What strikes me most about the Christmas season is the festive scale statement pieces, i.e., imagine pre-lit outdoor reindeer, traditional wreaths, and lighted garlands on front doors or foyers. These immediately render a house warm and welcoming both to the outsiders and even to the guests before they even cross the door. They are the type of decorations which give that holiday glowing effect. Speaking of interiors, I incline towards warm little touches on the tabletop and mantle such as LED nutcracker figures, velvet holiday pillows, and wooden advent calendars. These works are not intrusive to the space and blend well with nearly all forms of decor. The most basic, simple holiday tray or a collection of candelestick holders decorated with gilt candles could make any ordinary surface a holiday event. To complete the arsenal of offers, you can always have hot chocolate gift sets, peppermint cookies, and spiced shortbread tins. They are simple to wear, simple to present and immediately seasonal. These minor details contribute to the feeling of warmth, nostalgia, and celebrations to any holiday guide.
Last year at Zinfandel Grille, we mixed warm string lights with local evergreen centerpieces. Our heated patio with red accents was packed with regulars all December. My best advice? Add one signature holiday dessert. Guests can't resist posting it online, and that always brings in new customers. It just works.
People really respond to festive cookie displays. I'm talking giant gingerbread men or red velvet cookies shaped like ornaments. We added a few Christmas flavors last December, and our customers started posting their favorites online right away. It just became a thing. Try rotating a special flavor each week. It gives regulars something new to try and makes your shop part of their holiday tradition.
I've helped stage homes for years, and pine garlands with berries always make dining tables pop. Entryways work great with festive welcome mats or branded ornaments to get people in the holiday mood right away. We've used outdoor lanterns, wreaths, and string lights to make older houses feel fresh during December. These little touches help buyers picture themselves celebrating there, even if it doesn't work for every place.
Here's my trick for holiday staging. You don't need to go crazy. Just hang some string lights outside and put a real spruce wreath on the door. Inside, swap your regular plates for festive ones and put pinecones and candles on the table. Little things like a plaid blanket or a bowl of peppermint bark make people want to stay. Pick a few items and repeat them. It looks put-together without being too much.