10 Ways to Style Your Outdoor Decor for Every Season

Changing draperies, rugs, linens, and pillows to reflect the seasons is a time-honored tradition with a practical history. Heavy curtains and bed linens kept people warm, while lighter versions let summer breezes cool the room. Today, switching out home decor is a happy way to greet the seasons and the holidays. Increasingly, that approach has ventured outside to create a festive or welcoming curb appeal. These tips can help you greet the 4 seasons. Your look can be as subtle or flamboyant as you like; it should reflect your family’s personality.

Take the indoors out

Change up your patio or porch’s outdoor pillows—or pillow covers—and, if you have them, curtains. Choose seasonal colors if you don’t want pillows that broadcast “Hello, Winter” or “Happy Fall.” (They exist.)

Create container gardens

Fill pots with flowers, grasses and plants that you can easily replace, recommends Michael Clarke, a landscape architect, horticulturist and founder of Yardwork, an online plant nursery and landscaping platform. For instance, summer petunias and marigolds can give way to fall’s chrysanthemums. Plant ornamental kale and pansies in winter and peonies and allium in spring.

He suggests placing grasses in other pots for texture. The colors will change from green to brown, suiting the seasons.

You can also fill the pots with ornamental items, including gourds and pumpkins, says Bree Steele, an interior designer with RJ Living.

Roll out a rug

Outdoor carpets and welcome mats come in a variety of colors and themes, Clarke notes. “These can be easily changed to mark holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as the seasons,” he says.

Wave the flag

When you’re not flying the United States flag on July 4, consider using the flagpole for a seasonal design. Or purchase a smaller flag for the yard.

Just search for “outdoor seasonal flags” on Amazon to get the full breadth of offerings.

Use garland

Garland adds color to railings, posts, and door frames. Add lights or seasonal touches, such as berries or ribbons.

Focus on lighting

Similarly, a search on outdoor lighting will deliver maple leaf-shaped string lights in fall colors, rope lights in red, white, and blue for lamp posts, and bobbing solar lights that look like eerie green eyeballs.

Those who want a wintery look without a holiday theme can add fairy lights to outdoor trees and shrubbery, suggests Alick Burnett, managing director at Blooming Artificial, which sells artificial plants, trees, and flowers.

Hang a door wreath

Decorative wreaths originated in ancient Greece and Rome and are an excellent way to reflect the seasons. Again, you’ll find many choices online, including versions with signs that read “Welcome.”

Create a canvas

A pergola or gazebo is the perfect backdrop for seasonal change, Steele says. “In summer, you can drape lightweight fabrics and pretend you’re in the Maldives,” she explains. “In winter, hang up holly and wreaths.”

Plan accordingly

Gardeners can view their landscape with seasons in mind. For instance, Burnett suggests planting shrubs that display red berries in winter.

“The Red Spirits shrub can add color while carrying over well into the winter,” she explains. “The sugar maple tree’s leaves are green in warm temperatures and, during the colder months, change to an opulent sunset orange.”

Pull out the decorations

Of course, there are always seasonal decorations. Consider a 7-foot inflatable surfing Santa or sparkling Easter egg stakes. They’re easy to display and store—and your home will be a hit with kids.