Every year, sellers ask whether they should decorate for the holidays.
The answer is yes!  Within reason.  Here are 5 things to keep in mind:

1. Keep it simple. Don’t overdo the clutter or festive air.  Less is more.  Just like you cleaned out your closets to make your home feel larger, resist the temptation to pull out every decoration you’ve collected over the years and fill up the space.
2. Tasteful decorations add to the warmth and homey feeling, but over-the-top or outlandish will distract from the buyers’ opportunity to see the bones of your house.
3. Resist the temptation to advertise your religion too strongly.  Remember, you’re trying to make everyone feel that your house could be their house.  Don’t alienate potential buyers who may have a different faith than you do.  Christmas wreaths and trees or Hanukkah menorahs are wonderful expressions of tradition, and are fine decorations.
4. Take the decorations down immediately after the holidays!  Don’t leave them up much past the first week in January.  Your cozy decorating will feel stale as soon as the new year bells stop ringing.
5. If you don’t celebrate the holidays, consider adding more lighting, candles or flower arrangements for showings.  Make potential buyers feel at home and ready to celebrate their next holiday in their new home.

LifeStyle Denver is a Denver real estate and lifestyle blog authored by local Realtor Gretchen Rosenberg with The Kentwood Company at Cherry Creek.  Subscribe for up-to-date Denver information!