Staging with Christmas Trees: Why We Usually Say “No”
We love Christmas as much as anyone: the twinkle of fairy lights, the scent of pine, the cosy atmosphere that fills a home. But when it comes to selling your property, festive decorations (especially Christmas trees) can sometimes do more harm than good.
At Little Barn Door, we’re all about helping you showcase your home at its absolute best, and while a beautifully styled space is always a win, adding a tree into the mix can tip the balance in the wrong direction.
Here’s why we usually recommend pressing pause on the tinsel until after your home has been staged or better yet, until after it’s sold.
It Timestamps Your Listing
A Christmas tree is a clear marker of time. The moment it appears in your property photos, your listing becomes tied to a specific season. Fast forward a few weeks into January, and your home may appear “stale” online, even if it’s only been on the market for a short time.
Buyers want to feel that a property is fresh to market. Seasonal décor can unintentionally suggest it’s been sitting unsold since the holidays, creating the wrong first impression before a viewing has even begun.
It Makes Rooms Feel Smaller
Even the most elegant Christmas tree takes up valuable space that could otherwise be used to highlight a key feature or improve the flow of a room.
Staging is all about maximising light, proportion, and layout. A large tree can interrupt sight lines, make a room feel crowded, and distract from the property’s architecture. For smaller homes or apartments, that loss of space is even more noticeable.
And when buyers are scrolling through photos online, even a slightly cluttered look can make a big difference to how spacious a room feels.
It Replaces Key Furniture and Styling Elements
We often see sellers move or remove furniture to make room for the tree, usually a side table, armchair, or lamp. Unfortunately, that can disrupt the careful balance of your staging design.
Each item in a staged space serves a purpose: to guide the buyer’s eye, create symmetry, and define how the room functions. Swap those items out for seasonal décor, and the flow is lost.
Our Recommendation: Stage Before You Decorate
If your property is going to market over the festive season, our advice is simple: stage first, decorate later.
Once photography is complete and marketing is underway, you can always add subtle, neutral decorations that complement your home rather than overwhelm it. Think small touches: a wintery wreath, soft candlelight, or a textured throw in muted tones.
That way, your home still feels warm and inviting, but the focus remains on the space itself.
The Bottom Line
A Christmas tree might make a home feel festive, but it won’t necessarily make it sell faster. Professional staging keeps your property timeless, spacious, and ready for any buyer, any season.
If you’re preparing to sell this winter, our team can help you strike the perfect balance between cosy and market-ready.
Get in touch to learn how Little Barn Door can help your home shine this festive season, with no tinsel required!