The holiday season is upon us friends, and nothing sets the festive mood quite like beautifully decorated spaces this time of year. If you’re anything like me you take this time as an opportunity to get creative, get that Pinterest board overloaded with ideas, and ‘deck the halls.’ In this blog, I'll be sharing some insider tips and tricks for holiday decorating, drawing inspiration from my experiences over this year.

Planning and Execution

This year was absolutely crazy with decorating since I had three different trees to set up in three different homes, plus our own home here in Chino. So, it was something I had on my mind all year, “How am I going to possibly decorate 4 homes in 4 different locations?” “Do I theme all 4 differently or just buy in bulk?” “Do old or new things for the AirBnb’s?”. 

So as Thanksgiving came, with its warm fall decor, was followed immediately by Christmas decorations and festivities so we were able to make the most out of that holiday weekend. I think it is so funny how in the United States, Thanksgiving is basically like a warm-up to Christmas. Once the turkey had been carved, Christmas exploded onto the scene with Black Friday shopping and decorating for the holiday!

Fortunately for me, all our Christmas decorations are stored at each Airbnb property, making it convenient for Matt and I to dive into the holiday spirit. Now that it’s been a few years since we started on this journey, we've developed a strategy of keeping the same decorations we use every year at our properties and adding a little bit more every year. That makes things quick, organized, manageable, and affordable to set up every year!

Property-Specific Themes

We try to give each property its own personality in general when it comes to the vibe of the homes. The Den boasts a rustic feel with brown, gold, and black tones, incorporating a lot of nature-inspired elements. The nature elements we add to the Den fit in perfectly with the surrounding area, since about this time is when it starts to snow, and really feels like a mountain cabin! This year Matt and I spent a night there, playing music and transforming it into a cozy Christmas haven which we had so much fun doing! Listen, I truly believe that If you’re going to do this business AND have a business where you work with yourself you’re going to have a lot of long days and late nights. Things like this are ways you can turn a work project into a date night. That was one thing Matt and I really made a priority this year of working hard but finding the balance in taking those work trips and making it fun for the both of us. 

Vista Lago, often fully booked in December, required careful planning to create magical moments for the guests. Now remember the other 2 of our properties are located in beautiful Lake Havasu, Arizona. So we don’t get to use the dreamy mountain and landscape as a Christmas backdrop. But we do have the desert.  Using green, coral, and gold, we adorned the tree and added touches throughout the house for a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Matt and I always want Vista Lago to be the crown jewel of our collection of Airbnbs since it is always the busiest. Lake Havasu City is also a lot warmer than other parts of the country this time of year, so we have a unique opportunity to create a ‘Christmas in the desert’ atmosphere!

The Clubhouse, being new, received a dose of recycled decor with a silver and gold palette all throughout the house. Since it is also in the same city as Vista Lago, it made it very easy to kill two birds with one stone and share decorations between the two. The Clubhouse also has a fireplace which helps the house feel like Christmas. I used that as a feature of my design inspiration and I had so much fun doing it. Overall I am so happy with how all of our properties turned out this year and how we managed to bring it all together and make it a success!

Back at our house, we set up our main tree with gold and silver, pops of red, and a newfound love for incorporating black into my holiday scheme! But my favorite touch of holidays at the Hunters was Avery’s own pink, silver, and white tree, adding a girlish charm to her room. It looks so beautiful at night, and it made me so excited Avery wanted to get involved in the festivities! She’s just like her mama.

Decorating Tip from Lisa: Don't Overwhelm Yourself

I’ve helped countless people decorate their homes for any time of the year, and what I see the most often is the pressure of decorating the entire house makes it an impossible task! My advice for everyone is not to feel overwhelmed by the idea of redoing everything by adding a new color or element while maintaining your base from previous years. You will be surprised at how new and fresh your home feels while still using all of the same pieces and just adding some new colors and textures

Staple Items and Trends

I’ve been seeing a lot of fun trends. Scented candles and diffusers, especially the Life and Lilac diffuser, are staples in our holiday homes. Remember it’s not about just their eyes that get to experience the homeyness of Christmas decor. It’s all the senses. I think you can do so much with just a great holiday-scented diffuser or even a Simmer Pot for when you have guests over! I’ve also been watching the social media trends this year. Things like twinkle lights are such a delicate way to add character to little nooks and crannies that you don’t want to commit to a whole string of lights and an extension cord that's overloaded like you’re Clark Griswold. Also, I can’t talk about Christmas trends without mentioning the sought-after tree from Home Depot that sold out. You are also probably seeing a lot of woodland elements and tinsel trees are making a comeback, evoking nostalgic childhood memories. Greenery, especially Norfolk pines, remains a perennial favorite.

Creating Cozy Spaces

Our goal is always to make guests feel cozy, welcome, and invited from the moment they step inside. When it’s a holiday like Christmas the pressure is really on. We know they aren’t home but we want to make it equally as special of an experience. We aim to provide a five-star Airbnb experience by putting ourselves in their shoes.

Favorite Stores and Tips for a Homely Feel

There’s nothing wrong about keeping your favorite stores and finds to yourself but I get asked all the time where I find so many of the items I use for the holiday.  I frequent Michaels, Kirklands, Afloral, and Pottery Barn for unique and beautiful pieces and they never miss!

Personal Touches

This year, I added greenery with layers and textures to the mantle, enhancing the ambiance. Taper candles (which is a trend I’m loving) were introduced to the tablescape, a touch of drama that doesn't obstruct conversation during dinner parties. I also embraced the beauty of decorating with Christmas books, giving the home an elevated and thoughtful feel. You would be shocked at what you can find over the year at thrift stores and garage sales when it comes to these vintage treasures. 

Candle Magic

As I mentioned above, I have been playing around with candles this year. I’ve been loving the long single candle sticks with the unique candle holders I’ve been seeing candles play a vital role in making a house feel like a home. Opt for ones with a Christmas scent that isn't overpowering, creating a pleasant and inviting atmosphere.

I hope these tips aim to inspire you to infuse warmth and charm into your holiday decorations. May your homes be filled with the spirit of the season, welcoming all who enter with open arms. Remember to have fun, make it your own, and Happy decorating!