Christmas Porch for a Rental or New Build

Not every Christmas porch belongs to a long-time homeowner with a garage full of decorations. Maybe you rent, and you don’t want to lose part of your deposit over a nail hole. Maybe you just closed on a new home in one of the new communities around Rocklin, Roseville, Lincoln, Folsom or El Dorado Hills, and your porch is bare concrete, fresh paint and not much else. Both situations come down to the same thing: a porch that looks festive, leaves no damage and comes down cleanly. Here’s how to get there.

The short version

• No nails, no screws. Hang the wreath with an over-the-door hanger, a ribbon or a magnetic hanger, and let urns and planters stand on their own.
• Check the rules first. For renters that’s your lease and your landlord; for new builds it’s usually your HOA’s guidelines.
• Keep it at the entry. A wreath, door-frame garland and a pair of planters make a small or bare porch look finished without anything attached to the house beyond the door.
• Plan the take-down. Fresh greenery is easy to remove completely, and our optional removal service takes care of it.

If you rent: keep your landlord (and your deposit) happy

Many leases limit changes to the outside of the home, like drilling, painting or attaching things to walls. Read the section on alterations, and if you’re unsure, send your landlord or property manager a quick text describing what you have in mind. A fresh wreath on the door, garland around the door frame and two freestanding planters is about as low-impact as holiday decor gets, and most owners are happy to see a well-kept entry in December.

• Door: an over-the-door hanger or ribbon looped over the top doesn’t mark the door. Check that the door still closes and latches without crushing the weatherstripping.
• Door frame garland: garland can be secured without drilling into stucco or trim. If you’re doing it yourself, avoid strong adhesives on painted trim, since they can pull paint when removed.
• Planters and urns: freestanding pieces need no hardware at all. Put a saucer or mat under live plants to protect the porch surface.
• Townhomes and shared entries: keep walkways and shared steps clear, and don’t decorate a neighbor’s side of a shared wall or railing.

Property managers and landlords sometimes book a porch for a rental as a thank-you to good tenants, too. Our Gift a Porch page explains how booking for someone else works.

If you just moved into a new build

New communities like Whitney Ranch in Rocklin, Fiddyment Farm, Sierra Vista and Westbrook in Roseville, Twelve Bridges and Lincoln Crossing in Lincoln, Folsom Ranch south of Highway 50 and Blackstone in El Dorado Hills are full of first-Christmas homes. They tend to share a few things:

• A bare porch. Front landscaping may be young or not finished, and there are no mature shrubs or pots to build around. A pair of styled urns does a lot of work here.
• New paint, stucco and doors. You don’t want the first marks on a brand-new exterior to come from holiday decor, and drilling into new stucco or trim can be hard to repair cleanly. No-drill methods protect the finish.
• HOA design guidelines. Newer communities usually have an HOA, sometimes still run by the builder, with rules about exterior decor and how long holiday items can stay up. Your HOA’s own documents are the authority. Our HOA and gated community guide covers what to look for.
• Tall doors and covered entries. Many new homes have 8 ft doors or a recessed entry with a column, which takes garland and a wreath at the top of the size range. Our front door wreath size guide has a simple chart.
• Moving boxes everywhere. The garage is full and the holiday bins haven’t been unpacked (or bought yet). Having the porch done for you is one less project in a busy first season.

Did your new build come with white board and batten, black windows and a black front door? See our Christmas porch ideas for modern farmhouse and new-build homes.

Ideas for small or bare porches

1. Wreath plus door-frame garland. The single biggest change for a small entry. Garland around the door makes even a narrow porch look decorated from the street.
2. One pair of urns. Matching planters on each side of the door frame the entry and fill a bare slab. If there’s only room for one, put it on the side away from the door swing.
3. A step accent. If you have two or three steps, a live mini tree or a poinsettia on the top step adds height without crowding the walkway.
4. One ribbon color. Repeat the same ribbon on the wreath and planters so a small porch looks pulled together. Red velvet, cream or plaid all work with new-build colors like white, gray and greige.
5. Keep the walkway clear. Small porches look best, and are safest, with a clear path to the door.

Fresh greenery comes down clean

Fresh garland and wreaths are hung, not fastened, so there’s nothing to patch when they come down. Fresh greenery does dry out over time, especially on a sunny west-facing porch, so plan to take it down in early January or whenever your HOA or lease asks. Our fresh greenery care guide has tips for sun, wind and frost.

How our installs work for renters and new homeowners

We install at the porch, so you don’t need to be home, and gated communities are welcome; just share your gate code or access instructions when you book. We use non-damaging hanging methods at your entry: no nails or screws in your door, trim or stucco. Everything is fresh greenery, and no lights are included, so there are no cords or outlets to deal with. See what to expect from a professional wreath and garland installation.

When the season’s over, optional removal is $125, or $150 for Merry & Bright and Grand Celebration. We take everything away and leave the entry the way we found it, which is handy before a move-out inspection or an HOA deadline. If you’d rather keep your planters and urns, the decor is yours.

Which package fits a rental or new build?

Most small and bare porches look right with Joyful Door ($349): a fresh 24″ wreath with a bow and 18-20 ft of fresh garland around the door. Welcome Porch ($599, our most popular) adds a pair of styled urns or planters and velvet bows, which is ideal for a bare new-build porch. Merry & Bright ($899) suits homes with steps and adds 2 live mini trees, poinsettias and a second wreath or swag. Grand Celebration ($1,299+) adds 20-30 ft of fresh staircase or railing garland with larger trees and urns. Not sure? Read which Christmas porch package fits your home or our Christmas porch decorating cost guide.

We install from November 15 to December 20, with 4 PM or 6 PM arrival windows. Delivery is free within 15 miles of Rocklin and $25 from 15 to 30 miles; we confirm your fee at booking.

Text a photo of your porch to (916) 289-2538 and we’ll recommend a package, or pick your install date. Several homes, a community entrance or an unusual entry? Request a custom Christmas quote. Local pages: Rocklin, Roseville, Lincoln, Folsom & El Dorado Hills and Sacramento.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I decorate my porch for Christmas if I rent?

Usually yes, but check the alterations section of your lease and ask your landlord or property manager if you are unsure. A wreath on an over-the-door hanger, door-frame garland hung without drilling and freestanding planters are about as low-impact as holiday decor gets.

Do you use nails or screws when you install?

No. We use non-damaging hanging methods at your entry, with no nails or screws in your door, trim or stucco, and urns and planters stand on their own.

Will Christmas decor damage the paint or stucco on a new home?

Hung decor should not. Skip nails, screws and strong adhesives on new paint and stucco. Over-the-door hangers, ribbon, magnetic hangers on steel doors and freestanding planters protect a new finish.

Do HOAs in new communities allow Christmas porch decor?

Most allow seasonal decor at the entry, but many set dates for when it can go up and must come down. Your HOA’s own guidelines are the authority, so check them or ask your management company.

Can you take everything down after the holidays?

Yes. Optional removal is $125, or $150 for Merry & Bright and Grand Celebration. We take everything away so the entry is ready for an HOA deadline or a move-out inspection.

Do your Christmas porches include lights?

No. Our porches use fresh greenery, ribbon and planter arrangements, and no lights are included, so there are no cords or outlets to manage.

Have a compact entry? See our Christmas porch ideas for a small porch, townhome or condo.

Related Reading

• Christmas porch decorating in HOA and gated communities
• What size wreath for your front door?
• Which Christmas porch package fits your home?
• Professional Christmas wreath and garland installation: what to expect
• Porch decorating for realtors: listings and closing gifts
• How much does Christmas porch decorating cost?