Local homebuilders Barratt David Wilson Homes have joined forces with Dobbies Garden Centres to share top tips and insights on how to dress your front door this Christmas – sustainably and on a budget.
Front door transformations were named as one of Pinterest Predicts’ leading trends for 2023, with the holiday season marking the perfect time to embrace the trend and add a touch of festive sparkle to the exterior of the home.
But while the makeovers online are impressive, they can also be costly. Together with Dobbies’ top stylist, Barratt Homes Bristol and Barratt David Wilson Homes South West have created a handy guide with festive ideas on how to add a wow to your front door décor this December.
Rebecca Stanton, Stylist at Dobbies Garden Centres, said: “Dressing your front door is huge at the moment and we’re thrilled to partner with Barratt David Wilson Homes to bring this trend to life. Christmas is a great time of year to experiment with decorations and what better way to do this than to get creative with your own front door.
“We’ve selected low-cost items, most of which can be foraged from outside, and everything else can be chosen to suit your preferred colour scheme and taste. We used items from our Classic Luxe theme, which suited the style and colouring of the house. Our step-by-step guide should be straightforward enough so people can get creative and try at home, with family and friends.”
Follow these handy and sustainable suggestions to achieve the trend without breaking the bank.
- Lay out thick rope (about two metres long) on the ground. Attach chosen foliage in bundles along the rope with garden twine. You can make this as full as you like for your chosen look
- Attach the rope, with all foliage, to the drainpipe or porch. We started at the top of the drainpipe and attached downwards
- Using garden twine, tie various sizes of baubles together for impact and attach (with other décor of your choice) to the foliage. Baubles are available to buy in multipacks from Dobbies. We also added oversized baubles for extra impact and LED lights which don’t emit heat
- Use the same approach for the wreath, creating little bundles of foliage, attaching them using garden twine. We added heather for an additional pop of colour. Create your wreath shape from twigs or buy a wreath base
- Add baubles, décor and wire battery lights before hanging on your door
- Decorate the area with reindeers, potted trees and other festive ornaments of your choice. We selected a Nordmann fir potted tree and a Blue spruce which can be taken indoors and decorated for Christmas, and you can plant in your garden after the festive season. You could also opt to keep them in their pots to maintain their size for next year, giving them longevity
To achieve the look in a sustainable way, foliage can be foraged from your garden, local woods or outside spaces. You can use plants from your garden such as Conifer, Skimmia ‘rubella’ or eucalyptus, enabling you to get creative depending on what’s available and your personal style. Foraging the items is a great way for families, friends and couples to come together and take part in a festive activity.
Andrea Pilgrim, sales director for Barratt Homes Bristol said: “We’ve loved collaborating with Dobbies to create this festive front door display. As the entrance to the home, it’s important that the front door makes a good first impression which is why statement décor and wreaths are becoming increasingly popular at Christmas and all year round. Dobbies has provided some great tips on how to recreate this at home, both sustainably and at relatively low cost.”
Louise Ware, sales director for Barratt David Wilson Homes South West added: “The front door is more than an entrance; it’s an opportunity to express your style and welcome guests with warmth this Christmas. Our collaboration with Dobbies showcases not only the beauty of the season but also practical ways to achieve it sustainably and affordably. As we head into winter, we’re excited to see more people embrace the front door trend with the help of our valuable tips.”
If you would like to add some seasonal sparkle to your sustainable decorations, Dobbies has a dedicated section in-store and online where customers can pick faux décor ideal for wreaths and garlands, as well as Christmas baubles, lights and decorations for different styles and looks.
All items used in the display are available from Dobbies Garden Centre. Costs are scalable depending on budget.
- Mixed bauble pack (x26) with various sizes: £14.99 Pack Of 26 Mixed Size Baubles Pink | Dobbies Garden Centres
- Large baubles £2.99 each Pink Shatterproof Bauble 14cm | Dobbies Garden Centres
- 500 LED lights £24.99 500 LED Bright White Compact Lights, 14.9m | Dobbies Garden Centres
- 50 LED wire lights (used on wreath) £4.99 50 LED Warm White Wire Lights 2.4m | Dobbies Garden Centres
- Pot Grown Blue Spruce Tree (1-2ft): £24.99 1-2ft Pot Grown Blue Spruce Christmas Tree (40-60cm) | Dobbies Garden Centres
- Pot Grown Nordmann Fir (2-3 ft): £34.99 2-3ft Pot Grown Nordmann Fir Christmas Tree (60-80cm) | Dobbies Garden Centres
- LED Wicker Reindeer from £39 LED Wicker Reindeer Grey 69cm | Dobbies Garden Centres
You can visit Dobbies Garden Centres at Hyde Road, Stratton St Margaret and multiple other locations across the country.
