Need a hand? Some folks love Christmas so much that they decorate other people's homes, too

For some of us, decorating for the holidays is a much anticipated yearly tradition; for others, it seems like an overwhelming and daunting task.

For those in the latter category, help is available!

There are several professional holiday decorators in the area who are willing to assist you in pulling together a wonderful holiday look for your home.

Jim Finley, who works at The Yule Log Cabin in Commerce, Missouri, has been doing residential holiday decorating in the Cape Girardeau area for the past seven years.

"I do interior [holiday] decorating as well as front door wreaths and the front door area," he says.

Red Christmas ornament hanging from tree

He is a fan of lots of lights at Christmas.

"I think lights make everything look very festive," he says. "For example, if I do a garland on a staircase or mantle, I want it lighted."

As a former florist, Finley also encourages the use of plenty of ribbon at the holidays.

"It makes everything look festive and decorated," he says.

To accent front door decorations, Finley suggests using a spotlight on the door.

"I think it's a big mistake not to put a spotlight on the [decorated] front door," he says.

Like many in this field, Finley's holiday decorating work started at the suggestion of a friend.

"A friend asked me to decorate her house for the holidays and things just went from there," he says.

Clients can hire Finley by the job or by the hour, but they must notify him soon if they want his decorating help this holiday season.

"I usually charge by the job, but sometimes I charge by the hour," Finley says. "I try to get most of the decorating done before Thanksgiving, as most people want their house decorated by then."

Sharon Mueller, a Realtor at Realty Executives of Cape County, has been doing interior Christmas decorating for friends and acquaintances for the past 10 years.

She encourages them to keep things simple and easy.

"[I suggest] they use what they have and add fresh greenery," Mueller says. "Just keep it natural. I am a traditionalist. Just by adding lots of gold or red ball ornaments scattered in clusters around the home, it warms it up during the holiday season."

Mueller's charges for holiday decorating vary by the job.

"Each job varies, depending on the scope and size of the job, but I typically charge $35 to $50 dollars per hour, and the client provides the greenery and the decor," she says. "I charge more if I have to go out and purchase extra items."

Nickie McCadams does interior holiday decorating in residential homes and places of business through her holiday decorating business, Christmas by Nickie.

McCadams believes the Christmas theme should run through the entire house.

"I think there should be a touch of Christmas in every room," she says. "I like different things that aren't always red and green, like feathers that you might not always find in the Christmas section. And, I think [the holiday decorations] should flow with the room and be an extension of the room."

McCadams' holiday decorating business started with her own love of Christmas and holiday decorating.

"I've always loved Christmas and do a lot of decorating at my own house," she says. "Then, four years ago, I started helping friends and gave a seminar on holiday decorating."

Her holiday decorating business grew from there.

"Last year, I decorated 59 trees as well as several staircases and fireplaces," says McCadams, who charges by the job.

Joannie Smith is the owner of The Yule Log Cabin holiday shop in Commerce. She features 165 decorated trees at the holiday store and has helped customers put their holiday look together for years.

Smith recommends non pre-lit trees and enhancing the tree top for starter holiday decorating tips.

"I prefer trees where you put the lights on yourself, because lights can go out pretty easily on a pre-lit tree," she says. "And, you don't need to use a real tree topper. A favorite ornament or item that has been in the family can be worked into the tree with ribbons and picks."

Smith also like to have a common thread that ties the tree together.

"Most people like to use their collection of ornaments, and they might not all match, but putting something like picks [artificial stems] of red berries throughout the tree ties the tree together," she says.

Smith's love of Christmas comes from her mother and grandmother making the holiday so special.

"My grandmother and mother made our holidays magical," says Smith. "My grandmother had a flocked tree with pastel ornaments and my mother loved to use lots of tinsel."

In addition to the many ornaments, The Yule Log Cabin sells fresh trees, wreaths and greenery.

"I show people how to layer things to make them look good, how to make bows and how the eye follows it all to make the composition," Smith says.

The Yule Log Cabin is open from Labor Day through Jan. 1, seven days a week.