Decorating your home for the holidays is a fun, festive tradition but if your home’s on the market, it’s important that buyers are still able to imagine themselves living there.

Here are a few staging tips to help make sure your home doesn’t appear too cramped or cluttered during this busy time of year:

  1. Curb Your Enthusiasm – Leave the huge inflatable Santa in the garage this year! A few lights and a tasteful wreath on the front door is all you need to elegantly accent your home.
  2. First Impressions – Entranceways are usually quite cramped and dark so remove any unnecessary items and ensure you have adequate lighting.
  3. Deck the Halls (a little) – Keep decorations to a minimum as they make your home appear cluttered and never decorate unique, architectural features.
  4. Tree Time – A huge tree full of ornaments can make a room look cramped so opt for something smaller with some soft lights and a few tasteful decorations.
  5. Wrap it Up – Put away wrapping paper, tape, ribbons, etc. before showings. Don’t just stuff them in your closet though as buyers usually peek in cupboards to see how spacious they are.
  6. Holiday Cheer – Seasonal treats such as hot apple cider and holiday cookies will delight the senses and give your home a welcoming feel. It may also encourage buyers to stick around a little longer!

Although there are fewer buyers during the holiday season, they’re usually much more serious and there also aren’t as many listings to compete with. Your home will show beautifully if you use a few tasteful decorations to help draw attention to its best features, but keep them to a minimum so buyers aren’t overwhelmed, distracted or turned off.