Your front door gets a wreath. Your mantel gets garland. But the porch, the first thing every guest, neighbor and delivery driver sees, often gets nothing at all. A couple of outdoor Christmas pillows are the quickest way to change that: two minutes of effort, and your bench or rockers look like they belong to the season.
This guide covers how to choose holiday pillows that actually hold up outside, how many you need, how to pair them, and how to keep them looking good until you swap back to your everyday look in January.
A cozy holiday porch, dressed up with outdoor Christmas pillows.
Why outdoor Christmas pillows instead of indoor ones?
It is tempting to grab a festive pillow from the living room and carry it outside. The problem is what happens next. Indoor fabrics like velvet, knit and cotton soak up moisture from rain, snow and morning dew, and the colors fade fast in winter sun. A week on the porch and that cheerful red can look tired.
Outdoor Christmas pillows are made for exactly this. Ours are printed on spun polyester that is UV-resistant and water-resistant, so a damp morning or a bright afternoon is not a problem. They still feel soft and look like a decorative throw pillow, not like patio gear.
Three porch styles that work for the holidays
1. Classic red and green
Red and green is classic for a reason: it reads as Christmas from the street. Think holly, bows and ornaments on a cream or red background. If your porch has white or black furniture, this palette pops without any extra effort.
Holly Bow Red: red bows and green holly on cream.
Ornament Red: block-printed ornaments on a bold red lumbar pillow.
Try it with: Holly Bow Red, Ornament Red (lumbar) and Victorian Holly Green. More in our red outdoor pillows.
2. Woodland and evergreen
Not a fan of Santa on the porch? Pine branches, cedar sprigs and pinecones in green, brown and cream feel festive in December but still look right in January and February. This is the smart choice if you want one set of outdoor holiday pillows that carries you through the whole winter.
Cedar Bow Forest: an evergreen look that works from December through February.
Try it with: Pinecone Branch Sage, Cedar Bow Forest and Winter Pine Brown (lumbar). See all winter outdoor pillows.
3. Pink Christmas
Pink Christmas is one of the fun trends of the season: blush, dusty rose and candy pink mixed with snowy villages, vintage ornaments and cozy cocoa mugs. It is playful, it photographs beautifully, and it makes your porch stand out on a street full of red and green.
Christmas Village Pink: gingerbread houses and lampposts in soft pink.
Try it with: Christmas Village Pink, Vintage Ornament Pink and Winter Cocoa Pink (lumbar).
How many outdoor Christmas pillows do you need?
A simple rule: one pillow per seat, two for a bench or loveseat.
- Two rocking chairs: one square pillow on each chair. Matching designs look neat and calm.
- A porch bench or loveseat: a square pillow in each corner, or a square plus a lumbar pillow for a layered look.
- A small stoop or a single chair: one lumbar pillow is enough to make it feel finished.
Our holiday pillows come in two sizes: an 18x18 inch square and a 20x14 inch lumbar. Pairing one of each in the same design is the easiest way to get a styled, put-together look without having to think about it.
A square and a lumbar pillow together make a bench or loveseat look styled.
Mixing and matching Christmas throw pillows
If you want to combine different designs, these three tricks keep it from looking random:
- Repeat one color. A red holly pillow and a red ornament lumbar look like a set, even with different patterns.
- Vary the scale. Pair a busy pattern (a Christmas village) with a quieter one (simple pine branches).
- Use the lumbar as the anchor. Put the lumbar pillow in the middle of a bench and let the squares frame it.
Tip: when you buy two or more pillows, you automatically get 15% off, so a matching square and lumbar costs less than two separate purchases.
Keeping your holiday porch pillows looking good
Water-resistant does not mean they need to sit in a puddle. A few easy habits keep your outdoor Christmas pillows looking fresh all season:
- Prop them up, not flat. Standing pillows upright lets rain run off instead of pooling on top.
- Bring them in during storms and heavy snow. A covered porch is perfect; an open stoop during a nor'easter is not.
- Let them dry out. After a wet spell, give them a day in a dry spot before putting them back.
- Brush off snow right away so it does not melt into the pillow.
When should you put out your Christmas porch decor?
Most people decorate the porch right after Thanksgiving, but many start in early November. Order your outdoor holiday pillows by mid-November to have them in time for the Thanksgiving weekend. Because every pillow is printed to order in the U.S., it pays to order early in the busy holiday season.
Frequently asked questions
Can outdoor Christmas pillows get wet?
Yes. They are made of water-resistant spun polyester, so rain and dew are fine. For the longest life, prop them up so water runs off and bring them in during heavy storms.
Can I use outdoor Christmas pillows indoors too?
Absolutely. They look like regular decorative throw pillows, so they work on a sofa, bed or reading chair. Handy if you want to bring the holiday look inside after the season.
Is shipping free?
Yes, and shipping is free on every order within the United States. Every pillow is printed to order in North Carolina.
What sizes are available?
Every design comes as an 18x18 inch square pillow and a 20x14 inch lumbar pillow.
Ready to dress up your porch?
Browse our full collection of outdoor Christmas pillows or our outdoor holiday pillows, pick your style, and give your porch the welcome it deserves this season. Shipping is free across the U.S.