I started my business out of the trunk of my car over two decades ago
Holiday Design & Decorating
Woman • Owned • Local• Small Business
Kelly Fitzsimmons
Owner
I’m proud to be one of the few woman-owned holiday lighting companies in the nation.
I started this business over 21 years ago out of the trunk of my car, and my passion for creating magical lighting experiences has only grown. With a background in photography and a lifelong love of creativity, lighting design has become my dynamic and innovative outlet. I travel to decorating shows to bring my clients the very best in holiday decor
I’ve seen firsthand the joy that thoughtful lighting displays bring to families and communities
I’d love to help you start or enhance your holiday lighting tradition. Schedule a design call with us to get all your questions answered, or request a video catalog to explore our latest decor collection.
Our Mission
I’m on a mission to encourage everyone to decorate with holiday lights—whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or prefer to hire a professional. Lights have a unique way of making people smile. At Light Up Your Holidays, we’re dedicated to helping you celebrate an unforgettable holiday season, creating family memories and traditions that last a lifetime.
Every year, we’re honored to donate our services to 15 group homes, sharing the joy of a beautiful lighting tradition.
EXCELLENT Based on 180 reviews Ann Costello2025-01-24Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’m so pleased with the holiday design that Light Up Your Holidays executed on our home in Chicago for Christmas 2024! I was fortunate enough to have a voucher from a fundraiser to put towards our holiday lighting. Karla from LUYH reached out to me in June to begin the planning process. Even though it was early, I was so happy to have my decisions made well in advance. There are too many things to worry about around the holidays! My experience with Karla was wonderful. Karla is exceptional at her job. She presented and described options to me and was very patient while I made my decision. Once decided, a payment and installation schedule were presented to me. The entire process was so easy, from start to finish. Installation was very professional, as was the communication throughout the process, through removal of decorations/lighting. Text updates and reminders were helpful and appreciated. Installation was around Thanksgiving, but it was up to me when I wanted to flip the switch. I turned everything on when the install crew was present, and it looked outstanding! In fact, my next-door neighbor noticed and came outside to compliment me on our installation. The quality of the greenery and lights is really wonderful and clearly professional grade products are used. I may change my design for next year, and even though it’s only January, I’m already thinking of fresh design ideas for our home. I look forward to my conversations with Karla and her wonderful suggestions! Description of Work: Decorated the front of the home with lights and garlands. Jennifer Stevens2025-01-23Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Wonderful Team and holiday lighting! So glad to have the experts wrapping all different kinds of trees making the process easy for me! Sean Heffner (Chicago Wrap)2025-01-23Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent service and lights look amazing ! Patti Saltiel2025-01-22Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’ve used Light up your Holidays for my outdoor Christmas lighting for the past 3 yrs and each year the display gets better and better! I get so many compliments on my “Christmas house”. Farah Martinez2025-01-17Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. If you're like me, I sometimes end up not looking forward to the holidays because I don't have a decorators touch. The decorations always end up going up late and coming down late. This year, working with Light Up Your Holidays early, I had everything planned and couldn’t wait for my family to see it. I worked with Karla who has been really great. She's working with my timing, price point, and understands the needs and space of my home. Doing it again next year! Anne Naughton2025-01-16Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Karla Hoppe from Light up your Holidays is very knowledgeable and helpful with suggestions for our complex can't wait until installation is completed before Thanksgiving. Everything looked beautiful over the Holidays. The lights never blew any fuses, I highly recommend this company and look forward to 2025-26 display., Anne Naughton President GlenLake HOA Bob Welker2025-01-13Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Working with Light Up Your Holidays is like working with family. Family you like that is! Kelly and her team are so kind, professional and trustworthy. The house looked amazing and her team made the entire project easy for us. I'm genuinely looking forward to working with them again in 2025! Brittney Hurt2025-01-07Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. LUYH was wonderful to work with the process was so easy from start to finish. We loved our holiday lights and are so excited to use them again next year! Kevin Boyd2025-01-05Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I couldn’t be more thrilled with the incredible work that Light Up Your Holidays did on my multi-story home in Lincoln Park, Chicago! From the very beginning, their team demonstrated exceptional professionalism and creativity, transforming my home and surrounding trees and bushes into a dazzling winter wonderland. The design work was truly a masterpiece. They carefully listened to my preferences and provided ideas that enhanced the beauty of my home while staying true to its character. The way they draped the holiday lights, added lush garlands, and accented everything with perfectly placed bows was nothing short of stunning. The warm glow of the lights and the festive decorations brought a magical spirit to the block. The setup process was seamless. The team worked efficiently and carefully, ensuring that every element was securely in place. I was particularly impressed with how meticulous they were, taking care not to damage any part of my property during the installation. Their attention to detail was remarkable, and it showed in the flawless results. Perhaps what stood out most was the number of compliments I received from neighbors. Several people stopped by to say how much they loved the decorations and how beautifully they lit up the block. One neighbor said, “Your home looks like it belongs on a holiday postcard!” Another shared that the display brought joy to their family every evening. It felt wonderful to know that Light Up Your Holidays helped create a festive spirit for the whole community. When the season was over, the takedown was just as smooth as the setup. The team returned promptly and removed everything with care and efficiency, leaving my property in perfect condition. It’s clear that they take pride in their work from start to finish. I highly recommend Light Up Your Holidays to anyone looking to make their home shine during the holiday season. Their design expertise, meticulous setup, and efficient takedown made the entire experience hassle-free and truly magical. I can’t wait to work with them again next year! Christopher Kosonen2024-12-28Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great service! My family loved the lighting display.
A woman-owned business with over two decades of experience helping hundreds of clients create holiday memories.
Our Design Team
Is made up of trained artists, photographers, architects and decorators. We are passionate about creating beautiful, classic holiday homes for our clients. We live and breathe the principles of elegance and balance to enhance the architecture of your home.
Our crew
Our full-time professional Christmas lights installers are highly trained and skilled on 40ft+ ladders. We are insured and assume all risk. Light Up Your Holidays keeps your Chicago-area home, and our crew, safe. Our service technicians visit each home starting in December to maintain your lighting display. We take decorating your home seriously.
Our Guarantee
We guarantee that you will be delighted with the magical holiday display starting with your design collaboration, installation and on to removal. Our service technicians will remedy any issues with 24-48 hours. Request your FREE DESIGN NOW to enjoy your decorated home by Thanksgiving.
Our elegant decor
Our clients are proud of their professionally decorated homes because of the elegant decor we provide. Plus, the warm white color of our LED lights creates a magical look.
Our robust garland and wreaths are lifelike and gorgeous. You’ll be proud to show off your home day and night.
Warm LED lights resemble traditional, nostalgic incandescent lights. Our Christmas lights installers bring the magic to Chicago-area homes!
Precision
Our service includes design, installation and removal of outdoor holiday lighting.
Simplify your life and get the quality you expect in all areas of your life.
Beauty
You choose what you like – we eliminate storage and replacement hassles by providing and removing all décor.
Balance
We do all the work, so you enjoy the holidays worry free!
Spreading even more cheer with our pro bono,
group home decorating efforts.
Our giving philosophy
We are dedicated to spreading holiday cheer and honoring the spirit of the season by giving back to the Chicago-area communities we serve.
Light Up Your Holidays decorates many special-needs group homes. The reactions of residents, staff and caretakers as they marvel at the magic of the light displays is priceless.
Press & News
Daily Herald
Big Picture Local Focus 2008
By Jean Murphy | Day Herald Correspondent
Wishing you a hassle-free holiday season
While driving through the suburbs, enjoying people’s outdoor lighting is one of the pleasures of the holiday season. These drives are a cheap way to entertain everyone from the youngest child to grandma, especially now that gas prices have dipped… But behind that annual ritual are countless hours during which homeowners teeter on ladders, untangle long strands of wire and replace tiny bulbs that have caused entire strings to go out-tasks often done out in the cold…
HOME AND DESIGN
By J.T. Morand,Chicago 2007
Let someone else do the hanging and the climbing
Clark Gristuold could have saved himself a lot of pain and suffering if he picked up the phone before attempting to put Christmas lights all over his house.
Griswold, the accident prone dad played by Chevy Chase in the 1989 comedy “Christmas vacation” loses his footing on a ladder after stapling his shirt sleeve to the roofline of his home while putting up Christmas lights…
Real State
Rich Hein, Chicago 2007
HOLIDAY | when it comes to decking halls (and more), the pros can be worth the cost
‘Oh my gosh, there’s actually a company that will do this for you!”
Sorgel isn’t alone. Angie’s List has seen a 241 percent increase in the number of requests for holiday decorators in the past five years…
Angie’s List
by Debra Hale-Shelton, Chicago, 2003
Company Brings Cheer By Lighting Up The Holidays
If you want to brighten the season with holiday lights but don’t want to reenact Chevy Chase’s lighting nightmare in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, don’t worry. Now you can hire someone to perform the task for you.
Kelly Fitzsimmons, owner of Chicago-based Light Up Your Holidays, and her crew of roofers, landscapers and painters do all of the planning…
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
By Leslie Mann, Chicago, 2004
Lighting pro adds a glow to the holidays
Couples hire her to avoid blowing fuse
Athleen Whitman wanted to decorate her new Glenview house with exterior lights for the holidays. But she didn’t like the idea of her husband, Charles, on a 32-foot ladder.
Nor did she want him to sacrifice valuable weekend time with their children. “It wasn’t worth his time or safety,” she says. a subheading…
CRAIN’S
Chicago Business, Chicago 2007
Family Inspiration
On the Homefront, the inspiration to do it up big at the holidays comes from all fronts, including family members. Deidra Byrd’s children, ages 9 and 11, prompted her to make this holiday season lighter and a little brighter than last year, when she decorated her Glenview home with demure white Italian lights…