Now that we’re in the midst of the holiday season, holiday decorating isn’t far behind. I think that creating a welcoming entry to your home is vital this time of year, but let’s be honest, there is nothing more cringe-inducing than holiday decor gone awry, which is why I’m not generally a fan of exterior lighting. We’ve all seen it – the good, the bad, and the truly heinous – so I turned to the experts at HGTV for advice on how to create a memorable entryway that elicits “oohs,” and not “ewwws.”

This traditional display features a garland made of bright crimson berries, pinecones and rustic red ribbon, and is accompanied by a wreath made of the same materials, which gives a unifying look. The designer also used potted pines set on either side of the front porch make the entry feel grand and welcoming, and added a few artfully placed candles or lanterns. The finishing touch came in the form of wrapping bushes and trees with white string lights.

This display is all about lights. The entire facade of the house was covered with a wash of light by hanging traditional white string lights and white rope lights in evenly spaced vertical stripes. Bright fuchsia-colored floodlights give the display a pop of color and the show-stopper is a snowflake pattern projected from the front lawn lights onto the second story.