Property owners who manage common areas for renters, how do you decorate for the season? Do you do anything different or special or unique? From my experience, you'll get the most bang for your buck if you make the accents inclusive, well rounded and matching up to the lifestyle that tenants already identify with this property. Instead of diving deep into themed or overpersonalized decorations, I suggest staying more universal — warm lighting, natural greenery and a tasteful sprinkling of seasonal touches that help get your family into a festive mood together without making it feel exclusive to those who celebrate differently. For instance, instead of a giant Christmas tree, many of the properties I've consulted on use little clusters of winter plants, neutral holiday garland and light scent diffusers with hints of pine or cinnamon. These selections tip a hat to autumn without insisting on any one story. Why do you do it? Decorating common areas for the holidays is just as much about creating a feeling of togetherness as it is about using up space with seasonal objects. Tenants remember the moments more than the fixtures, and a warm, festive common area can nurture community at a time of year when emotions ride close to the surface. Strategically, it simultaneously unlocks value in the building—individuals who are emotionally connected to their home are more likely to renew leases, rate highly and refer friends. Holiday decor after all, is as much a retention tool of time-honored tendencies than it is an elegant option. How do renters enjoy it? Tenants also want residences that recognize the season without overstimulating them." I've witnessed renters spontaneously congregate around decked-out lounges, sharing coffee, or families posing for holiday photos in a nicely decorated lobby space. One of the most memorable was a real estate partner in Colorado, who set up nothing more than a hot cocoa station next to their seasonal decor. Neighbors began delivering cups of cocoa to their neighbors in the evenings, and it became an organic community ritual. The decor had not been (only) for show — it was for unlocking new patterns of interaction.
Being from coastal NC, I understand how much the holidays mean to families, so I focus on creating that 'home away from home' feeling in our rental properties' common areas. I partner with local businesses to sponsor a holiday food drive in our lobbies, complete with festive displays and incentives like rent discounts for participation--this not only decorates the space but gives residents a chance to give back to our Wilmington community together. What I've seen over the years is that when renters feel connected to their neighbors and the broader community, they're more likely to renew their leases and truly invest in taking care of the property.
I like to create a "Community Calendar of Cheer" in our common areas, essentially a large, decorative advent calendar where each day reveals a small, thoughtful local gift card--maybe for a coffee shop or a bakery--that one lucky resident wins. It's a simple idea, but tenants really enjoy the daily anticipation and the chance to support local businesses, which ties back to my belief in the power of community in real estate.
For our properties, because we're committed to the local community, I like to create a "Local Lights" holiday display in common areas, featuring decorations crafted by local artisans and small businesses around Madison County. We'll have a few festive trees, but instead of traditional ornaments, we'll adorn them with small, handcrafted items and business cards from our local partners. It's a way to brighten the space and support the community at the same time--renters love discovering new local shops right in their building, and it sparks great conversations, making our common areas truly feel like a hub, not just a hallway.
As a father of two girls, I love bringing that family spirit to our properties by hosting a 'Coastal Craft Day' in our common areas each December. My family and I provide supplies for residents to make their own beach-themed ornaments--like decorating sand dollars or painting small pieces of driftwood--which we then hang on a community tree. It's a simple activity, but seeing neighbors and their kids creating something together adds a wonderfully personal warmth to our shared spaces and honors the community spirit that makes Myrtle Beach home.
In our common areas, we set up a 'Tree of Honor' adorned with red, white, and blue ribbons, and we invite residents to hang photo ornaments of their loved ones who are serving or have served. Having spent over 14 years in the Army, I know what it's like to be away from family during the holidays, and this simple act creates a powerful sense of shared respect among our residents. It's a small way to honor their sacrifices and make our community feel more like home, especially for military families here in the Clarksville area.
In our properties, I like to keep decorations simple but personal--string lights, a classic tree, and a few handmade touches from local shops in the Hudson Valley. What makes it special is that I invite renters to contribute one ornament of their own, so the tree becomes a collection of stories instead of just decor. It's a small gesture, but residents really enjoy seeing their own piece of holiday spirit reflected in the space--it turns a lobby into a shared holiday tradition.
Approaching the holiday season, I being a property owner who takes care of common places where customers live, I am pondering how I should decorate it in a manner that would bring about a holiday and welcoming environment. Either I may stick to a more traditional or I can get decorations that are not as common and creative. Despite the choice I take, I can make the holidays joyful and exciting to both me and my renters by decorating. When I decide to decorate, the community spirit and pride are behind what I do in most instances. Even gathering to convert common areas into festive holiday arrangements may help tenants feel that they belong to something.
From a strategic standpoint, I approach holiday decorating as a marketing opportunity that also rewards our tenants. We invest in creating one high-impact, 'Instagrammable' scene in the lobby--like a vintage sleigh or a stunning light arch--and then host a resident photo contest where the best picture wins a significant rent credit. It's a win-win: our residents get genuinely excited and share photos online, which provides authentic, powerful social proof that helps us attract the best future tenants.
As someone who truly believes that community is the heart of real estate, I love to bring renters together during the holidays with small but meaningful touches--last year, my boys and I hosted a DIY ornament night for residents in our shared spaces, inviting everyone to bring their own flair to the tree. Not only does this create a warm, festive vibe, but it gives people a chance to connect and bring a piece of themselves into the space. For many of our tenants, these shared memories become a highlight of their time with us and remind them they're not just renting an apartment--they're part of a community.
As someone who loves designing and renovating properties, I treat holiday decor as a 'pop-up' design feature that enhances the space. Here in Las Vegas, instead of just a standard tree, I'll design a sleek, modern light installation that complements the building's architecture and feels unique to the property. Our renters often tell me they appreciate living somewhere with that extra level of polish, and it makes the common areas a point of pride during the festive season.