I have found over the years that people either love to decorate their house, love to have it decorated but don’t want to do it or don’t do anything. Sometimes I think that the don’t do anything is because they just don’t know where to start. So I thought I would walk everyone through the process that we go through when decorating a client’s home for the holidays.

We first start by going through all that they have from previous years. Determine what still looks good, what they still like and what has meaning to them. Once we know what we have to start with we talk about what type of tree they would like if they don’t already have a tree. Many of my clients like to have a real tree. So we talk about how big the tree can be and how bushy do we want, and if there is a specific tree that they like. Fraser firs are very popular and tend to be the first choice. My father always liked blue spruces so every other year when growing up we got a blue spruce. We will get the tree for the client and put it up the day before we will be decorating so that it will fall out. This is really important, as you do not want to decorate the tree when all of the branches are still pointing upwards from being bundled up.

But before we even get to decorating the tree we need to finish getting all the the additional items for our clients, if this is the first time that we are decorating for them. This will include wall art, accessories for the tops of cabinets and tables, floral arrangements for counter tops and dining tables, and other holiday decor. I prefer to use great pieces that can be adjusted based on the season. For instance I love floor candle holders, these are great elements to any room and you can change the way that the feel in the room by changing the candles that are on top. I also love blanket ladders, as these are also a great piece that adds texture and comfort to a space that can be changed to fit with the season.

Once we have everything that we need it is time to get to decorating. For me it all starts with the tree. Make sure you have enough lights, in fact you can almost always use the rule of thumb that you can add one more strand of lights than you think you need. Add different elements to your tree like flowers and glitter streamers and tree picks. They will add so much to the look. I usually custom make all of the floral arrangements for my clients. I love to add candles to the dining table arrangements and some scents as well. So think either scented candles or the scent sticks that can make the silk floral arrangements feel real.

Here is a house that we did recently.

It is so important to have touches everywhere but not too much. We don’t want to see Santa and Frosty everywhere, but we do want to feel like everything is complete.

And since it is just the start of the season there is still time to get your house ready. We still have some available spots to get you ready for the holidays. Book your appointment today. It will be like magic.