Oh don’t you just love this time of year? Everyone seems to have a bit more joy, a little extra generosity, and a touch more grace to those around them. I love it!! Why can’t we act like that all year? It’s funny how those feelings just creep in with the colder weather; December 25th gets closer and we get all giddy.

If you are in the midst of a selling your home, this time of year can also be a bit stressful. It’s tough balancing a market ready and Christmas ready abode. It doesn’t have to be so hard!

I don’t know about you, but I have barely even decorated for Christmas. In fact I have a bare tree, life with an active 15 month old makes decorating a bit more challenging, But, that doesn’t prevent us from warm Christmas fuzzies. We are excited to celebrate this season as a family, even with a bare Christmas tree and as of right now no Christmas lights up…haha!

Remember during this Christmas as you pull those boxes from your attic and dig out your decor,

It isn’t the decorations that make this season it is the people you are surrounded by and the Savior who came to the earth and died for you that MAKES the season!

So although I understand not hanging all 472 of your homemade ornaments is a challenge it doesn’t make Christmas go away, it probably will make Christmas less stressful! Have your kiddos help choose their favorites, only the most special ones make it to the tree. You don’t have to bring out every glittered reindeer or ceramic Santa Claus, remember just like last week…

K.I.S.S.- Keep It Simple Sellers! Less is always best!

We want your home to shine, not just the star atop that beautiful tree.

Key Indoor Decorating Areas:

• TREE– Keep it classic, green is preferred, I mean if you love a hot pink tree that is ok…but your buyer might run the other way. Simple ornaments, don’t overwhelm the tree it is a beautiful thing too it deserves to show its stuff! Ribbon, bead, or paper garland is great as well. Then top the whole thing off with a simple star or angel (WARNING…watch your toes here: NO GAUDY ANGELS PLEASE…sorry). Don’t forget your presents are the equivalent of throw pillows for a couch, if you get too crazy with pattern and color it may end up looking like a potluck gone bad.

  Great idea to use your decor as inspiration for your Christmas color scheme. You know I am always going to encouraged neutrals. This photo beautifully demonstrates how beige is everything BUT boring!                                                        Photo Credit: http://www.southernliving.com

Classic red, greens, whites, silvers and golds are always going to be a crowd pleaser! Great way to welcome Christmas and buyers into your home!                  Photo Credit: http://www.southernliving.com

• TABLESCAPE – The table is often an overlooked area, but it has a big impact! Centerpieces are a great way to show your individuality and creativity, and the options are endless! But, just like your decor less is more.

A personal fav, a white ceramic bowl, stand, or pitcher is so versatile. Here it plays as a backdrop for the muted silver ornaments and greenery. Simple, yet elegant…now I want to go and do this!

The rustic wood box is balanced by the clean lines of the white candles, and the red and green pop next to the white and brown.

•  MANTEL – A fireplace/mantel seems to be where a lot of the Christmas “magic” happens, so I understand not wanting to bypass this area. The key is not making it feel cluttered. Too many items and too much heavy greenery closes in the space and hides one of your homes best features–your fireplace!! So, if you have an 800 lb swag…let’s just go ahead and leave it in the attic for this year, but don’t despair below are some great alternatives!

The stockings are hung with care and topped off by a sweet boxwood wreath, and anchored by the red vases…simple, clean, classic–green,red and white!                Photo Credit: http://www.southernliving.com

 The magnolia swag is just enough to add some oomph and not block the beautiful fireplace! By layering a wreath on the mirror it is bringing Christmas in and adding a feeling of lightness to the area.

You don’t have to clad your walls in deco mesh to make it feel like Christmas. Use what you have, use what God gave us (hello greenery outside your house that is free!!), and use your noggin, with a little creativity you can make it your home for the holidays, and make it someone else’s home for the New Year!