Everyone loves a beautifully decorated outdoor space for Christmas, and there’s nothing quite like a striking front door display to welcome guests during the holiday season. This comprehensive tutorial will guide you through creating a magnificent DIY wood lights Christmas garland, a truly unique statement piece that will set your home apart.
We’ve taken the classic Christmas garland and given it a jumbo DIY twist, crafting distinctive oversized wooden light bulbs for an unforgettable outdoor Christmas door display. This impressive decoration is surprisingly simple to make, requiring just a few pieces of wood, some vibrant paint, and a dash of creativity to achieve a truly festive and inviting entrance.
It’s no secret that many of us like to go “extra” when it comes to holiday decorating. And when it comes to Christmas, ‘extra’ often means ‘bigger and bolder!’ Our quest for unique, large-scale outdoor Christmas door decorations led us to a common problem: finding stylish lawn decor in our preferred color palettes can be challenging and expensive. Instead of settling for generic options, we decided to craft our own stunning pieces.
This project proves that with a bit of online shopping for craft supplies, some good old-fashioned effort, and the transformative power of spray paint, you can achieve remarkable results. Spray paint is our go-to for projects involving intricate details or large surfaces, as it ensures a smooth, even finish and significantly speeds up the crafting process. For more proof of its magic, check out our abstract shapes wall decor and DIY golden wreath garland projects.
You’ll undoubtedly appreciate the simplicity and impact of this DIY Christmas front door decor as you recreate it for your own home this holiday season. It’s a project that combines personal touch with a grand aesthetic, ensuring your front door stands out brilliantly.
Materials and Tools for DIY Wood Lights Christmas Garland
This versatile project offers two distinct ways to display your creations: as wooden stakes for festive yard decor or strung together to form an eye-catching Christmas garland for your entrance. Below is a comprehensive list of supplies you’ll need to bring these jumbo Christmas lights to life. Remember to always work in a well-ventilated area and follow all safety instructions on your spray paint cans.
- Wooden Rings: These will form the crucial top part of your oversized light bulbs, giving them their distinctive shape.
- Wooden Squares: You’ll need two for each light bulb to sandwich the wooden ring, providing stability and structure to the “bulb” cap.
- Large Wooden Ovals: These serve as the main body of your jumbo light bulbs. For a more budget-friendly approach and custom sizes, consider cutting these yourself from a larger piece of wood.
- Krylon Paint + Primer Gloss Banner Red: A vibrant, classic red for that iconic Christmas bulb look.
- Krylon Paint + Primer Matte Aqua: A refreshing aqua shade to add a modern, cheerful touch to your garland.
- Krylon Paint + Primer Matte Modern White: For a clean, crisp light bulb that pops against other colors.
- Krylon Shimmer Metallic in Gold Shimmer: This will create a dazzling, realistic metallic base for the top of your light bulbs.
- Wood Glue: Essential for securely assembling the wooden components of your light bulbs.
- Gold Twist Ties (or Cable Ties): Perfect for attaching your finished light bulbs to an existing garland.
- Dropcloth: Crucial for protecting your workspace during spray painting.
- Drill: Needed for reinforcing the connections, ensuring your jumbo lights are sturdy and secure.
- Gold 1″ Wood Screws: You will need two screws for each jumbo ornament to add robust reinforcement.
- Wooden Stakes: (Optional) If you plan to use your light bulbs as yard ornaments rather than on a garland, these will allow them to stand upright in the ground.
- Ribbon: (Optional) For adding extra decorative flair or for hanging individual bulbs.
*Always remember to follow the safety instructions provided on the back of your spray paint can and work in a well-ventilated area to ensure a safe crafting experience.
How to Make DIY Outdoor Christmas Door Decorations
Creating these jumbo DIY Christmas lights is a straightforward process that yields impressive results. Follow these step-by-step instructions to craft your own stunning outdoor Christmas decorations.
Step 1: Assemble the Light Bulb Tops
Begin by constructing the “socket” or top part of your light bulbs. Take one wooden ring and apply a generous amount of wood glue to both sides. Carefully sandwich this ring between two wooden squares. Press firmly to ensure good contact, and then set aside to dry completely. Allowing ample drying time is crucial for structural integrity.
Step 2: Paint the Bulb Tops
Once the wood glue has fully cured on your light bulb tops, it’s time for painting. Lay down a dropcloth in a well-ventilated area. Apply two even coats of Krylon Shimmer Metallic in Gold Shimmer to all sides of these assembled pieces. Ensure you allow each coat to dry completely before applying the next to achieve a smooth, lustrous finish. The metallic sheen will give them an authentic “socket” appearance.
Step 3: Color the Wooden Ovals
Now, prepare the “bulb” bodies. Place your large wooden ovals on the dropcloth. Spray two coats of your chosen Krylon Paint + Primer colors onto all sides of each oval. We recommend alternating between Gloss Banner Red, Matte Aqua, and Matte Modern White to create a diverse and vibrant garland. Again, let each coat dry thoroughly before moving on. This dual paint-and-primer formula ensures excellent coverage and durability for outdoor use.
Step 4: Combine Tops and Ovals
After both the golden tops and colored ovals are completely dry, it’s time to assemble the full light bulbs. Apply wood glue to one end of each painted wooden oval and carefully insert it between the two wooden squares of a golden bulb top. Ensure the pieces are centered and straight. Apply gentle pressure and allow the glue to dry entirely. This step brings your jumbo lights to life!
Step 5: Reinforce with Screws (Crucial Step!)
To ensure maximum durability and stability, especially for outdoor display, reinforce the connection points. Using a drill, secure the bottom two corners of the wooden square (from the bulb top) into the wooden oval with two 1-inch gold wood screws. This step is critical; the screws provide mechanical strength that complements the glue, preventing your ornaments from coming apart due to weather or handling. Do not skip this reinforcement!
Step 6: Choose Your Display Method
Your jumbo light bulbs are now complete, and it’s time to decide how to showcase them!
- For Yard Ornaments: If you’re creating the yard ornament version, glue a wooden stake to the back of each finished bulb. Position the stake a few inches from the bottom to ensure they can be securely planted in the ground. These make fantastic pathways or garden accents.
- For a Hanging Garland: To create a stunning front door garland, as we’ve done, use a gold twist tie (or durable cable tie) to securely fasten each bulb to your chosen outdoor Christmas garland. Arrange them evenly or in a pattern that pleases your eye.
Once your decorations are in place, all that’s left is to enjoy your festive display and, perhaps, hope for a little snow! Or, if you’re in a warmer climate like Texas, some high-quality fake snow can perfectly complete the winter wonderland illusion.
More Outdoor Christmas Door Decorations Ideas
If you’re anything like us, one DIY project often sparks inspiration for many more! We have a fantastic collection of Christmas crafts and budget-friendly holiday decorations that leverage the power of DIY to save money without sacrificing style. While traditional red and green wreaths or pine cone hangings are always lovely, there are countless ways to make your holiday decor truly unique. Many of these ideas can also be repurposed for your Christmas tree or other indoor festive displays.
- Vibrant Pom-Pom Accents: Inject a playful burst of color into your front door decor by incorporating pom-poms. Just as we did with this cheerful pom-pom Christmas tree, you can create a unique garland, attach them to a wreath, or even hang individual pom-pom ornaments around your door frame for a soft, whimsical touch.
- Elegant Bottle Brush Trees: Elevate your entrance with varying sizes of bottle brush trees. Arrange them in decorative pots on either side of your front door or nestle them within existing greenery. Their classic charm adds a sophisticated, miniature forest feel to your outdoor space.
- Whimsical DIY Balloon Tree: For a truly unconventional and celebratory entrance, consider a DIY balloon Christmas tree. This festive and fun option is perfect for holiday parties and offers a modern, airy alternative to traditional decor. Choose balloons in your preferred holiday palette for a custom look.
- Personalized Wreaths: Beyond the conventional, craft your own custom greenery DIY Christmas wreath, perhaps incorporating unexpected elements like fresh eucalyptus or seasonal berries. Alternatively, embrace a contemporary aesthetic with a sleek modern geometric wreath, offering clean lines and a minimalist appeal that still captures the holiday spirit.
More DIY Projects
If you’re passionate about crafting unique items for your home, explore these other inspiring DIY projects:
- DIY Fringed Mirror Wall Hanging
- Gold Hardware Color – Block DIY Barn Door
- How To Make A DIY Pom Pom Wall Hanging – Pom Pom Wall Art
- DIY Vertical Garden – Easy Succulent Wall Planter
DIY Outdoor Christmas Door Decorations – Christmas Garland
Print Recipe
This outdoor Christmas garland is the perfect statement Christmas door decoration for this holiday season, adding a vibrant and personalized touch to your home’s exterior.
Equipment
- Drill
- Wood glue
- Drop cloth (for spray painting)
Materials
- Wooden rings (for each light bulb)
- Wooden squares (2 for each light bulb)
- 1 can Krylon Shimmer Metallic in Gold Shimmer
- Large wooden ovals
- 1 can Krylon Paint + Primer Gloss Banner Red
- 1 can Krylon Paint + Primer Matte Aqua
- 1 can Krylon Paint + Primer Matte Modern White
- Gold twist ties
- Gold 1″ wood screws (2 screws needed for every jumbo ornament)
- Wooden stakes (optional, for yard ornament version)
- 1 outdoor Christmas garland (optional, for garland version)
Instructions
- To make the tops of the “light bulbs,” glue a wooden ring in between two wooden squares and let dry completely.
- Spray two coats of spray paint on all sides. We sprayed the bulb tops in Shimmer Metallic in Gold Shimmer. Then, let them dry completely in between.
- Spray 2 coats on all sides of your wooden ovals in the colors of your choice and allow to dry. We alternated between Gloss Banner Red, Matte Aqua, and Matte Modern White.
- Once fully dry, glue one end of the wooden ovals in between the two wooden squares from the golden bulb tops. Let dry again.
- Using a drill and two wood screws, reinforce the bottom two corners of the wooden square by drilling it into the plaque. This will make sure they’re nice and sturdy for hanging in addition to the glue.
- For the yard ornament version: Glue a wooden stake to the back of each finished bulb a few inches from the bottom so that they’ll stay securely in the ground.
- For the hanging garland version: Use a twist tie to securely tie the bulb to the garland.
Notes
Project time varies depending on how many light bulbs you choose to create for your display.
Don’t forget to share your dazzling outdoor decoration ideas and finished projects with us on Instagram using the hashtag #sugarandclothloves. We absolutely love seeing all your creative endeavors! For even more Christmas design inspiration, including a wide array of home decor tutorials and festive ideas, you can explore our full collection right here. Happy crafting and happy holidays!
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