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When it comes to decorating for the holidays, it’s hard to top Filoli. The historic estate in Woodside goes all out, transforming its grounds into a winter wonderland, and this year it’s offering multiple holiday experiences. By day, “Gilded” allows visitors to stroll the elegantly decorated house and gardens and pretend they’re stepping back in time, while “Thistlewyck” is a charming new little holiday village amongst the redwoods. And in the evening, there’s “Holiday Lights,” for which 16 acres of land are transformed into a twinkling, immersive “Night Garden.”
In case you’re feeling inspired to visit — or give your own holiday decor a glow-up — here’s the scoop on Filoli’s 2025 holiday vibes, plus some ideas and tips for bringing a touch of Filoli spirit home.
Mandy Torres is Filoli’s interim director of guest experiences and retail operations and she said for this year’s “Gilded” experience, it’s all about maximalism – colors, textures and lights designed to dazzle the senses while also harkening back to Filoli’s early 20th-century days.
“We’re really inspired by old theater design sets,” she said. Think whimsical themes, overlaid textures, curtains, tassels and luxurious fabrics such as velvet. “Swan Lake” and other balletic elements have also proven inspirational. “This holiday season, everybody needs a swan,” Torres said with a laugh.
Nature and old-world elements
In addition to taking inspiration from ornate vintage stage design, she said nature elements and the look of “Old World Christmas” are also “in” this year. She’s seeing a lot of cute, old-fashioned felted ornaments in the shape of woodland creatures, and “moss this year is having a huge moment as well,” she said (look for mossy reindeer and nutcrackers, for example).
“With Gilded … it really is the house transforming back to the Bourn era (referring to Filoli’s original owners),” she said. “They had a floral designer who believed more was more. This year we’re really leaning into this trend of maximalism.” House visitors will see a lot of bold, rich colors, crystal and mirrors, shimmering metallics and pearlescent touches, with an overall bejeweled look. For 2025, Filoli is especially utilizing what Torres referred to as “portals,” or the transitions between different rooms and areas, highlighting archways, windows and entrances. She suggested using mantelpieces as portals as well, stacking them high with glassware or horticultural arrangements.
Filoli-inspired tips for making your space merry and bright
Here a some holiday decorating tips from the experts at Filoli.
- Try layered lighting: Wrap strings of lights deep within the tree, then add more closer to the exterior for a lush, dimensional look.
- Bring the outdoors in: In addition to the traditional trees, wreaths and boughs of holly, consider even more natural elements such as moss, flowers and leaves.
- More is (sometimes) more: Maximalism means rich colors, textures and lots of sparkle.
- Go for soft lighting if you want that old-timey, romantic glow.
- Seek sensory delights: Festive scents and tasty food and drinks help set the holiday mood, as does music.
- Take a taste of Filoli home: The estate offers a variety of treasures for sale, including a line of goodies made with produce harvested on site.
“We love bringing the gardens indoors in any way we can,” she said, using both dried and seasonal fresh flowers “to keep that naturalist element and that touch of surrealism.”
In terms of indoor light, “We really love soft lighting. We believe that it creates this really warm glow,” Torres said. In keeping with the historical period references, the look of flickering candlelight and firelight will be featured.
Inside, “we try to keep the lighting pretty subdued and let the trees do a lot of the eye-capturing,” she said.
Outdoors, of course, with the “Holiday Lights,” experience, it’s all about illumination, featuring more than 6,000 strands of lights stretching more than 28 miles and a 210-foot light tunnel, according to Filoli. The more rustic look of “Thistlewyck,” designed to enchant the youngest visitors, featuring miniature trains and plenty of natural elements as well.
Local company Harrell Design + Build is the fiscal sponsor of Filoli’s “Yuletide Woodland Court” area this year, and Harrell senior designer Barb Wingo said she reached out to Filoli about the partnership, seeing it as a natural fit. “It’s such a magical place,” she said. “We want to support the continued curation and preservation of the home and gardens.”
Engaging the senses in your space
While Filoli’s holiday decorations are on a grand scale, Wingo said there are simple things that can make a big difference in any space. Using bountiful greenery is a hallmark of Filoli’s style, as is layered lighting, she said.
“They’ll wrap a layer of lighting deep inside the tree and then a second layer closer to the outside,” giving a lush, dimensional sparkle, Wingo said. She also recommends using lights to highlight a space’s architectural or horticultural features, something she said Filoli excels at – going beyond just lighting a Christmas tree or the front of a building.
“You could do it in your home in doorways, on the mantel, the stairs,” she said.
Strategic lighting helps draw the eye. “There’s always a little bit of shadow or darkness; it’s a principle of design as well,” she said. “You want to give an expanse where your eye can travel and then come to rest, creating focal points.”
Wingo emphasized that while Filoli’s grandiose displays are indeed inspiring, you don’t have to spend a lot of money or purchase new items to take your holiday decor to the next level. Consider using materials you already have but arranging them a little bit differently to provide a refresh.
“Most people have the same holiday decorations every year but you can also work around a theme. If there’s something that kind of speaks to what the year was, if there’s something that represents the family or individuals that you can coordinate around, sometimes that’s fun,” she said. Her husband is a drummer, so she curates a small tree or tabletop to showcase the drumming-themed ornaments and nutcrackers they’ve accumulated. Different rooms have different color palettes and moods, and holiday decor in each area can be coordinated to emphasize those looks, she said.
She also noted that another thing Filoli does well is engage multiple senses, including by offering enticing-smelling and tasting festive food and beverages that enhance the overall experience. “It’s the holidays in a cup,” she said of seasonal treats. “It totally sets the mood in an instant.”
More information on Holidays at Filoli is available at filoli.org/holidays. Information on Harrell Design + Build is available at harrelldesignbuild.com.
