Carson Kressley and Thom Filicia Swear by These 5 Holiday Decorating Tips

The holidays are officially upon us, and with that comes the job making our homes feel festive and merry. But that doesn’t mean you have go insane with over-the-top decorations (think animatronic Santas and blinking reindeers), say our resident design whiz kids Thom Filicia and Carson Kressley. The stars of the makeover show Get a Room with Carson and Thom (tune in on Saturdays at 10/9c!) advised that it’s often best to keep the holiday decor simple, explaining that reimagining what you already have on hand can make a huge impact. 

They recently sat down with Home & Design and provided their top holiday decorating tips. So grab some hot coco, pull up a seat, and listen.

No need to bust your holiday budget at an expensive garden store. Instead, take advantage of what is growing around you. “Just keep it really simple, like greenery you harvest from your backyard. You can just throw that around. That always looks great,” advised Carson. 

Why buy new, when you can reinvent your everyday objects by simply adding some holiday flair? “Invest in some things that you already own,” said Carson. “You don’t have to buy all new stuff just because it’s a holiday. You can take some of your favorite vases and add greenery. It doesn’t have to be red and green, you can do all white or all gold.”

“Very often it’s just about creating an abundance of one thing,” said Thom, “and then layering one or two things to make it feel festive. Put a few gourds on the table with a bunch of other things.”

“Putting the gourd back in gorgeous!” Carson chimed in.

Instead of shopping online, look for quirky gems in your area. “My favorite stores are regional stores that are sort of mom and pop stores,” Thom advised.  

Still love that animatronic Santa? Go for it! Incorporating low- and high-end design can be pretty fabulous. Take it from one who knows. “I’m pretty good about being thrifty and mixing it up and doing high low,” Carson said.