9 Do's & Don’ts of Holiday Home Staging

You want to show off your house, not the holiday decorations. Some decorations, done tastefully, will convince buyers that they can make this house, their “home for the holidays”.

No Huge Inflatable Yard Decorations - Curb appeal is as important in winter as the rest of the year. Forego this year’s neighborhood lighting contest. Keep the lighting to a minimum, accent specimen trees or outline the architecture.

No Scents - Holiday aromas-baked goods and live greens-enhance seasonal decor, but overly strong odors from air fresheners and candles may send buyers running.

No Oversized and Over-Decorated Trees – If you have soaring ceilings show them off with a taller tree; just be cautious of the amount of floor space that the tree occupies. You are selling square footage, not holiday décor. Pick colors to compliment your décor. But, too much red and green can backfire. A neutral palette of fresh greens, elegant silvers and gold’s, and classic white will compliment almost any décor.

No Window Decals – Or wreaths, garlands, or other decorations that will restrict light flow or the view.

Don’t Hide the Positives - Holiday villages consumes space, too much garland on the staircase railings & fireplace mantle hide sellable details, to many holiday accents on the tables equals visual clutter.

Don’t Be Charlie Brown – If you are going to decorate for the holidays, put some thought into it. Make sure the scale is correct for the space; the decorations don’t look like an afterthought, or childish.

Do Keep Private Spaces Private – Confine the holiday decor to public spaces, not the bedrooms. If you do extend your holiday décor to the bedrooms, keep it simple & small.

Do Invite Buyers In - Keep the heat up; invite buyers in from the cold to a warm & cozy home. Consider lighting gas fireplaces if you will be home right after a showing.

Play Soothing Music - Most people get their fill of jingles and carols, so if you play music for showings, pick a non-seasonal favorite that appeal year-round.

Many people treat holidays as a serious time of religious observance. Keep in mind that not everyone practices the same religion as you. The more decorating you do, whether the decorating has any religious undertones or not, the greater chance you have of potentially making a buyer feel less welcome. If you want to set out your nativity sets or menorah, consider putting them away during showings or open houses. Afterwards, you can display them again for your family and friends to admire and enjoy.