Home for the holidays

Design experts suggest the best ways to make your holiday season even more festive.

Erin DeHaas, director of special projects for Homestead Gardens in Anne Arundel County, says those decorating for the holidays should have fun doing it. “The holidays are about celebrating,” she says. (paul w. gillespie/baltimore sun media group photos)

DeHaas designs a number of themed trees for Homestead Gardens, including this one with stuffed animals. (?)

No need to take down those nautical or Chesapeake decorations: Just add some pine or ribbons. (?)

Christmas, DeHaas says, doesn't have to be green and white. Red, white and blue can do just fine. (?)

In a holiday decoration rut? Want to update your look, but on a budget?

Look no further.

Two local designers have suggestions about the best ways to make your holiday season even more festive.

“The holidays are about celebrating, so just have fun with it,” said Erin DeHaas, director of special projects at Homestead Gardens. “Christmas doesn't have to be red, green or white. It can be blues and golds.”

DeHaas is responsible for decorating scores of themed Christmas trees at Homestead Gardens' two locations in Davidsonville and Severna Park in Anne Arundel County.

Decorating the holidays can be as simple as adding festive decorations to windows, artwork or lighting fixtures, DeHaas said. No need to take down those Chesapeake- or nautical-themed decorations; just add festive ribbons, pine or plastic snowflakes, she said.

To update any fall or Thanksgiving decorations left around the house, adding glitter or glass ornaments will instantly give it a winter feel, she said.

When it comes to decorating trees, DeHaas recommended determining what the focal point is and then designing around it.

This doesn't necessarily need to the tree-topper, DeHaas said.

It could be an ornament on the tree, or even an angel or large star placed in the middle of the tree.

The trees DeHaas designs at Homestead Gardens include a variety of themes from the whimsical to Santa Claus, and even stuffed animals.

For those who want to experiment with their tree decorations, DeHaas said it's best to use an artificial Christmas tree. When you place decorations on artificial trees, they tend to stay from year to year. She recommended using wire around real trees to help with stability.

For her own home, DeHaas likes to buy certain decorations by the dozen. This way, she can incorporate the decorations throughout the house and tie design elements together.

“It's like walking into your home and getting a hug,” she said.

Around the holiday season, most people like to stay traditional with their flowers, said Caroline Leslie, floral designer at The Gateway Florist in Annapolis.

A majority of the arrangements Leslie puts together include evergreens and poinsettias.

But for those interested in mixing it up, Leslie recommends using tropical flowers in the arrangements. She likes to add orchids, amaryllis and ginger flowers to give it a “little extra flair.”

Leslie found that gold flowers and wreaths were a big trend last year. She discovered a lot of people love gold-sprayed flowers, specifically magnolias, and pairing them with gold ribbons.

Incorporating gold into decorations, Leslie said, is a great way to change up home decorations, while still remaining the realm of elegant and traditional.