There are those enviable homes that pop up every holiday season, so impeccably decorated that they practically radiate joy. Some are so inviting they have you questioning your own efforts and not so subtly nudge you to dream bigger. Why not let these homes inspire your potential to create a swoon worthy tableau of your own and allow the creative sugar plum fairies to dance in your head? Either way, ‘tis the season to go for it! The only problem is that achieving this next level kind of magic doesn’t just happen by chance. The results are usually the product of serious discipline and thoughtful, creative planning. And well, most folks are already overwhelmed with a myriad of other holiday responsibilities. Extra logistics seem daunting when you’re just trying to stay afloat. Still, you don’t have to sacrifice ambition at the altar of convenience. Forget about unboxing your dusty old faux garland and smushed pre-tied bows and invite something more unique into your life. But you’re probably going to need help.
Many people still believe that holiday decorating rests entirely on their own shoulders. While that’s perfectly understandable, the truth is that big aspirations often benefit from professional help. And in today’s world, connecting with an expert is easy and an ideal solution for those short on time but not ambition. Enlisting a local florist or event designer can be a useful tool for bringing your holiday vision to life. Kim Starr Wise, a third-generation floral designer based in New Orleans, has been transforming spaces from weddings to dinner parties for over a decade. Known for her keen eye for beauty and attention to detail, Wise brings a unique perspective to every project. Whether or not you decide to hire an expert, you’d be wise to take advantage of her (free!) expert advice. Wise agreed to share opinions, tips and tricks to help bring your holiday dreams to life.
Before anything else, you’ll need to get your creative vision set. This may come easy for some, but in a world of Pinterest and Instagram, the choices can become overwhelming. There are so many varying themes and color trends that paring it down to one is no easy feat. Wise suggests forgoing trends and focusing on a color story. She offered, “You don’t really need a theme, but a color scheme, absolutely!” Adding, “One client of mine is refining their look from the last few years and committed to a distinctly northern winter aesthetic: color coordinating dense evergreens, brown pinecones, red velvet ribbons, and frosted berries. No ornaments.”
Another popular, eye-catching look is grouping autumn inspired colors together. Fanning out ornaments in brown, orange and cream beautifully complements a deep green holiday tree. Plus, the nod towards traditional Thanksgiving colors allows for an early tree set up. Bonus! Wise also recommends using a monochromatic look. She says, “I love using unexpected holiday colors like black or pink in this way.” For example, grouping ornaments and ribbons together in varying shades of pink, think rose, mauve, baby pink, will create drama without feeling chaotic.
The scope of work you’re willing to take on is also an important consideration. This can be swayed by many factors, like your potential hosting responsibilities, and of course, the budget. You’ll need to clarify which areas of your home you’re planning to include and how much space you’re working with. For those feeling overzealous, it’s beneficial to know how far you need to take it to create the maximum impact you’re craving. For example, is one room enough to create a show stopping look? Wise weighs in, “Not in my opinion, but I think it depends on the home’s layout and the other decor in the house.” Conversely, she also believes that it’s not necessarily the size of the project that creates the magic. Wise insists that for her, no undertaking is too large or too small to be worthwhile. She’s assisted with large scale projects like a French quarter hotel featuring over 300 floating ornaments; each attached to the ceiling with monofilament, surrounded by faux trees. And on the opposite end of the scale, she’s decorated a single-family tree for a client, adorned with butterflies, family heirloom ornaments and colorful ribbons that carried over to the fireplace mantel. She says, “The result was detail-oriented, artistic and eclectic.”
Wise also offers practical advice for those taking the DIY route. She emphasizes that choosing the right tools can make all the difference.
“I cannot create without ribbon scissors, wire cutters, and leather gloves to protect my hands! Ooh and baby oil if I’m working with real evergreen,” she says.
The baby oil will remove sticky evergreen sap from your hands. Swimming in this same unsexy, yet immensely useful pond of practices is opting for the correct cords, fasteners, and adhesives. This can sometimes feel like a hassle, as there are so many options, but choosing wisely is paramount to any great decoration. While it will vary from project to project, a few special tools remain popular with those in the know. When decorating outdoors, many experts rely on heavy-duty extension cords rated for extreme weather, along with zip ties to keep everything secure. These staple products offer a sense of security. In our unpredictable climate, you want to avoid blowing fuses in the rain or fixed decorations flailing in the wind.
Depending on your project, technology can also be your best friend. For instance, Wemo offers a smart outlet that lets you control your home’s lighting from your phone, ideal for folks tired of crawling behind their tree to turn the lights on and off. Also, a simple lighted foot switch comes in very handy for anyone with mobility issues. The TreE-Z Wrap is another handy product that helps fasten lights around tree trunks, branches, or columns. Heaven help you if your lights don’t remain in even rows after you’ve spent hours securing them. Speaking of securing, the use of a utility hook with an extension pole is a fantastic way to reach elevated spots that might otherwise be too dangerous. Additionally, for complex outdoor lighting, the Pro Christmas 4-Channel Light String Control plug is very useful. It offers four separate electrical “strings,” each with its own female plug for easy organization. Last but not least, for creating the best holiday bows, a glue gun and ribbon scissors are essential. And if you’re serious about your bows, you might want to invest in a bow maker. It’s only $20 and can create over seven types of bows.
Often both DIYers and those who seek professional help want to work with what they already have on hand. This is when it’s important to decide what stays and what goes (at least for this year). If the overarching goal is to be as eye pleasing as possible, then you will have to pick favorites. New Orleans natives (in particular) tend to favor family heirlooms, for better or worse, and feel the need to incorporate them throughout their home every season. As meaningful as these pieces are, they can dominate a look and curtail your desired aesthetic. If you’re trying to make a novel statement this year, you might need to rethink this just temporarily.
Wise mentions, “I think trying to reuse decorations that are past their prime or that don’t complement the overall look is a mistake.”
Instead, she suggests revitalizing old pieces with just a few modern tweaks. She says, “Changing out ribbon colors and swapping around ornaments can bring just the change you need.” You can also add something fresh, organic to your design to give it more depth. Using a classic array of fresh oranges, cinnamon sticks, or olive branches adds warmth and a delightful scent to any tree, garland, or floral arrangement. You might be surprised by how many useful items you can source at the grocery store or even in your own backyard.
When all is said and done, the goal is to decorate your home in a way that feels truly special to you. Maybe that means recreating the same beloved design year after year, or maybe it’s about surprising yourself with something entirely new and spectacular. No matter what’s come before, whether you’ve overlooked the spaces where your family gathers, or held on to one look for too long, it’s never too late to start fresh. As Diana Vreeland once said (and as Kim Starr Wise reminds us in her email signature), “There’s only one thing in life, and that’s the continual renewal of inspiration.” When it comes to the holidays, that renewal is everything. You’re never really stuck or out of ideas as long as you hold on to your creativity and sense of wonder. There are so many ways to make a change—without overspending or adding stress. And if your vision grows bigger than your reach, it’s a great idea to call in an expert to help bring it to life.
Kim Starr Wise Floral Events, kimstarrwise.com
The Flower Shop Nola, theflowershopnola.com
