Festive Holiday Decorating That Spruces Up Your Community—and Celebrates Everyone

The holiday season is a prime time for property managers to create a festive, welcoming atmosphere for residents and property owners. Beyond just stringing up lights or hanging wreaths, decorating in a way that ensures everyone feels celebrated can strengthen community bonds. Here’s how property managers can deck the halls while being thoughtful about diversity, safety and sustainability.

Inclusive holiday decorating

Decorations that lean into neutral, secular themes can create a festive atmosphere that resonates with a diverse group of residents. Think winter-inspired motifs like snowflakes, evergreen garlands and metallic accents. This approach ensures that the decor is not tied to any one religious tradition, fostering a sense of inclusivity.

On the other hand, lighting is an easy and effective way to infuse holiday spirit into a property. Using multicolored lights instead of single-color schemes can symbolize unity and diversity, creating a cheerful ambience that appeals to everyone.

Spreading joy to the neighborhood

Exterior holiday decorations, such as lights, wreaths and lawn ornaments, can transform a property into a beacon of cheer for the entire neighborhood. However, property managers and residents should consider energy-efficient LED lights to minimize utility costs while maintaining a dazzling display.

When selecting outdoor decorations, ensure they are family-friendly. Avoid themes or displays that might be overly elaborate or inappropriate for younger residents. Classic winter scenes, light-up reindeer or simple string lights are safe bets.

Bring the holiday season inside

Decorating interiors offers opportunities to bring the warmth of the holiday season into shared or private living spaces, but certain precautions, such as fire safety, are essential. Candles and other open flames are festive but can be hazardous. Instead, opt for flameless LED candles and ensure that fire extinguishers and smoke detectors are maintained. And of course, the familiar and commonsense precautions still apply.

Child and pet safety is another consideration. Small ornaments, tinsel, or low-hanging decorations should be carefully placed to avoid posing risks. Last but not least, respect for the property’s integrity must be kept at the forefront. Residents should avoid hanging heavy or fragile decorations that could damage walls or fixtures. Using temporary hooks or adhesives can prevent costly repairs.

Community-building through decorations

Holiday decorating isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s an excellent way to build community spirit. Property managers can encourage participation by organizing events that bring residents together.

A potluck event where residents can share their favorite holiday dishes or a holiday movie screening in a common area can encourage cultural exchange and strengthen neighborly ties. Another idea is to set up a winter-themed photo booth with props and backdrops for residents to capture holiday memories with friends and family. Partnering with contractors or service providers to sponsor the booth can offset costs while promoting local businesses.

If you want to make it more like a competition, decorating contests or communal decorating days are a great way to bring residents together to beautify shared spaces and foster a sense of pride and camaraderie.

Prioritizing safety and sustainability

Safety and environmental responsibility are key to holiday season decorations. Replacing conventional lighting with LEDs reduces electricity consumption as well as fire risks. Use reusable decorations, handmade ornaments and items crafted from eco-friendly materials to celebrate sustainably. Encourage residents to donate their unused decor items or participate in DIY workshops that can foster creativity while minimizing waste.

For those managing properties on their own, partnering with experienced management companies can provide extra support during the busy holiday season. By keeping inclusivity, safety and sustainability at the forefront, property managers can set the stage for a truly harmonious and celebratory holiday season.