Holiday decorating may look effortless on Pinterest, but behind the scenes, it’s all about strategy, structure, and knowing what works in a real home. That’s where the experts come in.
Two local pros — Maria Krupholter, owner of Herndon-based Home & Holiday Designs, and Loudoun County-based designer Amy Walton of Amy Walton Design — share their go-to tips for creating a festive home that feels polished, nostalgic, and stress-free.
All About the Tree
For Krupholter, it all starts with the tree.
“You’ve got to fluff your tree correctly,” she says. “If the tree isn’t fluffed well, it’s going to look cheap and full of holes.” Krupholter recommends assembling and fluffing each section before stacking them, which makes it easier to work from the inside out.
Lighting is the next essential. Even with pre-lit trees, Krupholter adds more lights to build depth and glow. “Lights should come from the inside of the tree, not just the outside,” she says.
Oversized ornaments, placed deep within the branches, help reflect that inner sparkle. Smaller ornaments come last, layered toward the outer branches for dimension.
Ribbon is having a moment again — just not in the big symmetrical bows of years past. Krupholter suggests a simpler technique.
“I make two loops with two different ribbons, add two tails, and nestle them inside the tree,” she says. “It gives you four loops and four tails without overpowering the design.”
For toppers, she encourages clients to choose what fits their style — whether a traditional star or a showier spray of branches.
Fresh Pine for Indoor Settings
Leesburg designer Walton’s approach leans warm, natural, and accessible. “Christmas is my absolute favorite to decorate for,” she says. “I love mixing real greens with faux greens — you get the best of both.”
Faux garland or wreaths give structure, she says, while fresh clippings deliver that classic holiday fragrance.
“As the live pieces dry out, I just pull them and tuck new ones in,” Walton says. “You keep the look beautiful without the whole thing wilting.”
Walton also transforms her outdoor flower pots into evergreen arrangements using cut magnolia, pine, holly, and arborvitae.
“I leave the soil in the pots and build arrangements right into them,” she says. “They last longer outdoors, and you can add lights to make them sparkle at night.”
Inside, Walton is a real-tree loyalist. “I’m a real-tree girl every year,” she notes, adding that she places lights deep into the branches so ornaments shine from the inside out.
No matter your strategy, both designers agree that holiday decorating should feel personal, joyful and approachable. As Krupholter says, “The trends change, but the goal doesn’t — you want your home to feel magical.”
Feature image courtesy Home & Holiday Designs
