12 Ways to Use Christmas Decorations as Home Security
Christmas decorations aren’t just festive, they can also help secure your home. With a little creativity and some tradecraft-inspired thinking, you can turn them into practical deterrents.
The holiday season is a time for celebration, but it’s also a time when burglars are on the prowl, looking for easy targets. The good news? Your Christmas decorations can double as clever security tools with a little ingenuity.
By blending festive charm with strategy, you can create a home that’s both inviting to guests and unappealing to intruders. These ideas will help you protect your home while keeping the holiday spirit alive, without the use of special equipment or difficult set ups.
Motion-Activated Lights
Holiday lights that turn on when triggered can serve as a festive deterrent. They illuminate potential hiding spots and make it clear someone is paying attention.
• Install motion sensors along walkways or near windows.
• Use LED lights for better energy efficiency.
• Combine with timers for an unpredictable light pattern.
Pro Tip: Position lights to avoid blinding yourself when walking by – this keeps visibility clear if you need to investigate a disturbance.
Smart Doorbell Cam with Holiday Theme
Disguise your smart doorbell with a festive wreath or bow while still keeping an eye on who’s at your door.
• Pick a subtle design to blend with decorations.
• Ensure the camera lens remains unobstructed.
• Sync it with your phone for real-time alerts.
Pro Tip: Add a small sign like “Smile, you’re on camera!” for extra deterrence.
Fake Package Decoys
A few fake boxes on the porch can confuse package thieves or draw attention away from valuable items.
• Use empty boxes wrapped in weather resistant holiday paper.
• Add weights to make them seem real.
• Keep actual deliveries out of sight.
Pro Tip: Write a fake delivery label to make it look legitimate – “To: Santa Claus, North Pole.”
Loud Holiday Doorbell Chime
A festive but loud doorbell can alert you when someone approaches while keeping the holiday spirit alive.
• Choose a chime that’s noticeable but not obnoxious.
• Pair with wireless sensors for backdoors or gates.
• Set different tones for distinct entrances.
Pro Tip: Adjust the volume to be heard throughout the house without blasting your eardrums.
Reflective Ornaments in Dark Areas
Shiny ornaments aren’t just for looks – they reflect light and can reveal movement in dark corners.
• Hang ornaments near entry points or windows.
• Use large, reflective ones for maximum effect.
• Combine with outdoor string lights for extra coverage.
Pro Tip: Use mirrored ornaments – they work better than glittered ones for reflecting light.
Holiday Laser Projectors as Perimeter Alerts
Laser light projectors can create movement on walls and windows, discouraging intruders from lingering.
• Aim them at key entry points and or exterior view points.
• Use models with dynamic patterns.
• Make sure the area is still visible from your cameras.
Pro Tip: Set them on a timer to shut off late at night, so you’re not giving yourself away.
Fake Snow for Tracking Footprints
Spray-on snow on porches or paths isn’t just decorative – it can reveal footprints if someone gets too close.
• Apply in a thin, even layer for better results.
• Refresh it after snow or rain.
• Place it strategically near entry points.
Pro Tip: Take a photo of the pattern after applying so you’ll notice even subtle disturbances.
Secure Light Clips for Window Locks
Use strong light clips to make it harder for anyone to open windows from the outside.
• Attach clips along the bottom of the window frame.
• Ensure they’re tight enough to hold the window in place.
• Pair with alarms for added security.
Pro Tip: Choose heavy-duty clips designed for outdoor use – they’re less likely to snap under pressure.
Holiday-Themed Surveillance Signs
Even a simple Christmas-themed sign like “Santa’s Watching” can be an effective deterrent while keeping it fun.
• Use weatherproof materials for outdoor signs.
• Add a festive touch to avoid suspicion.
• Place signs near obvious access points.
Pro Tip: Pair signs with visible cameras to reinforce the warning.
Illuminated Nativity Scene as a Lit Barrier
Large nativity displays with lights can create a logical physical and visual barrier for intruders.
• Position it to block pathways to windows or doors.
• Use sturdy materials that won’t topple easily.
• Ensure the display is well-lit at night.
Pro Tip: Anchor displays with stakes or sandbags to keep them secure.
Hidden Sensors in Garland
Wrap motion or sound sensors in garland around doors or windows for discreet security.
• Choose garland with thick foliage for better concealment.
• Use battery-powered or solar sensors.
• Test the setup before leaving it unattended.
Pro Tip: Label hidden sensors in your system’s app to know exactly which area was triggered.
Battery-Operated Candles for Occupied Look
Place battery-powered candles in windows to create the illusion that someone’s home.
• Use candles with timers for consistent operation.
• Pick models with a realistic flicker effect.
• Combine with other indoor lights for a natural look.
Pro Tip: Pair candles with curtains slightly ajar to suggest activity inside.
Secondary / Alternate Tactics
Jingle Bell Door Hangers • Attach jingle bells to door handles so they chime whenever the door moves. This simple sound can alert you to unexpected activity.
Candy Cane Pathway Markers with Hidden Cameras • Use hollow candy cane decorations to conceal small security cameras along walkways or near doors.
Holiday Yard Inflatables for Obstruction • Place large, inflatable decorations near vulnerable ground-floor windows to make access more difficult.
Snowflake Stencils on Windows for Privacy • Spray snowflake designs on windows to limit visibility into your home while still looking festive.
Fake Power Cables for Alarm Wires • Disguise alarm system wires as part of your light string setup for added security without suspicion.
Santa Bootprints in the Snow • Scatter fake Santa bootprints in the snow around your property to make it appear as if people have recently been outside.
Festive Drones for Surveillance • Decorate a small drone with lights and fly it periodically over your property to get a bird’s-eye view and deter intruders.
Illuminated Window Silhouettes • Use light-up silhouettes of people or festive characters near windows to give the impression of activity inside.
DIY Ornament Alarms • Rig ornaments with tripwire-style alarms on Christmas trees or fences to create an audible alert if tampered with.
Holiday Radio Station Outside • Play soft Christmas music on outdoor speakers at random intervals to suggest someone is nearby and active.
Pro Tip for All: Pair any physical decorations with a clear observation plan – knowing where vulnerabilities lie is just as critical as setting up deterrents.
By combining festive cheer with strategic tradecraft, you can make your home more secure this holiday season. Small details like these can deter opportunistic intruders while keeping the Christmas spirit intact. Stay vigilant and merry.
[INTEL : Home Security Trifecta Layering]
[OPTICS : Suburbs Outside of Atlanta, USA]
![“Survival in any form for any environment is an act of prevention and or recovery, best enacted by preparation.” -Det V Cader The problem with survival prepping is the assumption that you’ll be home when the SHTF, if not then it was all for nothing. This is the solution: Standard “prepping” is the practice of stockpiling pertinent supplies and the training of survival techniques to be used for a possible lifestyle altering, large-scale catastrophe or SHTF event. The typical process is simple; slowly but consistently acquire food, water, weapons and other relevant equipment and store them in a singular central location such as a home or private “bomb” shelter. Just as important but far less utilized is the ongoing learning and practice of survival, defense and use of the prepped equipment. Having everything in one location has one fatal flaw, however. It assumes that you will be at that very location at all times or it will always be easily accessible and nearby to your present location. There’s no way of knowing when or where an “event” will take place. Meaning getting to your home base where all your survival prepping is stored may be impossible due to the nature of an “event”; mass gridlock traffic, land / infrastructure destruction, social panic and violence, restrictive martial law, vicinity containment, active combat / hot zones and public transportation collapse. The average person commutes to work or school 5 days a week far enough that they need to take motorized transportation, public or private. Then there’s leisure, recreation and errands time at other homes and facilities as well as being away on vacation. So all that survival prepping, across town or half way around the world can be lost or seized by another. For more than a decade I’ve been doing the “vagabond survival prepping method” of which evolved from stashing small city-specific go-bags around the world as part of my former operative profession. It wasn’t about survival back then but about professional utility and function. Equipment that wasn’t ideal to equip on my person at all times because of unnecessary baggage or non-permissive locales. As time went by and the more I returned to some of these “prepped cities”, the go-bags that were already stashed became better equipped and for more dynamic use such as urban / wilderness survival. To this day, I manage these hidden go-bags whenever I happen to be in their respective countries. That’s my way of survival prepping while vagabonding. These are located in a growing number of the cities I frequently visit in secure but relatively easily accessible spots such as; under a boulder access in New York’s Central Park, inside a tree stump in the Amazon Jungle and a derelict manhole in Bangkok – all of which have been my active stash spots for years. Unlike typical at-home-preppers, I don’t have the luxury of a long term address so I can’t hand pick the exact items I want off the internet to ship to. But this works out for me just fine as I build / upgrade my kits with readily available materials from the city I’m in. So if an “event” does take place (which will often affect major cities first and most), I’ll have my prep kit close by no matter where I am in the world. Instead of having to rely on a singular base a continent away. Due to the limited opportunity but unlimited variety of goods available while constantly traveling, each go-bag is completely different. Some by design and others by necessity. All are sealed to protect from the elements and hidden but easily “accessible”. Various Kit Items List: Backpack, Duffle Bag or Dry Bag MRE’s, Canned Foods and Vitamins Bottled Water and Energy Shot Water Treatment Tablets Prescription Contact Lenses Kevlar Vest or Shield Climbing Rope and Gear Euros and US Dollars Gold and Platinum Bullion Urban / SERE Kit Wilderness Kit First Aid / Trauma Kit SD Card w/ Data Smartphone Gas Mask Knife, Machete and other Weapons CB and Two-Way Radio Full Change of Clothes Multi Tool and Pry Bar Flashlight and Chemlights Sleeping Bag or Parka Solar Charger Some may consider renting a locker in a facility like train stations or self storage units. It’s not easy to maintain them for years at a time when you’re not even in the country for years at a time. Also, when considering an “event”, it’s logical to expect the loss of power grid and the mayhem in busy public areas. It’s best to stash them where no one will look in an area that won’t be too hectic but not where it will be too difficult to reach with limited transportation options. The vagabond survival prepping method isn’t limited to location independents and nomads, however. Consider your travel requirements of daily life and stash a go-bag in strategic spots accordingly; in your car, near your job, somewhere between your home and work, a friend’s place and near a hangout you frequent. Survival prepping doesn’t end with the acquisition of supplies and equipment, it only begins there and continues on with honing skills to survive and thrive. [OPTICS : Triple Aught Design Pack]](https://trdcrft.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Vagabond-Survival-Prepping-FAST-Pack-Litespeed-1-490x550.jpeg)
