16 Christmas Entryway Decorating Ideas From HGTV Magazine
Greet friends and family with extra Christmas cheer. Spread the love to your entryway with these fun decorating ideas.
Related To:

Photo By: Cory Dawson
Photo By: Lisa Romerein
Photo By: Jane Beiles
Photo By: Zach DeSart
Photo By: Lisa Romerein
Photo By: Jane Beiles
Photo By: Dabito
Photo By: Jane Beiles
Photo By: Kim Cornelison
Photo By: David A. Land
Photo By: Adam Albright
Photo By: Susan Handler
Photo By: Jane Beiles
A Very Merry Entryway
Holiday decor doesn't have to stay in the living room. You can welcome family and friends with Christmas cheer as soon as they enter your home! The possibilities for an entryway are plentiful (think fun accessories, sweet handmade signs, festive color palettes) — if not overwhelming — so the holiday pros at HGTV Magazine are going to break it down for you. Ahead, you'll find simple and chic Christmas entryway decor ideas for both inside and outside.
get the how-to: How to DIY a Festive Winter Banner
Glow Up Your Porch
"We like to spread the joy around everywhere," says Jess Milburn, designer and owner of this 3,000 square-foot home in Oak Park, Illinois. To make her exterior entry extra festive, Jess lined the steps up to her front door with red lanterns. Garland and a classic wreath top it all off.
see more: This 1800s Home Has Wall-to-Wall Christmas Cheer
Set Up a Tree
Wow guests with color right when they walk in. “Few things are more aesthetically pleasing than the spectrum of the rainbow,” says Nashville-based organizing expert Clea Shearer of The Home Edit. Playing with different ornament shades and shapes adds to the fun.
see more: Supercool and Colorful Christmas Tree Looks We Love
Glam It Up
Or, wow guests before they even come inside. Here, gold dazzles next to pops of pink. Layer feathery garlands, decorate spray-painted white branches and prop up an inflatable hot pink ornament (hint — mounting putty will help keep it in place). Sparkle all the way to New Year’s.
see more: Our 100 Favorite DIY Christmas Decorating Ideas
Hang Stockings
If your front door opens to a stairwell, use those railings to your advantage. Here, candy-cane-stripe stockings (spaced a few inches apart) are hung with garland. Neutral classics in the living room — deconstructed wing chairs and a linen-blend-upholstered sofa — anchor all the bright.
see more: A Fixer Upper Holiday
Work With What You Have
Your entry may be a year-round workhorse, but that doesn't mean you don't have to forgo fashion for function. Tuck small Christmas accessories like mini presents and holiday cards into trinket organizers. Layer festive pillows on a bench or display prettily wrapped presents on a flat surface. Instant festive-functional.
see more: 21 Wowza Ways These Homeowners Made Their Coronado, California House Awesome
Create a Fun Color Scheme
Try mixing non-traditional colors into your classic Christmas palette. Here homeowner Tauni Everett layered dark red garland and a cheery wreath over the pink front door of her South Jordan, Utah home. "[Our door] stands out against the sage siding, calls attention to our cute front porch and, during the holidays, makes decorations look even better,” she says. (Paint color: Koral Kicks by Sherwin-Williams)
see more: Warm Paint Shade Ideas We Love: Red, Pink, Orange, Yellow and More
Mix Modern and Traditional
Luke Caldwell, host of HGTV's Boise Boys, went with traditional entryway decor for his modern home. The floating concrete staircase is one of his favorite features in the house, so he and his wife Miranda spruced it up for the holidays with cypress garland and black and white bows. Wrapped presents ready to be doled out to extended family do double duty as decor. The cutest decorations of all? Luke's kids, obviously.
see more: Take a Tour of HGTV Star Luke Caldwell's Modern Home
Bring Out the Berries
Take traditional outside with classic Christmas motifs. A sweet berry wreath and berry-filled garland next to a mix of red, white and black buffalo checks looks super fresh and inviting.
see more: 35 Crafty Outdoor Holiday Decorating Ideas
Keep It Simple
With a green or red color palette, an entryway is already halfway dressed for Christmas. “Deep green is not the most obvious choice for an entryway, but I love how dramatic it is while still feeling natural," says Federica Molini, author and curator of Arte Bohème blog. Here, a fluffy white throw placed under a rustic wooden bench was all it took to transform Federica's Miami design from tropical cool to holiday cozy.
see more: Cool Paint Shade Ideas We Love: Blue, Green, Purple and More
Build an Icy Wonderland
Glittery snowflakes, flocked greenery and dashes of icy blue make for a welcoming winter wonderland. And how about some good old-fashioned fun? Vintage-style skis and ice skates show off silvery leaves — so charming.
see more: 75 Festive Holiday Front Porch Decorating Ideas
Balance It Out
It's okay if your entry doesn't lend itself to Christmas decor (e.g. it's smaller or non-traditionally shaped). You can balance out its bareness by giving extra love to an adjacent room — a sitting area, an office or a library. Here, an arched doorway in the foyer leads to a sleek sitting room, featuring a decked-out mantel. Leafy garland and taper candles make the space extra cozy.
see more: A Unique, Neutral-Chic Home Ready for the Holidays
Add a Tartan Twist
Embrace natural textures and poppy patterns on your front porch. Here, inspired by her mom’s fondness for classic plaids and her dad’s love of the outdoors, designer Caitlin Wilson layered Pendleton wool throws on a raw teak bench. A festive oomph, in the form of a mini glammed-up tree, adds a bright touch.
see more: A House That Was Made for the Holidays
Merry Up Your Mudroom
Maybe a mudroom acts as the main entrance to your home. If so, pull out the basics to deck this space out. We mean cool pillows (these snowflake ones are from Arcadia Home) and a cheery doormat (perfect for wiping snowy boots). DIY update: Here, homeowner Kate Arends, author of the Wit & Delight blog, created a cushion topper made from a piece of plywood, a rectangle of foam and festive fabric from JoAnn. More mudroom ideas: show off wrapped presents, sling a cozy throw across a bench, hang a cute DIY sign.
see more: Tour a Calming, Christmas-Ready Home in Minnesota
Get Red-y to Rearrange
Source the furniture you have to create a festive look — it just might take a little rearranging. This barn-red chest normally lives in a family room. Come Christmas, moving pieces like this into an entryway can make space for a tree or larger decorations in other rooms. Here, Susan Handler, author of the Saw Nail and Paint blog, topped off the look with a sweet wreath. "The amaryllis I put on top seems like it was made to match," she says. (Paint color: Fort York Red by Fusion Mineral Paint)
see more: Our 100 Favorite DIY Christmas Decorating Ideas
Go Natural
Start with rustic pieces, like a pinecone wreath and a tree-stump planter. Tie in statement accents — lime green ribbon, a bright color leafy doormat and one adorable white ceramic deer. You get lots of flair … naturally.
see more: 40 Alternative Christmas Trees to Try This Year