How to Decorate a Farmhouse-Style Christmas Porch

One of the most welcoming styles to decorate with is the ever-so-popular farmhouse style. No doubt, this style gained popularity from its signature warm wood tones, bright neutral paint colors, and homey antiques or vintage accents. There is no better time of year to get that inviting feel than at Christmas. Set the stage for welcoming guests this holiday season with a farmhouse-style Christmas porch.

What is Farmhouse Style?

Farmhouse-style delivers a casual and welcoming mood. Crisp neutral paint colors provide a beautiful backdrop for the contrasting blacks and warm woods. The design originates from a period when families lived in simple and practical farm homes with expansive porches. Old beams, board and batten, or a simple shiplap siding create simple lines- a signature element in farmhouse style. Wood furniture, basic linens, and plain housewares were also essential, so these elements are also definitive to the design. Decorating with farmhouse-style pieces emanates a simple time and feel. It’s no wonder the uncomplicated, functional, and vintage look is popular.

Farmhouse-Style Christmas Porch

Creating a farmhouse-style Christmas porch requires collecting simple, sometimes rustic, pieces for the decor. Classic wooden furniture would have been a farmhouse staple for farm families. Simple trees found naturally would have been traditional and practical finds on the farm. Similarly, rustic and well-worn functional accents would’ve been the only affordable decor. Collecting understated and simple decor items that a farm family could easily repurpose from things found on the farm as a practical solution is a great way to collect decor.

Farmhouse-Style Furniture

When the thought of a traditional farmhouse porch arises, so too does the iconic rocking chair. Painted black, white, or in a natural warm wood tone, the rocking chair comes to mind in a farmhouse-style look. The contrast of black rocking chairs against the bright white board and batten siding is pleasing in this design.

Warm wood benches or porch swings are also charming additions in farmhouse style. One of my all-time favorite pieces on my porch is my swing. My husband and kids made it for me out of rope, lumber, and a crib mattress. It is a cozy place to relax all summer long. In the winter months, I love the farmhouse feel it gives. Check out my blog post on how to make the do-it-yourself porch swing using a crip mattress and oversized rope.

My Farmhouse-Style Christmas Porch

The design for my simple farmhouse-style Christmas porch included both new and old pieces. The focal point is the double black doors. The doors make a strong statement set against the white architectural details. The wood beams are a nice contrast of warmth, but the double black doors add drama. Decorating always requires consideration of the surrounding backdrop. Black rockers make the perfect farmhouse-style furniture. They add cohesion by drawing the black focal point across the porch view. Adding back warm woods in the accent pieces ties it all back together. My Christmas porch has classic reds, greens, and golds to bring in the feel of the holidays.

Christmas trees for a farmhouse-style Christmas porch are best uncomplicated. I always imagine an elementary little country tree harvested from a nearby forest on a farm family outing. Sparse mountain evergreen trees such as  Alpine Fir, Noble Fir, Aspen Fir, and Norwegian Spruce are all names of beautifully understated faux trees for purchase online or in stores. The trees on my porch are dropped into vintage-style baskets to add to the simple farmhouse feel. I also added a few twinkle lights. Otherwise, the quaint little trees were left bare to complete the uncluttered farmhouse-style look. 

Vintage Accents

I feel so incredibly fortunate to include my father’s antique childhood sled in the decor for my farmhouse-style Christmas porch. I love the sentiment vintage pieces bring in, whether they are handed down or collected. Still, there is no better feeling than the sentiment a vintage piece carries from a family story. I also have a pair of ice skates handed down, which always make it into Christmas vignettes around the house.

Antique stores and vintage markets are great places to find antique winter pieces to decorate for Christmas when handed-down items are not an option. I have an old wooden pair of skis I love to decorate with during the holidays. Purchased on one of my many antiquing outings, they are a cherished piece in my holiday decor. Decorating with vintage winter gear doesn’t have to last only for the holidays either. I love to take out any Christmas touches and leave the sled, skis, and greenery on the porch all winter long.

The Finishing Touches

Whenever I’m working on the finishing touches of my farmhouse Christmas porch, I think of what would make it feel cozier while maintaining the authenticity of a farmhouse look. I added a basket full of logs to give the cozy feel that a fire is nearby. An authentic farmhouse would have likely had a real wood fireplace. Decorating for a farm family also would have included a simple walk to find natural elements. With this in mind, I hung understated faux wreaths on each of the doors and a sprig of faux greenery to the antique sled. I turned an old lantern my dad passed down to me into a lamp and placed it next to the tree to add a warm glow to the porch at night. Finally, I popped in a few cozy pillows and a blanket to bring a lively feeling into the space.

Farmhouse-style porches are charming all year round, but I especially love the winter and Christmas touches. Old sleds, vintage skis, piles of wood, and pine greenery are friendly welcoming touches that remind us of simpler times. They give a sense of peace and family. Best wishes on a peaceful and family-centered holiday season. Thank you for stopping by and as always comments and questions are welcomed.

*This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. I make a tiny portion of the sale with no additional cost to you whatsoever. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting this blog.*