Decorating for the holidays is one of the most exciting parts of the Christmas season. But, have you ever thought about decorating your fence for Christmas? How can you decorate a fence for Christmas you ask? It’s easy, because it’s the perfect blank canvas to get creative with.
Whether your fence is made from wood, metal, or vinyl, you can make your fence part of a winter wonderland display. Completely transform your yard this Christmas with a decorated fence that’s the envy of your neighbors, making the overlooked fence a magical extension of your home’s holiday vibe.
Click on any of the sections here to skip to the part you need:
- Why Decorate Your Fence for Christmas?
- Choosing the Best Decorations for Your Fence
- Festive Lighting Ideas for Your Fence
- Creative Garland and Wreath Ideas
- DIY Christmas Fence Decoration Ideas
- Unique Christmas Fence Décor Ideas
- Nature-Inspired Fence Decoration Ideas
- Safety Tips for Outdoor Christmas Decorations
Why Decorate Your Fence for Christmas?
Decorating your fence for Christmas doesn’t just look amazing, it takes your outdoor Christmas décor to a new level. It’s also really easy to do and gives you all the festive feels when you pull up in your drive.
Boost the curb appeal of your house. Your fence is the first thing people see as they approach your house and there can be quite a lot of fence in your garden. Ignoring it just leaves a dark, looming shadow, like you’re trying to hide part of your yard.
A well decorated fence on the other hand makes your whole yard look warm and welcoming. You’ll be surprised how many people will start asking you for Christmas décor tips.
View your fence as a canvas for your Christmas creativity. Experiment with new ways of lighting up your front yard, add garlands, add different styles of lighting. Even hang wreaths on each fence panel and plant some winter blooming plants below. Decorating a fence is a great way to easily add height to outdoor Christmas display.
See your fence as an extension from your porch or window display. It’s surprising the styles and designs you can create when you see your fence as an extension of this space.
Make sure you secure your decorations against the elements to keep your design in place. Zip ties or clips made specifically for outdoor use are best for securing your outdoor decorations to the fence.
Decorating your fence isn’t just about making things look pretty. It’s about creating an atmosphere that spreads holiday cheer to everyone who passes by. So, if you haven’t tried it before, this year is the time.
Choosing the Best Decorations for Your Fence
The best decorations for your fence will be:
- Weatherproof
- Lightweight
- Lighting will be designed for outdoor use
When it comes to working out how to decorate your fence for Christmas without causing any damage, we suggest using the following methods to add festive cheer to your fence
For a wood fence, don’t go knocking in extra nails for the sake of hanging decorations for a few weeks. You could chip your wood. Use outdoor adhesive hooks instead, just check the back of the packet on the brand you choose to be sure they attach to wood.
If you have a metal fence you can use magnets for those lightweight decorations, or self-adhesive hooks. Don’t overload your hooks though or you’ll find your decorations falling off. When it comes to decorating a vinyl fence, be sure to use lightweight décor only, vinyl can crack under heavy weights.
The best decorations for your fence tie in with the rest of your outdoor decorations and window displays. Matching all your decorations up will help pull your theme together. Whether you choose a Classic Christmas look with red bows, pine garlands, and white lights, or a Winter Wonderland look with blue lights, silver snowflakes, and white tulle, keep it consistent outside for the best results.
Festive Lighting Ideas for Your Fence
Christmas lights are the star of the show when it comes to holiday decorating. When it comes to decorating your fence, lights are an easy and classic choice. Here are some different styles of lighting ideas for your fence:
- Icicle lights: Give your fence that icy look with blue or white icicle lights. You’ll need more of these than you think to get a truly iced fence look as the gaps in between can make your lighting look patchy. When you get it right this is a great look for bringing winter holiday vibes into your garden no matter what climate you live in.
- String lights: This classic style of Christmas light is versatile and easy to wrap around posts. Choose warm white to give off a warm homely glow or multi-colored for a festive display. LED string lights are great for outdoor and tend to be a bit brighter. Drape them horizontally for a traditional look. Or go vertical if you want something a little different. Vertical lights take more time and you need more lights, but they give a stunning effect, almost like your fence is wrapped in ribbons of light.
- Lighted garlands: Add greenery and a festive glow.
- Projector lights: If you’re looking for something low-effort but high-impact, projector lights are a great option. Cast patterns like snowflakes or candy canes onto your fence.
The key to a good light display on your fence is balance. Don’t overdo it to the point where it looks like a landing strip for Santa’s sleigh. Less can be more.
Creative Garland and Wreath Ideas
If you’re into DIY projects, making your own garland to decorate your fence for Christmas can be a fun way to add a personal touch. You could make a garland using pine branches if you have trees in your front yard. Tie the branches together with floral wire and add a few red bows for a pop of color. It’s rustic, smells amazing, and costs very little. Just a heads up, though: natural garlands look great, but they can dry out quickly if you live somewhere with dry winter air
Pre-lit garlands are perfect for a more polished look that will last all season. They save time, look consistent, and have a nice glow that adds instant holiday charm. Garlands with a mix of pinecones and berries that are pre-lit with LED lights still give the rustic festive vibe. Just make sure they’re designed for outdoor use.
Hanging wreaths along the fence is another simple yet stunning idea. Space a few medium-sized wreaths evenly across the length of your fencing to give your garden a luxury, curated look. It gives the fence a nice, balanced look without feeling cluttered. You can also try making your own wreaths if you’re on a budget.
DIY Christmas Fence Decoration Ideas
DIY Christmas fence decorations are a great budget-friendly way to add festive cheer to your garden fence. When you make your own decorations you just need to make sure that they can withstand your outside climate, and that you fasten them down so you don’t end up chasing your masterpiece down the street. Here are some ideas:
Oversized ornaments: Get some large foam balls and cover them with either sheer plastic wrap or tin foil to make baubles. Add a gold cap to the top and string through the top with fishing line. This works great for a green fence. If you want to add light to, run some string lights along with your fishing line.
Homemade pallet snowflakes: Make them out of wooden pallets and then spray them with a white and or glitter coating for a sparkly, wintery look. Hang them all along the top of the fence, and when the sunlight hits them, it’s like a mini light show.
“Santa’s Workshop” sign: Make out of leftover wood and paint. It’s a great Christmas craft to do with the kids as the sign is meant to be slightly crooked. Paint the sign and hang it on your fence.
A themed display: A “Nutcracker Christmas” theme complete with cut-out soldiers and mini-Christmas trees lining the fence looks amazing. It will take some time to put together but can be a fun craft to do one afternoon as a family.
The key to a successful DIY project is to keep it simple and have fun with it. Don’t worry if it doesn’t turn out Pinterest-perfect.
Unique Christmas Fence Décor Ideas
These ideas provide a more unique take on traditional festive decorating ideas. Perfect for when you’re at a loss as to how to add a unique twist as you decorate your Christmas fence.
Decorate With Oversized Candy Canes
Look for giant candy canes that are about three feet tall. You can even get ones that light-up. Line them up along the fence to create a whimsical, almost storybook-like effect. If you have wood pallet over from your snowflakes you can make a few and blend the two themes together.
Winter Woodland Fence Scene
Transform your fence into a winter woodland scene using silhouettes of forest animals. Cut out shapes of deer, foxes, and owls from black plywood and attach them to the fence. Surround the silhouettes with greenery, pine branches, and faux snow. You can even add a few hanging lanterns or lantern-style lights for a cozy, storybook effect.
You can use a few pinecone garlands or hang clusters of cranberries to give it an authentic, woodsy feel. This idea is great if you love rustic and nature-inspired décor. It creates a peaceful, winter forest display in your garden. You can even under light your fence to give the silhouettes a shadowy appearance in your garden.
Musical Fence with Jingle Bells
Add sound to your Christmas decor by creating a musical fence decorated with jingle bells. Attach various sizes of jingle bells along the fence using ribbon or twine. Every time the wind blows, you’ll hear the soft, festive jingle of the bells.
To make it even more festive, hang sheet music for classic Christmas carols between the bells. Use red, green, and gold ribbon to tie the bells for a bright, festive look. You can also spray paint the bells in metallic colors to give them an extra shine.
Nature-Inspired Fence Decoration Ideas
Nature-inspired decorations are a great way to add a touch of elegance and simplicity to your Christmas fence.
One of the easiest and most beautiful options is to use pine branches and pinecones. You can spray the pinecones with a bit of gold or silver paint for a festive touch, or even dip them in glue and sprinkle glitter for a more sparkly look. It’s simple, classic, and gives off that cozy cabin vibe.
Another great idea is hanging dried citrus slices. It looks amazing and smells even better. Slice up oranges and lemons, dry them in the oven, and then string them together with twine. They add a beautiful pop of color and give the garland a vintage, old-fashioned Christmas feel. Plus, when the sun hits them, they almost look like little stained-glass ornaments.
Safety Tips for Outdoor Christmas Decorations
Here are a few safety tips for outdoor Christmas decorations that are easily overlooked in all the excitement of decorating.
Inspect your lights and cords before you begin decorating. No matter how tempting it is to just get on with the decorating, there’s nothing worse than finding a broken bulb once you’re strung up your lights, or finding a frayed cord and needing to take everything down.
Secure your decorations properly. Wind and rain can destroy a display which is devastating after you’ve worked hard to curate a design. It’s also embarrassing to have to walk around the neighborhood collecting your decorations if they blow away.
Make sure to leave clear paths and double-check that nothing is obstructing gates or walkways, otherwise everyday tasks like taking the bins out can become difficult.
If you have kids or pets, make sure your decorations are safe for them too. Watching the door take out the decorations may be funny years later, but at the time it’s frustrating. Plus, it can also cause damage to your pet or fence. Keep decorations like lights out of reach.
Conclusion
How you decorate a fence for Christmas isn’t just about creating a pretty display, it’s about making your home feel festive, welcoming, and full of holiday spirit. Whether you choose traditional lights, nature-inspired elements, or quirky DIY projects, the possibilities are endless. It’s a chance to get creative, try new things, and spread a bit of joy to everyone who passes by.
So go ahead, grab those lights, garlands, and ornaments, and make your fence the star of your Christmas display this year.
If you’re looking for other ways to decorate your home outdoors for Christmas, why not take a look at How to look after a potted Christmas tree outside.
