Holiday Decorations With Biltmore-Like Style

Dec. 5, 2007 — -- Each year more than 1 million tourists visit the Biltmore estate in Asheville, N.C., and 300,000 of those sightseers stop by during the holiday season.

For 33 years, Christmas at the Biltmore has been a grand event, which is open to the public.

Decorating the 8,000-acre estate, which includes America's largest private residence, can be a daunting task, but a large staff helps prepare the national historic landmark for the holiday season.

The Biltmore has more than 50 indoor holiday trees and 100 more across its landscape.About 25,000 ornaments adorn the branches, which are surrounded by miles of garland, 25,000 lights and 1,500 poinsettias.

And while the home's decorations may be too grand for your residence, you can reap some of the its professional decorating tips. Check out the Biltmore's suggestions on preparing your home for the holidays below.

First, choose a theme that coordinates with your decor and consider the details and colors in the room where your tree will stand.

The decorations in your home should tell your guests something about you and create a spirit for your holiday season. They can feature decorations from your childhood, they can be designed from natural materials, be opulent and glittering or they can reflect current trends.

Though many are tempted to simply decorate their homes and in green and red, they are not mandatory holiday colors.

Don't be afraid of using other colors for the Christmas season. Deep reds and greens certainly have a traditional look, but terra cotta, French blue or celadon green can say "Christmas" if seasonal accents and greenery are used.

Remember to have a theme that repeats throughout your decorations to achieve continuity, a thread that pulls everything together, from the front door to your tree.

Add the lights after your tree has been fluffed and shaped. Biltmore uses 50 light strands with 6-inch spacing. So a 6-foot tree requires eight sets of 50 lights, a 12-foot tree needs 26 sets, and a 14-foot needs 32 sets.