Christmas Porch Ideas for Craftsman & Bungalow Homes (2026)

Craftsman and bungalow homes have some of the most welcoming porches in the Sacramento area: a deep covered porch, low or tapered columns sitting on brick or stone piers, a heavy porch beam, a low railing or knee wall and wide front steps. They’re a joy to decorate for Christmas, but they need a different approach from a tall, two-story entry. The goal is to make a long, low porch feel full and cozy without crowding it. Here are the ideas we use most, whether you live in an older bungalow in East Sacramento, Curtis Park, Old Roseville, Auburn or Folsom’s historic neighborhoods, or in a newer craftsman-style home in Rocklin, Roseville or Lincoln.

All of our porches use fresh greenery (real cut wreaths, garland and live plants) with no lights.

The short version

• Frame the door first, and keep any small windows in a craftsman door visible.
• Put the height at the piers and the top of the steps, not up on the columns.
• Run fresh garland along a low railing or knee wall to show off the length of the porch.
• Use wide steps for mini trees and poinsettias.
• Leave room for the porch swing, chairs and a clear path to the door.
• Pick ribbon that suits wood, brick and earthy paint colors.
• Choose brighter bows on a deep, shaded porch so they read from the street.

1. Frame the door, and let the door show

Many craftsman doors are stained wood with a row of small windows near the top. Fresh garland around the door frame and a full wreath with a bow is the base of every craftsman porch, but size the wreath so the top windows still show. A 22-24″ wreath suits most single doors; our wreath size guide shows how to measure. This is our Joyful Door package ($349): a 24″ fresh wreath with a bow and 18-20 ft of fresh garland framing the door.

2. Put the height at the piers, not on the columns

Tapered craftsman columns are often short and chunky, sitting on wide brick or stone piers. Wrapping them in garland can hide the very detail that makes the porch special. Instead, set a pair of styled urns at the base of the piers or at the top of the steps. The urns add height and fullness right where the eye lands, and they frame the door from the sidewalk. A pair of urns and velvet bows is what our most popular package, Welcome Porch ($599), adds to Joyful Door. (If you do have tall, slim columns or a two-story entry, see our guide to decorating a two-story or tall entry instead.)

3. Show off the length of the porch

A long, low bungalow porch looks unfinished if only the door is decorated. Fresh garland along the top of a low railing or knee wall carries the look across the whole front of the house, and it’s the single biggest visual change on this style of porch. Railing garland is part of Grand Celebration ($1,299+, which includes 20-30 ft of staircase or railing garland). For a shorter railing, extra fresh garland is $125 per 10 ft, which often works with Welcome Porch or Merry & Bright.

4. Use those wide front steps

Craftsman steps are usually wide and shallow, often with brick or stone cheek walls on each side. That’s the perfect spot for a pair of live mini trees and a few poinsettias, which bring the porch down toward the walkway. Merry & Bright ($899) adds 2 live mini trees, poinsettias and a second wreath or swag to Welcome Porch, and it suits most craftsman homes with a few steps. Live mini trees are also $99 each as an add-on, and poinsettias are $25 each.

5. Keep the porch usable

A craftsman porch is meant to be sat on. We keep a clear path from the steps to the door, leave room for the porch swing or a pair of chairs, and keep greenery away from the door swing so it opens easily. If your porch has a bench or swing, a small swag or a few sprigs of greenery tied with a bow looks lovely and doesn’t get in the way. Our Christmas porch bench, rocking chair and seating ideas go into more detail. Everything is hung without nails or screws, which matters on original woodwork; our post on a porch for a rental or new build explains how.

6. Pick colors that suit wood, brick and earthy paint

Craftsman homes tend to have stained wood doors, brick or stone piers and deep, earthy paint colors like olive, sage, rust, cream and slate. Cream, burgundy and deep green velvet bows look warm against stained wood, and a plaid bow suits a rustic or farmhouse feel. On a sage or olive house, a burgundy or cream bow keeps the wreath from disappearing. Our Christmas ribbon and bow color guide pairs bow colors with every front door color.

7. Plan for a deep, shaded porch

Deep covered porches are kind to fresh greenery: the roof keeps off sun and rain, so wreaths and garland usually stay fresh longer than on an exposed entry. The trade-off is shade, which can make dark greens and deep red ribbon hard to see from the street. Fuller garland and slightly brighter bows (cream, gold-toned or a red-and-white plaid) help the porch read from the sidewalk without any lights. Our greenery care guide has simple tips to keep everything looking fresh.

Which package fits a craftsman porch?

• Small bungalow stoop: Joyful Door ($349).
• Covered porch with room by the door: Welcome Porch ($599, most popular).
• A few wide steps: Merry & Bright ($899).
• Long railing, wraparound porch or a big statement entry: Grand Celebration ($1,299+), or Merry & Bright plus extra garland for a shorter railing.

Other add-ons: an extra wreath is $95 (nice on a side door or a porch gable), an urn pair is $199 and a velvet ribbon upgrade is $49. Still not sure? Read which package fits your home or how much Christmas porch decorating costs, or text a photo of your porch to (916) 289-2538 and we’ll suggest a fit.

Delivery, install dates and removal

Delivery is free within 15 miles of Rocklin and $25 from 15 to 30 miles; most Sacramento neighborhoods, including East Sacramento and Curtis Park, are in the $25 zone. See all service areas, or our Christmas porch ideas for Sacramento homes and Auburn homes. We install from November 15 to December 20, with 4 PM or 6 PM arrival windows, and you don’t need to be home (see how we decorate while you’re out). Optional removal after the season is $125, or $150 for Merry & Bright and Grand Celebration.

Ready to dress your porch? Pick your install date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I wrap craftsman columns in garland?

Usually not. Short, tapered craftsman columns look best with a pair of urns at the base of the piers or at the top of the steps. Garland along a low railing or around the door shows off the porch better.

What size wreath suits a craftsman door?

A 22-24 inch wreath suits most single craftsman doors. Size it so the small windows near the top of the door still show.

Which package fits a craftsman or bungalow porch?

A small stoop fits Joyful Door ($349). Most covered porches fit Welcome Porch ($599). Homes with a few wide steps fit Merry & Bright ($899), and long railings or wraparound porches fit Grand Celebration ($1,299+).

Will you damage original woodwork?

No. Everything is hung without nails or screws.

Do you install Christmas lights?

No. Our porches use fresh greenery, ribbon and planter arrangements, and no lights are included.

When are installs, and can you take it down after Christmas?

Installs run November 15 to December 20 with 4 PM or 6 PM arrival windows, and you do not need to be home. Optional removal is $125, or $150 for Merry & Bright and Grand Celebration.

Related Reading

• Christmas porch ideas for Victorian, colonial and traditional homes
• Christmas porch ideas for Sacramento homes
• Christmas ribbon and bow colors for every front door color
• Christmas porch ideas for a two-story or tall entry
• What size wreath for your front door?
• Which Christmas porch package fits your home?
• Christmas porch ideas by city
• How much does Christmas porch decorating cost?