The exterior of your house needs a change once in a while, especially when it’s the center of family and peer entertainment. Whether you want to retry an old idea or try something new, the holiday season is the ideal time to take action.

But as the chill surrounds your home and the aura of holiday entertainment sets in, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the extensive list of options for sprucing up the outdoors.

However, you don’t need to make a dent in your wallet (save that up for the festive gifts) as you can add a dramatic touch to the exterior with these simple holiday crafts:

1.  Add rugs

Rugs can work wonders for making outdoor spaces welcoming and homey, just like they do for the inside of the home. They can be placed on the patio, deck and porch and can also be used to differentiate the wooden or stone floor of the space.

When choosing rugs, remember that muted brown options are out of fashion, and solid colors, geometric prints or stripes are some of the modern offerings. You can also place them under the furniture to further define places, but make sure some or all of the furniture legs are on them.

2.  Light up the patio

The patio becomes an ideal place for entertainment during holidays, especially when you’re throwing a party or enjoying casual festivities at home. This is why you need some patio lights to brighten up your deck and patio furnishings.

You could go with global light sets because they are a frugal option, as strands are sold in the same package. Umbrella lights can be added to the canopy of the current umbrella as a centerpiece, or fixtures used along the structures or poles as a permanent addition for lighting up the patio at night.

3.  Work on the entrance

Nothing excites visitors more than an elegant home entrance, so take some modest string lights (preferably white), decorate them with flowers and create an enhanced tunnel entry.

If that isn’t your cup of tea, just spruce up the pathway with decorations. This can be done through snowflake laminating lights that are safe to use and really come in handy on occasions like Christmas, cocktail parties and New Year’s Eve.

4.  Don’t forget the front gate and fences

Fences and the front gate are often neglected in holiday exterior decor, but you can add to them through with artificial garland. Top them off with mini-lights for an inviting theme–they will also blend in with the plants and trees in the yard.

If the fences are surrounded mostly by greenery, you can keep the garland slightly draped between the fences. As for the door, go for pre-lit garland and use it along with any other ornament on the front.

5.  Serve on wheels

Simple: when everyone is gathered on the patio, add the icing on the cake by using a serving cart with wheels!

Serving carts with wheels can transform into a dessert tray, a moving bar or even an extra table. Most modern versions are portable, so you can also use them during travel.

*Images in this post are from Pinterest, click on the picture for source link.

This guest post was submitted by:  Samantha Peters, a contributor on the personal finance blog Paid Twice.  Sam enjoys writing about ways to ensure that your money is working hard and earning you the highest rates of return.  Sam lives in sunny San Diego, California where she enjoys life with her puppy Leona.