Decorating your yard for Christmas can get expensive and time consuming. You can’t just not decorate for Christmas this year, though! Why not cut out the hard work and big price tags and use one of these simple outdoor Christmas decoration ideas instead?

Mason Jar Lighting

Recycling mason jars to use in your holiday decor is super simple and cuts out the price of buying fancy lights. One thing you can start out with is simply stuffing the jars with strings of Christmas lights and setting them up along your porch or walkway. ChristmasLightsEtc.com shares a super helpful infographic that details how to do this lighting trick, along with other ones. Using mason jars doesn’t stop there, though. If you’re ambitious and have the right materials, a holiday-inspired mason jar chandelier can brighten up your porch this Christmas season.

Image via Flickr by Chiot’s Run

Backlit Cutouts

If you don’t have a lot of money this year to spend on decorations, then taking on this simple DIY project could be just the thing for you. Simply use a jigsaw to cut out your shape, such as a snowman, Christmas tree, or Santa Claus, on a piece of plywood. Prop up the plywood in your yard in front of a light to create a backlit effect. Need more detailed instructions? Check out this guide to building your own Christmas backlit cutout.

Glowing Holiday Globes

One of the biggest contributions to your holiday decor will be the lighting you place in your front yard. Attaching string lights to your home can be a hassle, but glowing holiday globes make lighting your outdoors simple. Pick up these glowing frosted globes from nearly anywhere selling Christmas decor. Then place them around your porch or lawn to get an easy and festive effect.

You don’t want your décor to look completely random, though. Consider grouping these globes together in a bird bath or setting them up along your walkway. You can even hang them from your porch if you have the time. You can also find floating lighted globes that you can place in your pond or swimming pool to keep things bright and interesting this holiday season.

Dressed Up Door

If you don’t have the time to do anything else this year, at least put up decorations near your front door. Since that’s more or less the centerpiece of your home, it will be the first thing people notice. Start by adding a wreath to the front door, which you can easily make yourself out of twigs, evergreen branches, pinecones, and other things you might find around the house. You can also buy an inexpensive wreath from any store selling Christmas decorations.

Next, add a string of garland or lights around the perimeter of your door. For a final touch, add something simple next to the door, like a planter filled with fake candy canes or even a small Christmas tree.

Winter Evergreens

For a super simple Christmas decoration, simply put out small Christmas trees in your yard or on your porch. Just make sure to place them strategically so that they’re aesthetically pleasing. Use real or fake trees, and put them in planters to keep them upright. If you have the time, add a few strings of lights and maybe even some ornaments to the trees. If you already have an evergreen or two living in your yard, all you need to do is dress it up with some lights and you’ll be good to go.

Holiday Bench Decor

Do you have a bench sitting on your front porch? Chances are no one’s going to be using it during the chilly weather. Why not put that surface to use? All you need for your holiday bench decor is a selection of evergreen branches, pinecones, and ornaments. Arrange these objects on the bench until you’re pleased with the holiday spirit they bring to your front porch. If you want to add an extra touch to the mix, sprinkle a light dusting of snow atop the arrangement.

Which one of these ideas will you use to decorate your yard or porch this holiday season?