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How to Create a Space to Entertain Outside for Christmas

You’re going to love these ideas to entertain outside for the holidays! Learn how to create a cozy, welcoming space for your guests to enjoy.

Some of the prettiest weather in the Carolinas is from late fall into early winter.

The temperatures are glorious!

It’s the perfect time to entertain outside.

And what better reason to have friends over than the holidays?

Host a Hallmark Christmas movie marathon with your girlfriends.

A college game day get together.

Or how about a family night of games and s’mores around the firepit?

It’s easy to create a welcoming, cozy space to entertain outside for the holidays!

Patio with Pergola decorated for Christmas with greenery and lights on the pergola. Seating area with red cushions, tables with candle lanterns, and outdoor TV.

Add Greenery

The easiest way to make your space look like it’s ready for Christmas is with greenery!

Honestly, greenery is the best way to make anywhere in your home look Christmasy, right?

We shared lots of ways to do that in our Ultimate Guide to Decorating with Greenery!

Let’s take a look at a few ways I added greenery to our patio.

Large galvanized bucket filled with clippings from a magnolia tree and holly bush with red berries sits on a paver patio under a pergola.

First, I created a large arrangement of clippings from my yard in a big galvanized tub.

I placed several buckets filled with water inside the tub, and then added clippings from my magnolia trees and from a holly bush that is covered with clusters of berries.

Outdoor pergola decorated for Christmas with posts wrapped with Christmas garland

Next, I added greenery around the posts of the pergola.

It may look like I splurged on fresh greenery garlands, right?

You’ll love my super easy and inexpensive hack for creating garland!

Black candle lantern with geometric pattern grill with greenery lining the bottom. Two candles and a red fabric-covered Christmas ornament sit on top of the greenery.

A few clippings from a leyland cypress in the back yard give this candle lantern a festive look.

Christmas Trees and Mini Trees

We love decorating with mini trees for Christmas!

So of course I placed a few outside for my Christmas patio.

Black painted table on outdoor patio under a pergola with a miniature tree, fabric covered Christmas balls, and a lit candle in a mason jar.

You can place them on tables, or group them around your serving cart.

Some day I need to share how my husband built this rolling cart using wood from the children’s old playset!

Patio with Pergola decorated for Christmas with greenery and lights on the pergola. Seating area with red cushions, tables with candle lanterns, and outdoor TV.

I picked up this pencil tree from Michael’s this year when it was on sale for just $39!

I kept the decorations simple with red berry picks that I used on my mantel last year, and some red ribbon from my holiday bins. A yard of burlap made a simple tree “skirt.”

Skinny Christmas tree under an outdoor pergola decorated with red ribbons and picks of red berries

Pillows and Throws

Make your space cozy with a variety of throw blankets.

A few Christmas pillow covers add a festive touch.

Iron patio chairs with red cushions, Christmas throw pillows, and cream throw blanket on a patio with a narrow Christmas tree covered in lights and ribbon.

I stuck with a traditional red and white color scheme to coordinate with the chairs we have in our patio set.

Don’t Forget the Lights!

Nothing makes an outdoor space feel more festive than twinkle lights!

String lights hang in the pergola year round, so for the holidays I love to add twinkle lights in the garland on the posts.

Patio with Pergola decorated for Christmas with greenery and lights on the pergola. Seating area with red cushions, tables with candle lanterns, and outdoor TV. Lights from pergola are reflecting in the pool.

And of course there are more twinkle lights on the Christmas trees!

Patio with Pergola decorated for Christmas with greenery and lights on the pergola. Seating area with red cushions, tables with candle lanterns, and outdoor TV.

Add in some candles in lanterns, and some jars of candles for more holiday glow.

Black wood rolling cart with tile top decorated for Christmas on a patio with Chrismtas lights on the pergola at night.

Serve up a Charcuterie Board

Make your guests feel welcome with a delicious charcuterie!

keto charcuterie board on a tile topped table with a bucket of wine chilling next to a basket filled with holly. An outdoor TV is in the background showing a Hallmark Christmas movie.

Your outdoor space is ready to entertain your friends and family throughout the holidays!

Patio with Pergola decorated for Christmas with greenery and lights on the pergola. Seating area with red cushions, tables with candle lanterns, and outdoor TV.

If you have any questions or suggestions, contact me or leave a comment!

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