If you’re debating whether to decorate your short-term rental for Christmas, you’re not alone. I’ve had this exact debate with myself for years—and I’ve done it both ways.
After hosting guests through multiple holiday seasons, reading their reviews, and even having guests specifically request decorations, here’s what I’ve learned about Christmas decorating for vacation rentals.
If you’re interested, I am having a giveaway for an ornament designed for short term rentals – sign up here!
The Short Answer: Yes, But Keep It Simple
Most guests appreciate holiday decorations during December stays, and some will even mention it in their reviews. But you don’t need to go overboard or stress yourself out.
Let me share some real experiences that helped me figure this out.
Year 1: The Christmas Tree Experiment
My first year as an Airbnb host, I wasn’t sure if decorating was worth the effort. But we had an extra Christmas tree from upgrading our own tree, so I decided to give it a try.
I bought some non-sentimental ornaments, decorated the tree, and set it up next to the piano in our property.
Here’s what the guest said in her review:
“This was a wonderful and comfortable place to stay while we were in town visiting family. The house was clean and well stocked. They even had a Christmas tree set up next to the piano. This is now one of my favorite stays on Airbnb thus far.”
That review told me everything I needed to know—the small effort made a big impression.
My Storage Hack (That Saved Me Hours)
At the end of that season, I did something that turned out to be genius: I wrapped up the tree while it was still fully decorated and moved it to our storage room.
No unpacking ornaments. No redecorating. Just wrap, store, and forget.
The next year, I could pull it out, unwrap it, fluff it up, and it was ready in 15 minutes.
You can get a bag designed to store your tree upright: Check this one out!
Year 2: I Talked Myself Out of Decorating
The second year, I talked myself OUT of decorating. I was worried about families with toddlers—you know, little hands grabbing ornaments, potentially pulling down the tree.
In your own home with toddlers, you might use a barrier around the tree or put up a small tree on an elevated surface. I wasn’t sure if guests with young kids would appreciate having to deal with that.
So I skipped decorating that year.
Then This Message Changed Everything
The next year, I got a booking over Christmas and received this message from the guest:
“Hi, just trying to figure out whether Santa will be coming to my in-laws or to the Airbnb and was wondering if there are any Christmas decorations specifically a Christmas tree up at your place.”
Perfect! I told her about our wrapped tree in storage and offered to pull it out.
Her response: “That would be great if you don’t mind!”
We set it up during turnover—super quick—and here’s what she said in her review:
“My husband and I stayed here with our two kids over Christmas while visiting family in the area. It was clean and had everything we needed. Truly one of the best Airbnbs we’ve stayed in. I asked if the place would have a Christmas tree and Darisse offered to pull one out of storage so that it would feel like Christmas for our two little kids. We would definitely stay there again.”
This guest had young children, but having the “feeling of Christmas” was more important to her than any inconvenience. That sealed the deal for me—I’ve decorated every year since.
What About Guests Who Don’t Celebrate Christmas?
This is a valid concern. Some hosts worry about offending guests who don’t celebrate Christmas.
Here are your options:
- Ask your December guests directly – Message them: “We can set up Christmas decorations if you’d like. Just let us know!”
- Keep it general – Focus on “winter” or “holiday” themes rather than specifically religious decorations
- Consider your location – In areas where Christmas is widely celebrated, most guests expect it
- Make it easy to remove – If a guest requests no decorations, they should be simple to take down quickly
In my experience, most guests appreciate the festive touch, and those who don’t will typically let you know.
The Toddler Problem (Solved)
Worried about families with little kids?
Option 1: Use a small tabletop tree on an elevated surface (dining table, console table, etc.) where little hands can’t reach
Option 2: Decorate with unbreakable ornaments only
Option 3: Skip the tree and use other decorations like garland, throw pillows, or a wreath
Most parents are already managing their kids around decorations everywhere they go in December—your rental won’t be different. And as my guest review showed, many parents WANT that Christmas feeling for their kids.
Keep It Simple: My Decorating Philosophy
You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars or an entire Saturday decorating.
What worked for me:
- ✅ One Christmas tree
- ✅ Simple ornaments (nothing sentimental or expensive)
- ✅ Maybe a wreath on the door
- ✅ That’s it
Guests who want Christmas decorations will appreciate what you have, even if it’s not as elaborate as what you’d do in your own home.
The effort-to-appreciation ratio is excellent. A couple hours of work = glowing reviews and happy guests.
Custom Ornaments: The Personal Touch That Gets You Rebooked
Here’s something I created specifically for short-term rental hosts: customizable Christmas ornaments with your property name on them.
The idea is simple: Put several customized ornaments on your tree, and guests can take one home as a gift.
Why this works:
- ✨ Creates a memorable guest experience
- 🏡 Gives guests a physical reminder of your property
- 🔄 Next year when they pull out decorations, they see your property name and think: “We should stay there again!”
It’s the same concept as restaurants that give you branded cups to take home—every time you use it, you remember them (and crave their food).
Watch the full video above where I show each ornament design and share more decorating tips!
Three Custom Ornament Designs for STR Hosts
I designed these specifically with vacation rental hosts in mind. Each one can be customized with your property details.
🎄 Design #1: Christmas Sweater Ornament
Get this ornament here.
What’s customizable:
- Your property name: “Home for the Holidays at [Your Property Name]”
- Perfect for traditional, farmhouse, or rustic properties
Material: Ceramic, round shape, comes with ribbon for hanging
Best for: Properties with a warm, traditional vibe
Shop the Christmas Sweater Ornament →
✨ Design #2: Scandinavian Minimalist Ornament
Get this ornament here.
This is my favorite for modern and minimalist properties.
What’s customizable:
- Property name at the top
- City & State at the bottom
- Clean, elegant design
Material: Ceramic, comes with hanging ribbon
Best for: Modern, minimalist, Scandinavian, or contemporary farmhouse properties
Shop the Minimalist Ornament →
🏠 Design #3: “Our Home is Yours for the Holidays”
Get the ornament here.
This one doesn’t require customization—perfect if you have multiple properties or want to keep it simple.
Features:
- Reads: “Our Home is Yours for the Holidays”
- Made from durable, lightweight metal
- Thin profile, guest-proof construction
- Generic STR message works for any property
Best for: Hosts with multiple properties, or anyone who wants a simple, ready-to-go option
Shop the “Our Home is Yours” Ornament →
How to Use Custom Ornaments in Your STR
As Guest Gifts:
- Leave one on each guest’s pillow during turnover
- Add to a welcome basket with hot cocoa and holiday treats
- Include a note: “Merry Christmas from [Property Name]! Take this ornament home as a gift.”
On Your Tree:
- Hang 5-10 custom ornaments on your property’s tree
- Tell guests in your welcome book: “Please take an ornament home as our gift!”
- Restock throughout the season
As Host Team Gifts:
- Thank your co-hosts, cleaners, and property managers
- Customize with their name and “Thank You 2025”
- Show appreciation for their hard work
Other Holiday Decoration Ideas for Your STR
Basic decorations that work well:
- Permanent outdoor lights – These are an investment but can stay up all year and colors changed to match the season (shop lights on Amazon)
- Simple garland – Pine or eucalyptus garland for mantels (shop garland on Amazon)
- Holiday throw pillows – Easy to swap in for December (shop pillows in my shop)
- Welcome sign – “Happy Holidays” or seasonal greeting
- Wreath for the door – Pre-lit versions save time
- Tabletop tree – Perfect toddler-proof solution
What to avoid:
- ❌ Fragile, expensive, or sentimental decorations
- ❌ Over-the-top religious symbols (unless your target audience specifically wants this)
- ❌ Decorations that block walkways or create safety hazards
- ❌ Anything requiring guest interaction (musical decorations, plug-in timers, etc.)
Real Results: What Guests Say About Holiday Decorations
From my own reviews and conversations with other hosts:
✅ “The Christmas tree was such a nice touch!”
✅ “Made it feel like home for the holidays”
✅ “Our kids loved the decorations”
Guests notice. Guests appreciate it. Guests mention it in reviews.
The Bottom Line: Should You Decorate?
Yes, if:
- ✅ You have bookings in December
- ✅ You can keep it simple (2-3 hours of work max)
- ✅ You’re comfortable with guests around your decorations
- ✅ You want to create memorable experiences that lead to 5-star reviews
You can skip it if:
- Your property is fully booked with the same long-term guest through the holidays
- Your target market specifically avoids Christmas celebrations
- You genuinely don’t have the time or budget
My recommendation: Test it this year. Keep it simple. Add a personal touch with custom ornaments. Measure the results in your reviews and rebooking rate.
The small effort makes a big difference in guest experience, often gets mentioned in reviews, and can even justify premium holiday pricing.
Plus, with customized ornaments guests can take home, you’re creating a physical reminder that brings them back year after year.
🎁 Ready to Add Custom Ornaments to Your Property?
All three ornament designs (plus more!) are available at my shop designed specifically for short-term rental hosts.
Why shop here instead of Etsy?
- ✅ Lower prices (less platform fees)
- ✅ Bulk discounts for multiple properties
- ✅ Designed by a host, for hosts
- ✅ Fast shipping
Order early for guaranteed Christmas delivery!
Quick Ordering Options:
📱 Shop by QR Code:
[INSERT QR CODE IMAGE HERE – Printify provides this]
Scan to browse all custom ornament designs on your phone
🛒 Direct Links:
More STR Hosting Resources
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Have you decorated your STR for Christmas? Drop a comment below and share your experience! I’d love to hear what worked (or didn’t work) for you.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Stay Success may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you when you purchase through these links. All ornaments and Stay Success products are created and sold by Darisse Kennedy.