You don’t have to go all Clark Griswold to show your holiday spirit. Decorations can be subtle, tasteful and inviting when a house is up for sale during the holiday months. Here are some tips for staging during the holiday season:

Before you Can Deck the Halls, Declutter Your House

As much as you might think, people don’t want to see a plethora of reindeers and other holiday decorations - on top of all the other items already present in the house. They also don’t want to see your family photos from 1987 😂 Try to declutter your house and clean it up before you start decorating.

The key here is to think “less is more”.

Have Photos Taken Before the Lights Are Up

It's best to take photos of the home prior to the exterior and interior decoration bonanza in order to avoid distractions. If circumstances are as such that photos must be taken after the lights have gone up - try to refrain from emulating the movie National Lampoons Christmas Vacation!

Pick a Tree that Will Highlight the Home’s Best Features

Does the house have a lofty ceiling you want to illuminate on? Use a tree that will show this. If your house has a small living room, consider a narrower tree.

Make House Feel Cozy

This is advice found on “Homes” and “HGTV,” which I agree with. This is a special time of year for many people. Don’t forget that. You can have beautiful wintery accents throughout the house, such as pine cones, to bring it to life during this holiday season.