One of my favourite parts of Christmas is decorating the outside of the house. There’s just something so joyful about walking or driving down a street full of twinkling lights and festive cheer—it really brings the whole neighbourhood to life. Over the years, I’ve gradually built up my own outdoor Christmas collection, and every December, I love seeing how it all comes together.
Living in Australia, I’ve leaned right into the summer-themed Christmas decorations. One of our biggest hits was an inflatable surfing Santa—complete with sunnies, thongs, and a surfboard. The kids loved it, and honestly, so did I! It added such a fun, Aussie twist to our display. I’ve also added reindeer with a bit of personality (think crossed legs and cheeky grins), plus solar-powered candy cane lights that line the front garden and guide guests to the door.
There’s a real art to choosing outdoor Christmas decorations, especially if you want to go big without it becoming a tangled mess of extension cords. I like mixing it up—a few light-up gift boxes here, a sleigh and reindeer there, and always something quirky to make people smile. And because we host a Christmas Eve barbecue each year, our lawn decorations double as entertainment and conversation starters.
If you’re ready to take your festive spirit beyond the living room walls and into your garden, I’ve pulled together a list of my favourite outdoor Christmas decorations. Whether you want to dazzle with LED light displays, go traditional with reindeer and sleighs, or embrace a beachy Aussie vibe, there’s something here for every taste and budget.
Garden and lawn Christmas decorations bring the festivities to your neighbours and your whole community. Whether it’s just to add some fun to your lawn for the people in your street, or you’re competing with the family next door, there’s an abundance of outdoor decor to choose from.
Let’s spread the Christmas cheer beyond the front door this year—your neighbours will thank you for it!
Outdoor Christmas decorations
Before you select your Christmas garden decorations, it’s probably a good idea to decide on the ‘theme’ you’d like to follow in your garden. Then, take a look at these whimsical ornaments and accessories.
Inflatable summer Santa Christmas outdoor decoration
Santa may work hard on Christmas Eve, dressed up in his warm red suit, but we know that when he gets to Australia, there’s a much more relaxed feeling. These inflatable Santas are an awesome addition to any Christmas display!
Mr Claus is also wearing summer-appropriate shorts and a T-shirt, making him look right at home in your Aussie yard. Hang this 65cm x 15cm x 30cm decoration up on your front porch or on trees near your house and entertain everyone who passes.
Shop for this inflatable Santa here
LED gifts garden Christmas decorations
Match your candy cane light with another universal Christmas symbol – gifts and giving. This set of three gift boxes is made up of bright LED lights, wound around a wire frame.
The light set has a low voltage adapter and it’s mains operated. Set it up with the rest of your display, or line a few of the same up for a ‘giving Christmas’ scene.
Shop for this gift box light set here
Santa’s sleigh and led reindeer outdoor light display
For a more traditional look, this light display depicting Santa in his sleigh with his reindeer pulling him along brings all of the usual magic of Christmas. The lights are mostly cool white LEDs, with the legendary Santa shining in red and green.
The whole display is 5.5m x 45cm in size. It all goes well together, but the reindeers can be separated if needed.
Shop for Santa’s sleigh rope light display here
Standing ceramic champagne reindeer
This standing champagne-coloured reindeer would look beautiful in a traditional Christmas layout. It’s 19cm x 12cm x 32cm tall and will stand solidly in your yard. The colour is quite shiny, which would make it easily noticeable to passers-by.
Set this reindeer up with similarly themed working elves, Santa, sleighs, and Christmas trees for a fantastic Christmas display.
Shop for this standing reindeer here
Solar Christmas decorations outdoor candy cane rope light
Not much says Christmas like candy canes, and this rope light is a bright sign of the festive season. Pitch a few of them up along the edge of your garden and be the reason your neighbours smile each night.
Perfect to display for the full holiday period, this neon red light is 16cm x 46cm and stands on a stake. The light can be static or flash, and it’s solar-panel operated, so it saves energy as well.
Shop for your solar-powered candy cane rope light here.
RELATED: Check out these amazing fibre optic Christmas trees!
3D snowman light display
We may not get snow during Christmas in Australia, but we can still have a friendly snowman sitting in our yard if we like. This 3D snowman light display is 55cm x 55cm x 1.2m big and comes with a 5m lead to be plugged in.
The snowman has a white wireframe, separated into three parts. There are white artificial crystals on the body and blue for the hands and hat. The entire display lights up, making for a big, bright, cheerful decoration.
Shop for this snowman light display here.
Funny standing resin life-size reindeer
Bring smiles and laughs to those passing by your outdoor Christmas display by setting up this gorgeous reindeer in your garden. This guy is 1.1m x 43cm x 1.4m, and he’s made from durable Polyresin.
His crossed legs, crossed eyes, and general comic face makes him quite funny and cheerful. And because he comes with a Christmas hat and red ribbons with bells at the end tied around his neck and antlers – you just know he’s there to enjoy the festive season.
Shop for a gorgeous standing resin reindeer here.
Inflatable surfing Santa
If you live anywhere near the beach, like the stunning Perth, and think you can’t set up a wonderful outdoor Christmas scene, you’re wrong. Just take a look at this adorable inflated Santa standing at 1.2m x 50cm x 2.1m, complete with his surfboard.
He’s wearing flip flops, sunglasses and a red-and-white striped shirt, with green board shorts too. The decoration inflates quickly, and there are LEDs inside, so it’ll glow at night as well.
Shop for this inflatable surfing Santa here.
If you love outdoor inflatable Christmas decorations, we have a whole article dedicated to that too!
Get your Christmas outdoor decorations early
Whether you’re decorating your garden for a party or simply to bring festive cheer to your community, there’s no reason why your stunning taste and decorating skills should be hidden inside. Take your Christmas decorations outdoors and share them with your whole neighbourhood. Who knows, perhaps next year your neighbours will ask you to help them set up their own yards.
Simply decide what you want outside your house and select the right outdoor Xmas decorations for you. If you want something that attracts many nighttime admirers, a bright festive light display will be your best option.
If you’re recreating a winter wonderland on your lawn, large deer, trees, and snowmen will complete the look. And, of course, if you’re looking for more Australian-inspired outdoor decor, you could opt for summer-themed ornaments.
Join our Facebook group to jumpstart your Christmas planning all year long!
