Outdoor Christmas Lawn Decorating Ideas (No Ladder Required)
Last Christmas, our entire family was hit with a virus, and we had to forgo our holiday gatherings with extended family. The kids were so disappointed, as were Robert and me.
So we donned our festive pajamas, made to-go cups of hot cocoa, cranked up the Christmas carols, and drove around to enjoy an impromptu holiday light tour. It was the perfect free, no-contact way to cheer us up on our lonelier-than-usual Christmas Eve.
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That special memory along with our new front door makeover were two big reasons why Robert and I wanted to install outdoor Christmas decor. (We’ve spent 8 Christmases in this house, and this is the first time we’ve ever done lights… that’s a crime, really.)
Outdoor Christmas Lawn Ideas That Don’t Require a Ladder
We really didn’t feel comfortable climbing two stories on a ladder to hang lights from our roof. And we really didn’t want to spend $1,000 to hire a holiday light hanging contractor.
So we used outdoor holiday light displays and some decorating hacks that considered our aversion of heights.
Related: Limewashed Brick Exterior Makeover
If you want some outdoor Christmas decor ideas using lighted displays, here are some no-ladder-required Christmas yard decorations you can easily install yourself.
1. Front Door Garland & Tree Set
I can’t get over how great of a deal this front door Christmas decor set is with pre-lit garland, two mini trees in urns, and a wreath.
Because our door is so large with the transom and sidelights, I did have to beef up the garland with 2 extra pre-lit garland strands. The extra garlands I bought can switch between white or multicolored lights, if you like having the option for both.
Related: How to Make Fake Garland Look Real
2. Lit Twig Trees
These lighted twig trees are so magical! Perfect for flanking a porch for some symmetry. They anchor right into the ground so you don’t have to worry about them blowing over.
3. String Lights for Windows
Avoid climbing on a ladder by mounting these battery operated fairy lights on the inside of your window frames!
I attached the light strands right to the glass with some clear shipping tape. The windows are so charming framed with lights when viewing them outside!
Related: The Best Battery Operated Christmas Lights
4. Pre-Lit Window Wreaths
Tie floral wire around a wreath, open the top of your window sash, and suspend the wreath on the outside of the window by anchoring the wire from a screw hook.
Related: How to Hang Wreaths on Interior Windows
5. Walkway Luminaries
These pathway lanterns remind me of the ones displayed at Biltmore Estate during their Christmas candlelight tours.
They look charmingly traditional like the paper versions but are made of durable material to withstand wet weather conditions.
6. Mailbox Cover
This was definitely the easiest outdoor Christmas decor. Just attach this battery operated pre-lit swag to your mailbox and you’re done!
7. Display Deer
There’s something quintessential about having a set of light-up deer in the yard at Christmas. These are a great size and were very easy to set up.
8. Merry Christmas Pre-Lit Sign
Honestly, this pre-lit Christmas sign was a splurge, but the price was easier to swallow being on sale. I love the big statement they make in our yard!
Fair warning: they didn’t arrive with stakes, so we attached the letters to some rebar spikes we had using electrical tape.
You can hang the sign on the side of your house too, if you prefer. We added these light-up present stacks for a little extra fun.
Related: How to Hang Outdoor String Lights Anywhere in a Backyard
Related: 4 Best Flame Light Bulbs for a Gas Lantern Look: Ranked
Essentials to Set Up Christmas Yard Light Cords
I was intimidated by the technical aspect of setting up our Christmas lawn decor because our 1960s colonial has no access to an electrical outlet on the front. But these tools made it possible to connect all of our lights together and run a cord to the outlet on the side of our house.
3-Outlet Landscape Cord
This landscape cord is the BEST for yard decorations because it has an outlet access built into the extension cord spaced 8 feet apart. We were able to connect multiple light strands together and plug them into the cord in those 3 places.
Outdoor Extension Cord
We plugged the 3-outlet landscape cord into this extension cord to reach our far away outlet. It’s green to blend right into the lawn so it’s less distracting.
6 Outlet Countdown Analog Lighting Timer
This outdoor timer has an integrated light sensor to turn on all of your lights automatically at night. Its 6 outlets provide more than enough room for lots and lots of light plugs.
Christmas Lawn Decor Sources
If you want to put together a holiday yard display similar to ours last minute, many items can be purchased in stores or online for same-day pickup.
You can check out my Instagram story highlights for some Christmas light decorating tutorials in action.
More Christmas Lighting Resources
- Best Battery Operated Christmas Lights
- How to Make DIY Antique Style Christmas Tree Candles
- How to Photograph Christmas Tree Lights at Night + Candlelight Tour
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have double-hung windows that open from the inside, you can hang outdoor wreaths without climbing a ladder. Attach floral wire to the wreath, lower it outside through the open window, and secure the wire to a sturdy screw hook inside the window frame. Make sure the wreath is securely anchored before closing the window.
Our house doesn’t have an electrical outlet on the front porch, so we used an outdoor-rated extension cord connected to a landscape cord with multiple outlets spaced along its length. This allowed us to power several decorations from an outlet on the side of our house. Just be sure to use outdoor-rated cords, keep connections protected from moisture, and stay within the electrical load limits.
Use the ground stakes included with your decorations whenever possible. For decorations that don’t come with stakes, you may be able to secure them with sturdy garden stakes or other supports designed for outdoor use. Make sure everything is anchored securely, especially if your yard gets a lot of wind.
Oh your photo of your house looks so pretty!! I bet the girls love looking at it at nighttime!!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to your and your Family!!
Awww, thank you Lori! They do enjoy the glow of the decor.