Expert Tips for Holiday Decorating

Jan Hoeft does a lot of tree trimming and holiday decorating.

She not only decks out her house, she coordinates holiday décor for her clients. The owner of , in Huntley, Hoeft is extra busy during the holidays making sure things look just right.

Hoeft gave Patch readers a few quick tips this holiday season to make decorating easier.

Less is more
If you have larger pieces, sometimes less is more, Hoeft said. It’s easier to store large pieces and put up.

Keep tabletop décor simple
You are better off with one bigger, dramatic piece on your table than something elaborate. You can then reinforce the color through the napkins or decorative ribbons. You don’t want too much on your table when serving Christmas dinner.

Choose a theme
You can do an all snowflake theme or a Disney theme for children but keep in mind a theme can be a simple as using a color effectively. You can pick a ribbon and coordinate ornaments with colors in the ribbon, she said.
 
Give your Christmas tree a new look
If you are looking to do something different with your tree and the décor, pick an accent color and use ribbon or other ornaments to give it a fresh look, Hoeft said. Many craft stores, like Michaels, have evergreen, twigs or glittery picks that you can add to your tree to give it a new look.

Express yourself
How you decorate depends on your family’s lifestyle and your personal taste. If you don’t have time to decorate the whole house, pick an area to focus on, like the living room. If your family loves Christmas, go ahead and put a tree in each room. Hoeft has clients who put miniature Christmas trees in each child’s room.