Holiday Curb Appeal: Landscaping & Lighting Tips From Our Playbook!
Whether you’re hosting family, or simply love that festive glow, now’s the time to create holiday curb appeal.
At Cultivate, we specialize seasonal landscaping and architecture lighting that brings South Louisiana charm to every front yard. Here are some tips from our playbook on how to make your property shine this December.
Light Up Your Architecture, Not Just Your Roofline
Most homeowners stop at stringing lights along the eaves — but the real magic comes from layered lighting that highlights your home’s structure and landscape together.
Pro tips for professional holiday lighting:
Outline rooflines and peaks for definition
Wrap columns, porch rails, and tree trunks with warm LEDs
Keep tones consistent — mixing “cool” LEDs with “warm” strands looks patchy.
Add soft ground lighting around beds and walkways for balance
Pick a Palette — and Stick With It. — warm white or classic red/green always feels timeless. Mirror your building or neighborhood palette: brick tones, signage, and plant color should harmonize.
Frame, Don’t Flood
Use lighting to outline architecture, not drown it — rooflines, columns, and eaves should glow, not glare.
Highlight structure and symmetry before adding color.
Avoid “stringing every surface” — less light, placed smarter, looks more professional and upscale.
Winter-Friendly Plants for Fresh Color
December doesn’t have to mean dull. You can still create rich curb appeal with cold-tolerant plantings and festive container designs.
Some of our favorites for the Northshore:
Camellias – glossy leaves and gorgeous winter blooms
Hollies – classic red berries for color and texture
Pansies & Violas – bright seasonal flowers for entry beds or pots in complementary tones.
Evergreens – add structure and fullness while everything else rests
A few fresh additions go a long way toward keeping your landscape alive through winter.
Keep Beds Clean and Defined
Edge and clear beds before lighting — tangled leaves and untrimmed borders kill the effect.
Add a fresh mulch layer or pine straw for a crisp base that reflects light evenly.
Sharp edges around walkways or flower beds make holiday lighting pop more dramatically at night.
Use Planters to Add Festive Touches
Don’t underestimate the power of a well-placed holiday container garden.
Combine:
Evergreen branches or boxwood trimmings
Pinecones, magnolia leaves, or dried berries
Weather-safe ribbons or lights
It’s simple, affordable, and instantly makes your porch or walkway feel seasonal.
Mix Landscape Lighting with Holiday Lights
Want your yard to look elegant instead of overdone? Blend your existing landscape lighting with your holiday setup.
Use path lights to guide guests
Keep uplights on trees for year-round glow
Add temporary holiday string lights for warmth and contrast
The mix of permanent lighting and seasonal sparkle creates balance — and your home stays beautiful even after the holidays.
Serving Covington, Mandeville, Slidell & the Northshore
This season, let your home be the one people slow down to admire. From Seasonal landscape lighting in Covington to winter landscape design across the Northshore, Cultivate creates curb appeal that shines long after the new year.
Schedule Your Winter Install
It’s not too late to make your home sparkle this season. Book Your Lighting Consultation or winter installation today!
