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Seasonal Decorations - Yeah or Nay in Home Staging?

By Diana Corcoran

Real Estate Agent with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Hudson Valley Properties

September 16, 2007 09:17 AM

Here in the northeast fall is upon us. The air is crisp, the sky is clear and the leaves are beginning to turn. It is my favorite time of year. At this time of year I decorate outside my home with pumpkins and mums. Inside I have some great glass pumpkins, some very pretty silk and beaded pumpkins and pretty autumn linens that I use in place of my more neutral things. I also use gourds and nuts for centerpieces. Is this a good idea when staging a home? I think buyers might enjoy "experiencing" the season in the homes they visit but....it steers away from that all important idea of the decor being neutral. So, opinions please, is it okay to decorate a staged home seasonally as long as it does not represent a particular religious holiday or theme?

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Kathy Passarette

Creative Home Expressions - Mount Sinai, NY

L.I. Staging/Decorating

I think a few things here and there are fine. I wouldn't overdo it and agree with you to keep it non-holiday or religious. If you have a floral arrangement you are using in your staging anyway, you could get some leaves and add them on picks; I think a basket of pinecones would work; things of that nature. Of course, you'll also be bringing that fall feeling in with throws, pillows, table linens and can use the colors of fall in that, too.

Sep 16, 2007 09:38 AM

Diana Corcoran

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Hudson Valley Properties - Rhinebeck, NY

Rhinebeck Real Estate

Kathy: I like the idea of adding leaves to the florals...Thanks!

Yvonne: I like your analogy of "life is seasonal" so away I go with some nice fall themed items.

Debbie: I love the candy corn container and scarecrow next to the agents sign in book...I'm going to suggest it to him. Thanks.

Sep 16, 2007 11:57 AM

Cindy Lin

Staged4more School of Home Staging - South San Francisco, CA

Host, The Home Staging Show podcast

I think seasonal touches are great, like subtle pumpkins, etc. for fall. But nothing too crazy. I wouldn't go with Christmas decor either even though it's very tempting. We just don't know what kind of buyers come through the door. They may not celebrate Christmas at all and am turned off by it. Same with Halloween. For someone like me who grew up in a non western country, we don't celebrate Halloween. It's not a habit of ours. While it's great to see decor out, and it's great fun, but it doesn't do anything for me personally.

Cheers,

Cindy

Sep 16, 2007 03:53 PM

Julianna Hind

eXp Realty - Tacoma, WA

REALTOR, 206-679-4768, Tacoma Federal Way, Auburn, Kent, WA

Diana, Depends on the demographics of your area, if it speaks well with your target market, go for it, just don't over do it and be ready to change it out if the season has come and gone and the place needs a new look.

Sep 16, 2007 06:26 PM

Julea Joseph

Reinventing Space - Chicago, IL

Julea Joseph House Stager - Reinventing Space

Ditto on Occupied, on Models you can go alittle more.

Sep 17, 2007 12:45 AM

Diana Corcoran

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Hudson Valley Properties - Rhinebeck, NY

Rhinebeck Real Estate

Cindy: Thanks. I would do pumpkins but no jack-o-lanterns or witches. I really just love the colors of fall!

Julianna: I would definitley change it back to totally neutral right after Thanksgiving.

Julea: This an estate but vacant with the owners furnishings mostly so I would treat like an occupied.

Thanks to everyone for your comments.

Sep 17, 2007 01:53 AM

Carol Ellis

Luxury-Domain to Home Stage - Charlottesville, VA

As with everything else about staging it depends on the house and the owner and circumstances. Autumnal celebration represents the joy of harvest time in the Pagan tradition. For people who are deeply religious in a particular faith and do not like the celebration even if it does not represent Halloween (All Hallows Eve) which to some, around here, is offensive. Pumpkins and mums are just beautiful and , to me, warm up a house and make it festive and inviting. Most, I think, would appreciate the effort.

Carol R. Ellis Luxury Domain to Home Stage

Sep 17, 2007 02:05 AM

Diana Corcoran

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Hudson Valley Properties - Rhinebeck, NY

Rhinebeck Real Estate

Penny: I bet seasonal decorating would be fun!

Carol: Thanks for the lesson on pagan tradition meaning. I agree that most would appreciate a very simple expression of the fall season.

Sep 17, 2007 06:02 AM

Ann Krewson

A.L.I. Designs, Inc. - Houston, TX

A.L.I. Designs; Staging Houston Homes; Allied Member of A.S.I.D.

I would not put to much seasonal deco in a home. A little is ok but don't over do it.

Sep 17, 2007 06:56 AM

Jennifer Fivelsdal

JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Red Hook, NY

Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Diana - I think a little seasonal decoration might be appreciated. Maybe my opinion should not count because I do very little changes with the seasons.

Sep 17, 2007 01:49 PM

Diana Corcoran

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Hudson Valley Properties - Rhinebeck, NY

Rhinebeck Real Estate

Ann: I agree less is more but a little is a nice touch.

Jennifer: Your opinion always counts. And, someone who does not do seasonal decorations saying they think it might be appreciated says it's probably a safe bet.

Sep 17, 2007 02:08 PM

Lynn Koerner

Interiors By Lynn - Cleveland, OH

I had a homeowner ask me the same question today. They had decorations ready to go. I said that the autumn flavored wreath for the front door was good and said no to the ghosts and goblins. I also suggesgted they plant mums either in a pot or near the front door. They took the advice very well.

Sep 17, 2007 02:46 PM

Lori Kim Polk

Premiere Home Staging : Home Staging Services - Roseville, CA

Home Stager - Roseville, Sacramento

I agree with the rest Diana. A little here and there is ok. I have always loved the fall colors, which are very popular right now for decor. I would add touches of the season, more than the Holiday :)

Sep 17, 2007 02:49 PM

Jo Potvin

Design To Market LLC - Cincinnati, OH

Home Staging Cincinnati - Design To Market

We definitely tend to adjust the look of our florals where it makes sense (fall colors instead of brighter spring colors) but we really stay away form the seasonal items.

Sep 17, 2007 03:35 PM

Jaynee Acevedo

Capital Style Home Staging - Kensington, MD

Capital Style Home Staging

Seasonal colors, IMHO, are essential for a fresh, appealing look. The problem is, with homes being on the market longer, you, as the Stager, must return to freshen the looks. Logically, I suppose, the closer the staging job is to your home or warehouse, the more you can experiment with seasonal looks. Yes?

Just chiming in! from DC..

Jaynee

Sep 19, 2007 01:47 AM

Kathleen Lordbock

Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN

Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Keep it light and keep it friendly - we do 2 week checks on all our listings so making a few seasonal changes is no big deal. But I don't have seasonal decor in for the MLS photos, since we take those as part of our service - again no big deal.No carved pumpkins, witches, ghosts, or spiders and webs (we do try to get rid of those things!)

I have had clients that are really into Halloween do their own thing for that night and then take it down. Good thing cuz those big blowups in the yard blocked the view of the house.

Sep 19, 2007 09:40 AM

Phyllis Pafumi

ReStyled to Sell Home Staging New Jersey - Old Bridge, NJ

ReStyled to Sell Staging Homes NJ

I think touches of the fall season are beautiful, warm and inviting. I always recommend mums outfront and maybe some pumpkins. Never halloween decorations. Some crisp apples around are always pleasant as well.

I did stage a house last year around Christmas to show off their fireplace and bay window. I am probably NOT going to do that again, too much work.

Phyllis Pafumi

Sep 19, 2007 12:52 PM

Diana Corcoran

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Hudson Valley Properties - Rhinebeck, NY

Rhinebeck Real Estate

Lynn: sounds like you had the perfect plan.

Lori: I think you are right "season" is the key not "holiday".

Jo: Adjusting florals can really chane the look.

Nora & Susan: I love to do spring also, as you said it is uplifting. I have my customers downplay Christmas totally if I can get them to agree.

Pamela: great first pic and I really like the river rocks.

Shelley: good suggestion about the MLS photos, I will be sure to gok back and freshen.

Shelley & Janey; point taken about MLS photos. I just hate that too when you see snow in summer and bare trees in summer.

Kathleen: Oh my gosh, I never thought of anyone putting those big blow ups out! I hope I don't have to deal with those.

Thanks to everyone for commenting. I am leaving on vacation tomorrow so if I don't respond to any new comments it is because I am sitting on the beach on the gulf coast of Florida....hooray for vacation!

Sep 19, 2007 12:54 PM

Greg Wilson

1st Cornerstone Realty - Schaumburg, IL

Hello Diana, a few decoractions never hurts. Its a good reminder of the holiday season.

Sep 20, 2007 01:21 AM