Tips on making your display a (good) talker

Nobody wants to be that neighbor.

You know, the one with the tacky holiday display that leaves others whispering and laughing behind your back.

So we asked some holiday decorating experts for tips on creating one of the neighborhood's most talked-about displays -- in a good way, of course.

• Plan ahead.

Make a rough sketch of your vision. The planning will help you stay organized and be obvious in the end result, says Brad Finkle, the author of a holiday decorating book and owner of Creative Decorating in Nebraska.

• Keep a simple color scheme.

Choose a base color, like blue or white, and accent with green and red, says Donna Smith, who helped coordinate the Morton Arboretum's light display in Lisle.

"When you have so many different colors, there's so much going on," she says. "By being a little more subtle, it gives you a richer tone."

• Be eco-friendly.

The arboretum decorators used energy-saving LED lights and incorporated natural materials, such as cones and berries, into their decor.

• Be wary of trends.

Icicle lights, the hot thing a few years ago, seem to have disappeared, Finkle says.

He cautions against inflatable decorations, which often deflate in bad weather. And they don't look great sitting in a heap on the lawn.

Net lighting, though consumer-friendly, is tough to use right. "Nine times out of 10, they don't fit perfectly," he says. "Either you'll have a dark spot on the tree or bush or you'll have a bunch of lights lying on the ground."

But classic bulb lighting, he says, never goes out of style.

• Mind your neighbors.

If your display's too big, it could generate a lot of extra street traffic, which may not please your neighbors.

Instead, consider organizing a neighborhood display, Finkle says. Many streets, for example, decorate with the same lighting theme, or use luminarias.