In St. Louis, the winter holiday season can mean a lot of different experiences when it comes to weather. As any St. Louisan knows, if you don’t like the weather: Wait a minute! We might have crisp, clear, sunny days, followed by chilly gray skies and rain, followed by a temperature spike when we’re all uncomfortably warm in our sweaters, and then dropping down into frigid temps overnight.
What that means for your home during the holidays is that you need to be ready for all the possibilities.
If you’re hosting holiday gatherings, you might end up with one of those sunny crisp days, with the perfect temperature to stand around on the desk or gather around a fire pit. So you don’t want to shut down your outdoor spaces.
On the other hand, we’re certain to deal with gray, overcast days, one after another, with that drizzle and rain that makes everything damp and depressing. For those days, you want warmth and brightness around your home, guiding people into the cozy interior like a beacon in the dreary atmosphere.
Here’s the checklist you need to be prepared for whatever St. Louis hands out in terms of weather. Make sure your home is ready for holiday festivities from the outside in.
Clean up for the season
Start with those fall and winter outdoor maintenance items that keep things looking neat and make sure you’re prepared for winter weather when it does come.
- Last mow of the season: Cut the grass for the last time, then winterize your lawn equipment before storage.
- Rake and remove leaves: Keep landscape beds and walkways clean.
- Trim trees and bushes: Avoid winter disasters from strong winds or ice storms but cutting back any dead or overhanging branches or overgrown hedges.
- Clean gutters and downspouts: Clean out any clogs formed by falling leaves to prevent drainage issues or ice buildup.
- Winterize garden beds: Remove annuals past their time and add a layer of mulch to protect plants.
- Power wash outdoor surfaces: Start the winter season clean and sparkling before it’s too cold or unpleasant to do the job.
- Inspect for damage or issues: Walk around your home’s exterior, driveway, and any outdoor structures. Prevention now can save a lot of money and trouble.
- Clean and refresh entrances: A thorough cleaning and refreshed outdoor paint and fixtures makes everything welcoming and bright.
- Check outdoor lighting: Ensure that your lighting fixtures are clean and installed properly, and replace any burned-out bulbs.
Show off your holiday spirit
Start with the obvious: Beautiful holiday lighting for your home’s exterior to create that seasonal glow. With the shorter winter days, it’s even more important to have that warm glow that counteracts the gloom. That’s your foundation for a festive look, and you can build on it with any of these ideas:
- Front entrance statement: Go classic with a seasonal wreath. Go bold with an oversized bow. Go humorous with a funny sign. Or switch it out, depending on the event at hand.
- Window framing: Coordinate the holiday look by framing windows with string lights on the exterior; add hanging lanterns or electric candles on the inside.
- Pathway lighting: Make sure your driveway and all walkways are properly lit with the right type of fixtures to illuminate the area (at ground-level, not at eye-level). Don’t forget the stairs.
- Seasonal planters: For entrances and at focal points and corners of all outdoor spaces, add planters. Move poinsettias or holly into the planters for events, or fill with pine branches, red berries, and ribbon.
- Themed décor from inside to out: Focus on a color or aesthetic theme, like classic red and gold or modern white and silver. Carry the theme from indoor spaces to outdoor for a unified look.
Set up adjustable outdoor spaces
Set up outdoor areas so you can still take advantage of them on unseasonably warm days, or cozy up even when it’s chilly out to enjoy the fresh air and all the holiday lights.
- Create cozy seating: Arrange outdoor furniture with weather-proof cushions and throw blankets. If space allows, add self-contained fire pits at the center of each seating area, or have a patio heater on standby.
- Set up a fire pit: Create a gathering spot around a larger fire pit, away from the house. Bring out seating and light the way with pathway lights. Add bistro lights around the perimeter for an even more magical feel.
- Bring in texture and warmth: Add color, warmth, and texture to liven up outdoor areas in the winter landscape. Add outdoor rugs and hang bunches of greenery tied with ribbon from fences or rails.
- Protect from the wind: Use screens, curtains, or temporary walls to shield from chilly breezes.
- Make space for a hot beverage station: Pack away the pool gear or gardening supplies, and set up a table or bar cart instead. Bring out thermoses of hot cocoa, cider, or mulled wine to enjoy for guests.
🎄 Keep your home welcoming and ready for any holiday gathering, no matter the weather! For pathway lighting help, entrance lighting upgrades, or an entire lighting system design customized for your home, get in touch.