We answer Wednesday - Selling and Staging during the Holiday Season

"We are selling our home and our agents wants to book our photos.  Should we have them done before or after we decorate for Christmas? Our house looks so beautiful with the tree up and the stocking hung on the mantle. We love it and we think others will too!"

Christmas is right around the corner and it is such a wonderful time of year!  Decorating is one of our favourite parts of the season, too - it's festive and fun! But when it comes to selling your home, holiday decor presents more negatives than positives....and there are definitely buyers out there looking for their new home during the Christmas season, so you don't want to turn them off!



We love the welcoming exterior - it's seasonal but not over done.  But be sure not to leave it up too long....

What are the negatives of  seasonal decorating (for any holiday) while selling your home:

1. Distracting.  Yes, Christmas and other holiday decor is beautiful but it can really distract buyers from seeing the beauty and features of your home as they will be focused on the tree, wreath, lights, stockings and more.....and not the flooring, windows, layout....

2. Clutter.  Although we never really view or consider holiday decor pieces to be clutter when they are out on display they do take up room and can make a space look and feel cluttered and over stuffed.  Think about how much smaller a room looks with a 7 - 8 ft tree in it - it takes up space!

 

The most beautiful Christmas trees aren't necessarily the largest trees!  Consider a smaller tree - you still have a stunning Christmas tree to decorate but it visually (and physically) takes up less room.

 
3. Dating.  Holiday decor can really date your online photos and make your home look like it has been sitting on the market a lot longer than it has.  Let's say you have your photography done in early Dec with all of your decorating done.  By mid January these photos will already look dated and it will send the message to buyers (and their agent) that your home has been sitting even though it has only been 30-40 days. 

4. Personal. When you decorate for Christmas or really any holiday, it can be a very personalized touch to the space especially if you have family heirlooms, religious items and handmade ornaments and other crafts made by your children or grandchildren.  It personalizes the space and that can make buyers feel uncomfortable (or like they are just visiting) as they are trying to picture their lives and building memories of their own in this house.

So definitely have your photos take BEFORE you decorate.

When it comes to seasonal decorating before showings and open houses - really try to eliminate or at least limit the decor - for the same reasons listed above. But if you must decorate for Christmas while your home is on the resale market - here's what we suggest.

 

We love the simplicity of this room's Christmas decor.  It celebrates the season, it has a consistent colour scheme and style and it doesn't over power the room.

 
1.  Do NOT decorate BEFORE your photos.

2. Do keep it simple and tasteful with a consistent theme (for example: mixed metallics or traditional green, white and red; or country or modern).  This year keep it simple by only bringing out some decor - the house shouldn't look like Christmas town!

3. Do NOT keep the decorations up too long or too late. Or decorate too early either. Aim to have the decor packed up by Jan 4 (approx)

4. Do NOT hang up or display really personal decor such as family photos, religious items, handmade ornaments and crafts by children or grandchildren

5. Do keep it welcoming and inviting with a small vignette by the front entry and then some decor in main living areas (try to limit to a room to two, for example the family room as the main Christmas decorating space and maybe a few items in the dining room and/or formal living room - stay consistent with that theme)

Celebrate the season without going totally over board. Remember in your new home (the next one), you can decorate as early as you want and keep it up as long as you like and you can go all out! 
 
 

Christmas decor for everyone!

Well...it's about 1 month away - Christmas day! Have you decorated yet?

If you love to decorate but feel like Christmas just doesn't blend with your style we have some news for you - this year there is something for everyone!

In the past, Christmas decor was all about a traditional look and sticking with a white, green and red motif with a touch of silver or gold; or, it was very child like and full of animation.

But in recent years we have really started to see a huge change toward more stylish and fashion forward Christmas decor - so decorating for this festive season will mesh well with your current style and not fight it.

For the person that loves bright colour and even neon hues - options for you....try a white tree with lots of bright and bold colour decor items! You can even find bright colour trees like aqua or pink.  We love a fun punch of colour and colour is so festive so why not opt for colour and fun this holiday season? Try adding some different elements to your tree to make it really unique like bright bows that are oversized and full or print, bright colour feathers from a craft store, bold neon baubles, ribbons, pompoms and so much more!



For the person that loves glitz and glamour...why not dress up your home for this Christmas in metallics? The shiny and reflective surfaces look so chic and sophisticated (timeless too).  You can stick with one metallic like silver and keep it so cool and clean or blend them all.  Mix in some glitter and crystals for a total glam look.  We love to see metallics mixed with white twinkle lights.  Paired with a white tree gives the look a more modern feel but paired with a classic evergreen makes it a bit more elegant, it's up to you!



For the person that likes a more rustic look, you can incorporate your favourite woodland animals like owls, deer and moose along with wood textures like birch, mix in some plaid and knit textures for a cozy cabin Christmas vibe. Burlap garlands around the tree, grapevine accessories and pine cones are easy and simple additions to any evergreen tree and will give the look that rustic country feel. 




For someone who likes a more modern look, try a minimalist and monotone look.  Grey is a hot neutral and why not incorporate it into your Christmas decor motif? Pair it with some silver decor and you do not have to fill the tree with decor - keep it clean and simple. If you have grey in your home currently and like a tone on tone look this is a great option for you.




For the sports fan why not find a another way to display your team colours?  Try a sports themed tree celebrating Christmas and your team! You can find logo decorations for all of the professional teams and college team plus you can easily find lights, ribbon, baubles and more in your team colours.  Go Team! Go Christmas!!




For the person that likes something a bit different but you want to nod to tradition somewhat...why not decorate with an unexpected colour combination? Black and white are not your traditional Christmas colours but they are a classic combination, they look great together even on a tree. Add a fun pop like yellow or even aqua (Tiffany Blue like the tree here) for something really unique and eye catching.  Make the Christmas a part of your decor scheme!






 For the fashionista or aspiring fashion designer, show off your flare for fashion with this dress form tree.  Dress this tree up how ever you like! Add as much bling as you like and in any colour - you can really take this idea to the next level and completely customize it! This tree truly has a style of its own!




For the person that loves the beach...try a coastal Christmas tree! Shells, starfish and silver dollars look amazing on a tree paired with soft pastel tones.  If you love Christmas and you love the beach this is perfect for you or if you live on the coast and want to compliment the surroundings this is a great look, too!  The beach themed items pair so nicely with the green tree and the silver tones and glass baubles.




 For the person who loves the traditional colours but want to make a statement - make your tree a total designer showpiece and go over the top with oversized decor items all over your tree! To get this sculptural look you will need time, patience plus lots of floral wire but you can definitely achieve this fabulous look and it gives a fresh take on the traditional colours.




For the person that loves the snow....a snow flocked tree is for you!  Take the look of nature, those stunning snow covered evergreens and bring it indoors - this is a great look with any colour scheme or style.  It works beautifully with bold and bright neon hues, the rustic look and even the more elegant and traditional looks. You can even transform your current artificial tree to a snow covered one with a little DIY 

 

Remember when you are decorating for the holidays, keep the theme consistent - that will give your home that designer holiday look no matter which style you prefer.  Make sure that no matter your style - have fun!

We Answer Wednesday - All About the Holiday Centerpieces

“I am always looking at magazines for ideas for my centerpieces, but they all look so expensive and hard to put together. How can I get that look for my home?”

So many people are entertaining from home these days. This is a fad that many thought wouldn’t stick around but entertaining at home is typically more budget friendly and a great way to show off your beautiful home! There are a lot of different ways to throw a dinner party from a formal party to a backyard BBQ, but regardless of your type of party, 9 times out of 10, there will be a centerpiece on the dinner table. 

Here are some suggestions on what to use as a centerpiece for your dinner parties.

Floral centerpieces are a classic and traditional option. There are so many different types of floral arrangements that can be present on your table. So how does one decide?

 

Incorporate a colour scheme
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Part of hosting is making things look nice for your guests. Plan your floral arrangement based on a predetermined colour scheme. For example, if you have all white dishes and serve ware, incorporating another colour will enhance the table setting. Maybe you love purple and don’t own any purple dinner accessories. A centerpiece is a fabulous place to incorporate it. A white and purple floral arrangement would be a beautiful way to spice up your traditional white dishes.

There are so many sizes and shapes and styles of centerpieces to create. Depending on the size of your table, you may have the space to have multiple arrangements on the table. A series of small vases instead of one large arrangement gives your table a fresh look. It doesn’t have to be flowers either! As you can see in this photo, beautiful and bold lilacs in these oversized teal vases with glass bottles mixing in for fun make a big impact but the arrangement is so simple, paired with robin's egg blue dinner plates and glasses set on the rough textured, reclaimed wood harvest table looks absolutely incredible for a spring dinner or wedding

Candles

Candles are another classic option for a center piece. These can be arranged in many different ways using various colours, sizes and textures. Candle centerpieces have so much DIY potential, and with sites like Pinterest and Houzz, the options are truly endless for what you can do! There’s no reason to go crazy expensive either.. simple is beautiful too. If you’re looking for a wow-factor, be creative with your arrangement, it will look great!! 

Holiday Themed Centerpieces are so much fun. For Christmas, try adding ornaments into a large dish. Throw in a little sparkle if you can! A little glitter by candle light will make your table shine. 

 

When it comes to 'dressing up' your table think about these important points...

1.  Time of year, seasonal decor is easy to find so it won't be a stressful endeavour to under take



2. Type of gathering.  Is it formal? Casual? Family-friendly? Inside or Outside?  This will be vital when decide what to put on that table

3.  How crafty are you? there are tons of great ideas with glue guns, glitter and so much more but if you aren't a crafty soul you could get stressed out, keep it simple, Sometimes the simplest decor makes the most impact

4. Waste.  If you worry about waste think about edible centerpieces like fruit, candy, nuts or even beautiful artisan bread laid and displayed in a chic way.  If you opt for florals, think about how you could re-purpose the arrangements in your own home or give them away as a 'prize' like you often see at Weddings.

  

You can do so much with basics like ribbon, mason jars, flowers, paint, glitter, flowers, twigs, burlap, leaves, pumpkins, nuts, fruit, coffee beans, candles and other basics from around the home, the possibilities are really endless.....