DIY vs. Professional Christmas Decorations: What's Better for Businesses?

Businesses that invest heavily in Christmas displays each year must decide whether to DIY or hire a professional. While DIY is cost-effective, a professional can reduce liability and save time and stress.

This article will review all aspects of DIY vs. professional Christmas decorations, ensuring you make the right choice. 

Professional Christmas decorating services offer various benefits. Here are some to consider. 

When you work with a professional, you get a high-quality display. Professionals tend to use top-of-the-line equipment and install fixtures so they look great and withstand the holiday season. A professionally done display will also make a good impression on customers.

Some people may be concerned that a professional display may not express their vision or brand image, but most professionals will work with you to ensure your display is to your liking. You can ask for custom features, and they will comply. 

The holiday season is one of the busiest times for business owners. They handle inventory, ensuring they have enough products to meet demand. They also have to deal with holiday hiring and increased consumer traffic. Who has time for a display?

A professional design service will take care of your display so you can focus on what’s important during the holiday season. They will relieve stress and make the season more enjoyable. 

You can also improve customer experience with decorations.

Christmas displays play a significant role in enhancing customer experience. Customers enjoy a well-done display. It will attract them to your store and make them stay inside longer, increasing their chances of purchasing. A favorable experience will also increase the chances they will return and recommend your business to friends and family.

A DIY display can create a pleasant atmosphere for customers, but a professional display is a sure crowd-pleaser. You can feel confident that everything will look its best and that your company will make a terrific impression on customers.

A professional display offers several benefits, but there are still many reasons why companies may prefer to DIY Christmas decorations for businesses. Here are some factors to consider. 

A professional can customize your display, but nothing replaces personalized holiday decorations. A DIY display allows you to put your heart into it. You can ensure all elements reflect your brand image. 

You can also get creative as you go along. You can integrate new display elements you may not have thought of if you weren’t working hands-on. A DIY decorator may even incorporate hand-designed aspects into the design. 

There is no doubt that DIY is an economical choice. Most designers charge between $300 and $2500 to decorate your business, so you can save considerably when putting up designs yourself. These savings will help you increase revenue during the holiday season. 

A Christmas decorating adventure can be a team-building event. Employees work together to complete various tasks, developing camaraderie that carries over to other aspects of the work environment. 

Decorating may also be an enjoyable task for employees. It can make them more engaged and build loyalty within the company. They may look forward to decorating and see it as a perk.

If you are considering DIY vs. Professional Christmas Decorations and are unsure which to choose, writing out a list of pros and cons may be best. Here are some factors to consider. 

While the upfront cost of DIY decorations is more affordable, professional decorating can offer better long-term value by providing the following benefits. 

• Time-Saving Holiday Decorating: A professional decorator will save you time; time means money, especially during the holiday season.
• Quality Work and Decorations: A professional will provide quality installations and decorations, which can reduce replacement and repair expenses.
• Reduced Safety Risks: Safety risks can be costly to businesses. Professional decorators are trained to ensure safety. If accidents occur, the decorating company will be liable. 

Both DIY and professional installations can offer a terrific visual impact. However, DIY decorations will only look their best if the installer has experience with electrical installations and design. 

A company can create a DIY display using handmade elements or even allow its kids to make decorations. This approach is heartwarming, but it may not have the visual impact of professional displays, which attract people to your business, build credibility, and boost conversions. 

In terms of time and resource commitment, there is no comparison. A professional decoration comes out ahead.

A DIY installation involves more than just the installation itself. It also consists of shopping for decorations and safety equipment and planning a decorating blueprint. Considering the time and money involved, a professional decoration service is an obvious choice.

Although professional Christmas decorations for businesses seem the best choice, some may still go the DIY route. This approach is ideal for those who are crafty and have installation experience. However, there are instances where professional services make more sense.

Here are some to consider. 

A large-scale Christmas decoration or complex installation requires professional services. For example, you should never try to DIY a complete mall design. Similarly, if your display requires tricky wiring or extensive ladder climbing, it’s best to leave it to a professional. 

A professional will ensure safety with complex and large-scale designs and guarantee you get great-looking results.

Consistency matters in symmetrical designs. For example, you may want to hang bows from balconies throughout your courtyard, ensuring they are perfectly placed. Or you could have wooden soldiers symmetrically balanced on either side of your entranceway. A professional will be trained to measure every aspect of your display and ensure a consistent appearance.

Durability is another crucial factor. No business wants a display that breaks or falls. A damaged display will not attract customers, may cause injuries, and may hurt your business's credibility. A professional will install a durable display that will withstand the holiday season. 

Safety is an integral issue to consider. If your display isn’t safe, you may endanger your employees, customers, business, and yourself, leading to costly injuries and reputational damage. 

You must also ensure your display is compliant. Even if no issues occur, a local official could come into your shop and identify non-compliant problems that cause you to get fined. 

Generally, an inspector will want to ensure your display aligns with the following regulations:

• Electrical Safety: Lights must be UL-certified and adequately installed. Avoid overloaded extension chords and damaged wires.
• Structural Integrity: Hang lights to ensure they don’t fall.
• Local Regulations: Follow any rules your landlord or local municipality set regarding the permitted timing, size, and type of displays.
• Fire Safety: Keep flammable materials far from heat sources and avoid open flames.

A professional will be aware of safety risks and ensure your display is compliant.

You may need fully managed decoration services if you host a light show or similar holiday event. A professional service can handle everything, including design, installation, synchronization, and removal. 

When deciding between DIY vs. professional Christmas decorations, DIY can be a cost-effective option for some businesses, but most will find that a professional service is the way to go. A professional will provide a durable display that impresses customers. They can save you time and money in the long run. 

Dekra-Lite is the ideal option for professional Christmas display installations. We have provided decorating services since 1987 and specialize in event centers, shopping centers, theme parks, and municipalities. Our team will ensure an impressive design that withstands the test of time. 

Contact us for support in creating an outstanding display this holiday season. 

Professional Christmas decorating services are worth the investment because they save business owners time and reduce costly safety issues. They are especially worthwhile for businesses that require complex, large-scale installations, fully managed services, and consistent, durable displays that follow safety and compliance regulations. 

You can enhance your brand image with Christmas decorations by:

• Using brand colors in your display
• Integrating brand elements in your display- for example, a cosmetic company may decorate their tree with lipsticks and eyeliners.
• Making your display lighting into an in-store event

The cost of professional holiday decoration services will vary depending on the business size and the installation's complexity. However, it typically ranges from $300 to $2500. 

A business should not decorate for Christmas too early, as doing so risks burning people out on the display. However, it should get a jump on the season to encourage people to shop early. Aim for somewhere ‘after Halloween and before Thanksgiving’ to strike the ideal balance. 

Yes, most professional decorators offer both interior holiday decoration services and exterior holiday decoration services to remain competitive in the industry.