants]

66. Just a wreath outside

Battery powered candle lights in the windows.

Hold it, we do wrap the railings with garland.

[debm55]

71. Your decorations sound like mine. If the Dollar Store has them, I buy red premade bows,

[claudette]

76. No, just a wreath

on the door and artificial candles in the windows.

[debm55]

77. claudette, it sounds very sweet

[claudette]

79. Thanks!

I like to keep it simple but have lots of decorations inside! I love this time of year!

[justaprogressive]

82. More the inside..

I decorate a plain wreath with painted pinecones, ornaments, garland
and 50 fairy lights...and a LARGE red bow at the bottom...then I spotlight
the door from the ground...

[debm55]

84. I really like that justaprogressive. It is so classy TY

[bedazzled]

87. Electric bills in palm beach county are up so much i can't afford lights

Even if i wanted them. I usually don't like to waste energy anyway

[debm55]

88. Look at post #26 they used solar powered lights. It is beautiful if you have the time. I like to look at them. I don't t

[thatcrowwoman]

89. No Christmas decorations, but I light the menorah 🕎 in the front window for 8 nights of Chanukah.

or Hanukkah as my daughter prefers to spell it. December 7-15 this year.

When I was little, I loved watching the Christmas and Chanukah lights return each winter.
Twinkling lights
Shining bright
What wonderful magic is this?

Winter is my favorite season. I love the cold. I dearly love snow. It refreshes the aquifer, and we could use some of that.

Traditions. Everybody’s got some. (Hey, Deb, prompts for future questions here?)
Snow angels, snow people, and snow bears make for fine winter outdoor decorations!
And coming inside after, snickerdoodles with a hot cup of Constant Comment tea, honey optional.

Wishing all of us some joy and delight this winter.
🕊🩵thatcrowwoman

[debm55]

90. I have been trying to forgot to use Holiday instead of Christmas. I am going to be making Latkes during that time. It's

alot of work , but with a side of applesauce and sour cream--well worth it. Honey, you can have the winter. I was in Maine yesterday, back in Boston today. I can't see how they live in that cold. I wrote your prompts down. I"ll be home Thursday. Hubby and I both needed this trip after the summer of my sister and my Dad's death. PS got a new computer. It is still in the box at home. Love ya, Debbie.

[thatcrowwoman]

97. I like a latke, but I love a jelly donut, Israeli-style.🤩

Love you, too, Deb. Glad you got a trip away with your sweetie. Y’all have earned it.
🕊🩵thatcrowwoman

[debm55]

98. A latke--like in one? Heck I eat 2 or 3

[thatcrowwoman]

105. I have been known to consume multiple jelly donuts,

but they’re smaller than what the bakeries around here make.

I like latkes with applesauce, too. My favorite jelly donut is apple cinnamon dusted with cinnamon sugar.
Either way, apples will be enjoyed. 🍏🍎🍏
🕊tcw

[ailsagirl]

91. Never have but...

I have to say my favourite decorations are the small white lights that people put up-- simple but elegant!!

[debm55]

92. Very nice and classy, Thank you, ailsagirl

[beaglelover]

93. 1 lighted wreath on front gate.

[debm55]

95. Very nice, beaglelover. I also love the luminaries going out the driveways to the streets. Like your wreath-sinple yet

classy, TY

[ProfessorGAC]

96. Lights On The Boxwoods

Plus, we light the trellises that hold up the front porch overhang.
Plus, my wife has a couple nutcrackers that sit below the trellises, but they're not lit.
All little white lights. There are, however, a total of over a thousand of those little light.
Good part is I have a timer with a photo eye that turns them on as it gets dark, and turns them off 4, 6, or 8 hours later.
Even though our backyard faces the side street, therefore facing 2 houses' picture windows, it's undecorated.

[debm55]

99. It sounds beautiful, ProfessorGAC

[ProfessorGAC]

102. Not Spectacular, But...

...it shows we're in the spirit.

[debm55]

103. Anything shows the spirit. It doesn't have to have bells that ring, marching band, etc. It's what is your heart.

[Siwsan]

101. Nope. The kidcats would have a field day

And now that the wall to wall carpeting is gone, there'd be no buffer for anything plummeting to the floor.

[debm55]

104. When I had five indoor cats that tore my carpet to shreds ( and the accidents) It's in your heart Siwsan and you are a

very kind and giving person. That's what matters.

[yellowdogintexas]

107. I might get a few things going outside next week;

I am recovering from a nasty cold and do not have much get up and go. The rest of this week will be busy so I will do next week.

We do not do a lot. There are some hedges under our front window and some years I string lights on them; I have lighted wreaths that I rotate from year to year at the front door.

For the past few years we have only put up a small tree. It's pre-lit and the cats are not as interested in it as they are the big one.

[debm55]

110. I hope you are feeling better---that is more important then decorations, If you do, please be careful.

[Niagara]

109. A few photos both indoor and outdoor.

This is the tree that I couldn't display for years due to mischievous cat wanting to chew on the branches.




I have 3 double hooked Shepards hooks that are decorated. No lights. I had solar powered lights displayed at Halloween and I had a problematic string of lights even after I moved it.

[debm55]

111. Love the tree--very festive. And the idea of using the shepherd's hooks is very creative. I have never seen that done

before. Great job.

[Niagara]

112. Thank you, Debbie!

It's simple but it looks delightful.