Deck the halls with festive DIYs, sparkling decor tips and a guide to the best local holiday happenings.

Interior designer Jenny Slingerland transformed a Silverleaf home for a young family of four into a fun, festive retreat. “We didn’t want it to feel stuffy or contrived,” says Slingerland, who decorated each room to balance holiday charm with the dwelling’s style. In the family room, a 12-foot tree sparkles with glass-blown ornaments—from Santa figurines to gummy bears—alongside silver tinsel and icicles. In the dining room, she created a lively centerpiece by weaving greenery with lemons, oranges and citrus-colored ribbons that “played beautifully with the colorful wallpaper and yellow-trimmed window treatments.”

For an inviting holiday vibe, Slingerland recommends adding Christmas-themed throw pillows—“plaid is always a good idea”—and a faux fur blanket to the sofa. “Without a lot of time or money invested, your family room is now a place you want to cozy up to and visit with friends and family or watch a holiday movie,” says the designer.

To incorporate simple, festive touches throughout, she suggests buying a few bundles of holiday sprigs from your local market and tucking them on shelves or kitchen counters. “I’m also a sucker for a good velvet ribbon,” she adds. “Have fun and don’t limit yourself to a specific color palette. Feel free to mix it up.” 

Slingerland also recommends contacting full-home holiday decor service professionals well in advance: “I know it sounds crazy, but it’s best to reach out to us in the spring so we can begin planning for December,” she shares. “That way, we have adequate time to make it beautiful and special.”

What’s the best type of living Christmas tree that we can eventually relocate into our landscape?

There are two types of pines that do very well in Sonoran Desert landscapes: Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) and Afghan pine (Pinus eldarica), and both can serve as living Christmas trees. Young Aleppos have a classic Christmas tree shape, but as they mature, they take on a more rounded form, eventually reaching 50 feet high and 40 feet wide. Afghan pines are often marketed as living Christmas trees and survive the transition from indoors to outdoors after the holidays. Afghan pines grow as tall as Aleppo pines but only spread to about 25 feet. Both species are native to very sunny locations, so don’t keep your tree indoors for more than seven to 10 days, as prolonged low-light conditions will stress it out and may kill it.

Christmas at the Princess 

Through Jan. 4

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess transforms into a winter wonderland with more than 6 million lights, an ice-skating rink and festive activities for all ages. Don’t miss the Enchanted Plaza show with a four-story musical tree. Mon.-Thurs., 5-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sun., 4-11 p.m., $35 per person; free for kids under 3, 7575 E. Princess Drive, Scottsdale, christmasattheprincess.com

Festive Delights

Looking to add a special touch to your holiday treats? Danielle O’Day of Sweet Dee’s Bakeshop in Scottsdale shares three unique ideas to elevate your festive bakes with natural garnishes and a hint of playfulness.

Almond Pine Cone Cupcakes

These charming sweets only require a handful of ingredients. Frost the cupcakes upside down, then layer slivered almonds to resemble pine cones. “Dust them with powdered sugar to create a fresh snow effect,” O’Day suggests.

Christmas Wreath Cake

Transform a simple frosted confection with a rustic wreath of pomegranate, pears, rosemary, sage, edible flowers, mushrooms and dehydrated citrus. O’Day recommends coating cranberries and rosemary in simple syrup and sugar. “This gives a beautiful snowy shimmer,” she says. A deep red silk ribbon adds the final holiday flourish.

Red Apple Christmas Roses

For a delicate touch, decorate pies, tarts or cakes with apple roses. Thinly slice apples, simmer them in beet juice and sugar, then roll them into rose shapes. “The beet juice gives them a vibrant red color,” O’Day explains. Garnish with fresh sage and rosemary to complete the look.

Raise A Glass

Create these beautiful individual arrangements for every diner at your holiday table. Here, we used vintage cordial glasses filled with plants from the garden. For the best-looking results, cut plants in the morning. Gently rinse the flowers outside and lightly shake to remove any dust or insects. Not enough glasses for all guests? Feel free to mix the look up with different sizes, shapes or colors.

A cutting of the blue emu bush (Eremophila hygrophana) with Dallas red lantana (Lantana camara ‘Dallas Red’) departs from the traditional red and green palette. 

Barbara Karst bougainvillea (Bougainvillea ‘Barbara Karst’) surrounds sprigs of Tuscan blue upright rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Tuscan Blue’).

Red tissue paper fills the glass with color. Elephant’s food (Portulacaria afra) paired with Tuscan blue upright rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Tuscan Blue’) will stay fresh for days without water. 

Las Noches de Las Luminarias

Through Dec. 31

Experience the Desert Botanical Garden aglow with thousands of hand-lit luminarias and twinkling lights. Stroll through the gardens while enjoying live music and holiday beverages. Check the website for specific designated days. 5:30-9:30 p.m., general admission $42 for adults, $17 for children; member admission $37 for adults, $15 for children, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, dbg.org 

If you receive an amaryllis kit as a holiday gift, plant the bulbs as soon as possible to ensure good growth and flowering. Soak the bulb in water for an hour or two before planting to break dormancy, and place in the container with the pointed side up. You don’t need potting soil; amaryllis can be grown hydroponically in a dish filled with pebbles and water. Be sure to leave the top third of the bulb above the surface of the soil or water—otherwise it may not sprout.

Holiday Decorating Tips

• Your small space can accommodate a much larger tree than you probably think possible. Consider a tall, skinny version if you’re short on square footage, or opt for a half-tree that lies flat against a wall on one side.
• Part of the magic of Christmas is the air of nostalgia and familiarity. We don’t suggest you completely start over with your decorations every year, but we encourage people to enhance what they’ve already created. Everyone has a collection—maybe it’s snowmen, reindeer or all things red. Consider a new addition, not necessarily a new tradition.
• To me, the trees filled with childhood crafts, ornaments handed down for generations and trinkets from the past are the most precious. They’re representative of who your family is. Always incorporate your most treasured pieces, even if they’re not necessarily on theme or in style. Those are the items that really matter.

Glory To The King

Architect Brent Kendle’s Elvis Presley-themed Christmas tree is a quirky nod to his musical past. “I am a drummer and was in a touring Elvis impersonator band at the age of 15,” Kendle shares, explaining how his love for the King of Rock ’n’ Roll has influenced his holiday decor. Over the past 30 years, he has collected Elvis ornaments, with his favorite being a “chubby Elvis in a yellow jumpsuit” for its kitschy, folk-art charm. The tree, a small centerpiece on the kitchen island, is decorated each year with a cocktail in hand, “Blue Christmas” playing, and a healthy dose of wit. “I don’t think you can ever take yourself too seriously,” Kendle says, reflecting on his playful approach to his personal style and work as an architect. “I always try to inject humor and whimsy into my designs. Life is too short not to laugh as much as possible—especially around holiday time.”

ZooLights

Through Jan. 12

Head to the Phoenix Zoo for an animal-inspired light exhibit. With millions of sparkling lights and animated displays, ZooLights offers a magical holiday experience complete with music and hot cocoa. 5:30-10:30 p.m., general admission from $30; member admission from $25; free for children 2 and under, 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, phoenixzoo.org/events/zoolight

Scottsdazzle

Through Dec. 31

Old Town Scottsdale comes alive with this annual spectacle, a month-long celebration featuring holiday lights, themed events and plenty of shopping and dining. Be sure to catch the tree lighting ceremony and sing-along at the Scottsdale Waterfront. Free. 7135 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale, scottsdazzle.com

Natural Selection

Interior designer Denise Milano mixes classical holiday ingredients with regional elements for an updated Southwest vibe. “I use green lemon leaf as my foundation because citrus has played a big part in Arizona’s agriculture,” she explains. “I add red berries, succulents and natural organic elements, including rosemary, dried ram’s horn head and basket weave spheres to create texture.” The rattan orbs, she says, remind her of Native American baskets. Hand-carved wooden vases and a basket, both accented with ferns, sit in front of the fireplace. “Keeping it simple with a green and red theme and battery-operated LED lights makes for a traditional Christmas theme,” she remarks. “Use elements that are personal to you, and create a natural flow with your existing home decor.”

Tianyu Music Festival

Through Jan. 5

Wander through breathtaking luminous art installations and immerse yourself in four captivating themes: Illuminated Forest, Fairy Tale Wonderland, Panda Land and Ocean World. Indulge in food and beverages, then complete your visit by shopping for handcrafted treasures. From $25 for adults; $18 for children. Camelback Ranch-Glendale, 10710 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix, tianyuculture.us/phoenix

For the Birds

This easy-to-make wreath is sure to be a hit with your feathered friends.

Birdseed Wreath

• ½ cup warm water
• 1 package (1⁄4-ounce) unflavored gelatin
• 3 tablespoons light corn syrup
• ¾ cup flour
• 4 cups birdseed
• Nonstick cooking spray

Pour water into gelatin, and stir until dissolved. Whisk in corn syrup and flour, and stir into a smooth, thick paste. Add seeds and stir until they are well-coated to keep the wreath from falling apart (this is the sticky part).

Coat a bundt pan with cooking spray. Using a spatula, press the seed mix into the pan until well-packed and even. Let sit overnight.

Remove from mold by turning upside down on a plate when the wreath is hard and the edible “glue” has turned white. Add a ribbon and hang from a tree.

This bird treat is best left outside during cooler weather, as warmer temperatures can soften the gelatin, and the wreath may fall apart.