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Many of us like to decorate our front porches during the holidays. Here are simple tips I suggest to use before decorating, and some things to avoid.
1.) BE ORIGINAL- When decorating you should use your imagination. Come up with new ideas by using magazines, catalogs, the web, etc for inspiration. Don't copy a style right out of a book or someone else on the block. Your porch is like a blank canvas waiting to come alive. What looks good in a magazine or on another house may not look good on your home.
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2.) CONSIDER THE STYLE OF YOUR HOME-Take into account the style of your home, architectural features, colors etc. Use your own personal style when considering how you wish to decorate. You can still do a lot with a smaller home, your house don't have to be huge to have impact.
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3.) DON'T OVER-DECORATE- When I say don't over-decorate, I mean don't create a hodge podge. People have a tendency to buy what looks good in the store, and set it out thinking it will also look good at their home. This is not always true. I suggest taking a photo of your porch/home with you when searching for decorations. It also helps to have the exact dimensions of your porch so you don't buy something that is too big or small for the area it will be in. It may sound odd, but this can prevent you from buying items you will not need, or want in the end.
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4.) PICK A THEME- To prevent creating a hodge podge, I say pick a theme for the holiday. This will help a lot in the long-run. We see so many different decorations during the holidays and will be tempted to buy everything we like. I also suggest coming up with a theme several months in advance so you will have sufficient time to change your mind. Give yourself time to change your mind and come up with something different. Also be thinking during the holiday what you want to do the following year as you can find big bargains following the holiday.
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5.) RETIRE OLD DECORATIONS- Don't be boring. It's no fun to see a house decorate the same way, year after year. Try to come up with something new. Don't use your old decorations the SAME way year after year. Try to use your old decorations in a different way. I am always looking at magazines, catalogs, and the web to find inspiration.
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6.) USE COMMON SENSE- Don't use decorations that are not suitable for outdoor use outside. If something says FOR INDOOR USE ONLY, only use it indoors! I am amazed at how many people do that and then their decorations end up ruined. Don't use fabrics, materials made for indoors outside as the sun, elements(wind, rain, snow) can destroy them in no time.
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6.) ALWAYS BE ON THE LOOKOUT- I try to steer away from mass-produced items that are sold at Wal-Mart and other retailers because odds are someone else will end up using it also. I always try to be on the lookout at flea markets, estate sales, etc. You can find some very inexpensive, nice items if you LOOK for them. I don't suggest using eBay for decorating items because they may end up looking a lot different in person.
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7.)HAVE FUN! Decorating should be fun, so use your imagination and do your OWN thing and have fun with it!
Novice 
