White lights or colored? Fake tree or real? HGTV designers Sabrina Soto and Genevieve Gorder answered some of these classic Christmas decorating debates. See where they stand and share your opinion.
Ah, traditions. We all love sticking to them during the holidays and when old and new decorating traditions collide we tend to develop rather strong opinions about them.
While visiting the HGTV Holiday House at the Mall of America this weekend, I caught up with designers Sabrina Soto and Genevieve Gorder and asked them to answer some of these holiday decorating dilemmas.
White lights vs. colored lights?
Sabrina: I only use white lights, never colored lights — no matter what the tree is.
Genevieve: White. All the way. Always.
Fake tree vs. real tree?
Sabrina: I’m a real tree girl. You can even buy potted real trees so that it’s eco-friendly and earth friendly. Fake trees… I’m mean I know they make beautiful ones, but I just grew up with a real tree and to me it’s tradition.
Genevieve: Real, always. It’s essential. I mean I live in a five-story walk-up — if anybody should have a fake tree it should be me, but a real tree is essential. It’s like cooking. If I can’t smell it, why bother? For me, it’s real tree or bust.
Wrapped gifts or gift bags?
Sabrina: Wrapped gifts. I spend an entire night just sitting on the floor with all of my supplies and a glass of wine (maybe two) and I love wrapping gifts.
Genevieve: Gift wrap, but I don’t use wrapping paper. I use brown craft paper. I’m into bows and ribbons. And then I can personalize it. I like typography or I like to draw or stamp. I don’t like buying anyone else’s patterns, I like to make my own.
Store-bought or homemade holiday decor?
Sabrina: Store bought for most things. You could do crafts, but really who has the time to really do a lot of DIY projects, especially this season. I’m all for doing it for summer party projects, but I think right now everybody has their hands full with holiday parties, work parties, decorating, gift purchasing… just keep it simple and get a lot of wonderful store-bought pieces.
Genevieve: It’s a combo. Who has the time to stay home like Martha [Stewart] and weave a garland? No, pick your battles. Buy the ordinary and make it extraordinary with homemade things. Semi-homemade.
To see your favorite HGTV designer and ask them your own design questions, visit www.mallofamerica.com and see when they’ll be visiting the HGTV Holiday House.
Tell us: What are your favorite types of Christmas decor? Leave a comment below!