Priscilla Castellano, luxury interior designer and owner of Andrea Lauren Elegant Interiors, shares her advice on how to keep the magic in the season and successfully save time and money year after year.
The twinkle of lights. The warmth of rich-colored fabrics. The spiced and woodsy scents that fill the air. The holiday season is a feast for the senses. It can also be a test of our nerves, though, particularly when it comes to decking the halls. Boughs of holly? Where exactly does one even buy boughs of holly nowadays!
Priscilla Castellano has been in the interior decorating and design business since 1999. Outside of the North Pole, she is a Tampa Bay expert in getting homes and businesses ready for Christmas and Hanukah each year. From setting up and decorating trees, to selecting the perfect wreaths for the front entrance, to artistically wrapping banisters and railings, she and her team at Andrea Lauren Elegant Interiors have holiday adornment down to a science.
The holiday purchasing blunder to avoid
What does Castellano consider to be the biggest error people make when it comes to preparing for the holidays? “Not investing in quality pieces,” she states. “The holidays are a time of big expenses between gifts and travel. People try to save money by selecting inexpensive décor pieces, when in fact, that is exactly where they should be investing more.”
Castellano notes that there are several problems that arise from skimping on decorating items. The first is durability. For their holiday clients, Castellano’s team carefully unboxes people’s décor at the beginning of season and then magically whisks it all away and re-boxes it just as carefully after December 31st. Poorly constructed decorating pieces, particularly trees, wreaths, and ribbons, can begin to look worn quickly even when the utmost care is taken.
Rather than replacing items annually, Castellano advises that clients look at their holiday décor as a long-term investment. Doing so will save an exponential amount of money and time each year, as items will not need to be replaced as frequently. For those having a hard time allocating holiday funds to décor, Priscilla’s team recommends choosing one or two statement pieces each year to build upon.
Secondly, spending the money on items that are well-made will give you the look you’re desiring from your holiday decorations. “Quality items are what make it shine,” Castellano notes. Don’t be deceived by catalog photographs or store displays that can hide imperfections in poorly-made décor. A true quality piece will look like a quality piece and will retain that look over time.
How does one know when it’s quality versus just expensive?
If you want to know what to buy, consider consulting the experts. The Andrea Lauren Elegant Interiors team has the shopping knowhow to select which brands, styles, and materials are worthwhile and which ones will leave you singing the Christmas blues. Like your own team of Santa’s helpers, the designers will take your imagination and turn it into reality. Contact them today to set up your design consultation and learn more about their turnkey service approach to providing holiday decorating to clients across the Tampa Bay and Gulf Beach area.
