I'm a Professional Christmas Decorator at Top Luxury Ski Resorts-Here Are My 10 Best-kept Secrets

"For those who would like a real tree, we recommend Fraser firs. They smell amazing, hold ornaments beautifully with their stiff branches, and their needles are soft to the touch, making them easy to work with (the needles are also smaller than usual, so they won't clog the vacuum). Fun fact: Frasers are typically the type of tree that the White House uses."

"When you bring your tree home with a fresh cut, get it into water ASAP. It will drink the most water in the first 48 hours. Then, give it plenty of time to warm up and open. If you work with it while it's cold, you risk snapping the branches."

Vail presents a classic winter holiday atmosphere with garlands, twinkling lights, and decorated lobbies. Bloomingvails has created holiday displays across resorts and private homes for more than 45 years, specializing in a high-alpine aesthetic. The business is transitioning to the next generation while sharing practical decorating tips. Recommended live trees are Fraser firs for scent, branch strength, and small needles that avoid vacuum clogging. Fresh-cut trees should go into water immediately and drink most in the first 48 hours; allow them to warm before handling to avoid snapping branches. For artificial trees, fully fluff every branch to add volume before decorating.

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