18 Holiday Rooftop Displays You'll Want to Copy

Holiday check-in time: you’ve got a beautifully trimmed tree, cookies in the oven and stockings hung by the fireplace – but does your home show seasonal cheer for all to see? Don’t underestimate the power of showcasing your merry mood with Christmas decorations on the roof. From a rainbow of string lights zig-zagging across the rooftop to golden reindeer prancing across the shingles, these festive rooftop displays will inspire your decorations this holiday season.

golden deer statues standing among green Christmas trees decorated with lights

Getty Images

1 / 18

Golden Glow

Good as gold. Metallic reindeer make an elegantly festive rooftop display – especially when surrounded by twinkle-lit Christmas trees.

inflatable Santa and snowman at Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland

Getty Images

2 / 18

Very Merry Inflatabes

When you want to go big with your rooftop decorations, you can’t go wrong with one, two or a few festive inflatables like these showcased at Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland. Think Santa, reindeer, snowmen, nutcrackers or any other festive characters that show your ho-ho-happy spirit this season.

yellow house with green Christmas lights and Christmas trees on snowy front lawn

Getty Images

3 / 18

Go Green

The perfect finishing touch: when your lawn and front door are decked out to the max with colourful lights and seasonal cheer, use your rooftop to create a glowing garnish – as this home does with pretty lines of green rooftop lights highlighting a garland-adorned front porch.

white house exterior with green and blue lights on chimneys

Getty Images

4 / 18

Light Up Santa’s Landing

When decorating your roof for the holidays, don’t forget about the chimney – consider wrapping it with a string of outdoor lights for a fun twist on traditional style (and to show Santa just where to land his sleigh).

house with red Christmas lights on front and roof

Getty Images

5 / 18

Wreath Wonder

While a holiday wreath makes a welcoming addition to your front door, it’s also a charming way to turn up the cheer factor on your rooftop decor. Bonus points for matching your rooftop wreath with your overall Christmas-light design scheme.

white house decorated with candy-themed Christmas lights at night

Getty Images

6 / 18

So Sweet

Overwhelmed with amazing ideas for your house’s holiday decorations? Stick with a theme. This house’s sugarplum-sweet candy theme creates a charming, cohesive look from chimney to lawn.

two reindeer decorations beside silver Christmas tree decorations on roof

Getty Images

7 / 18

Rooftop Reindeer

You know Dasher and Dancer? Let them bring instant holiday cheer to your home with reindeer roof decorations. Go for one reindeer or add the whole gang for a big impact – just don’t forget about Santa!

brick building with NOEL rooftop decoration and string lights

Unsplash/Jon Tyson

8 / 18

Make a Statement

Sometimes, it’s best to just say what you mean. A text-based rooftop decoration delivers major impact, especially when paired with some string lights for extra festive illumination.

colourful lights on the roof and fence of house

Getty Images

9 / 18

Rainbow-Bright Lights

Don’t be afraid of colour: a rainbow of simple string lights – artfully arranged – can make a big impression when it comes to rooftop decorations for the holidays.

illuminated Moose decoration with neon lights attached on top of roof of house

Getty Images

10 / 18

Clearly Festive

Another simple, stylish way to bring a pop of winter wonderland to your roof? Illuminated decorations like this neon moose add plenty of colour and light to your roof.

house with white holiday lights on the house and trees in front yard

Getty Images

11 / 18

White (Light) Christmas

Who says you need snow for a winter-white Christmas? Adding glowing white lights to your roof, house and yard creates a magical look – without having to shovel any snow.

white lights on Christmas tree on top of roof of coffee shop

Unsplash/Humphrey Muleba

12 / 18

Trim the Tree

The season of cheer is a present to us all, so why not opt for an homage to the Christmas tree in your outdoor decor – complete with gifts, stars and glowing lights?

corner house with inflatable Christmas decorations on roof and lights

Getty Images

13 / 18

Mix Things Up

Want carolers to ooh and ahh over your home this season? Maximize the merry effect and bright appeal of your rooftop decorations with a combination of inflatables and lights.

brick home exterior with white twinkle lights and branches on roof and wreath on door

Unsplash/Annie Spratt

14 / 18

Simple Sparkle

Minimalism isn’t just for inside the house: beautiful holiday decorations can be discreet, simple and still beautiful, too. Delicate strings of white lights hung casually across the roof and exterior add a touch of twinkle to a home.

house with white icicle lights at roof and windows

Getty Images

15 / 18

Icy Cool

Feeling frosty? Lustrous white icicle lights are contemporary classics when it comes to holiday decor – and they create the look of a wintery wonderland (whether it snows or not).

[ALT] house with Christmas lights and large Santa, nutcracker and snowman figures out front

Unsplash/Jeffrey Blum

16 / 18

Maximum Festive

If you can’t go extreme at the holidays, when can you? If you’ve got the time and budget, why not deck out your home from driveway to chimney with lights, statues, signs and everything you can dream of to live your best Christmas life. ‘Tis the season, after all!

white and brick house with red-and-white lights on the roof and front

Getty Images

17 / 18

Candy-Striped Cheer

Love holiday lights? Matching your rooftop lights to light-wrapped trees in the front yard creates a totally cheerful sense of curb appeal.

house with colourful christmas lights on home, fence and archways

Getty Images

18 / 18

Find All the Rooftops

If you love the festive season, don’t limit your holiday light-scape to just your regular roof – if you have other archways and awnings, add some glow there, too! Consider decorating gates, gazebos and detached garages for extra illumination.