The ‘Ralph Lauren Christmas’ trend could be the secret to selling your home this off-season
Now that Halloween is behind us and Thanksgiving is approaching, many homeowners are jumping into the Christmas season.
Decorating is a time-honored tradition, and every year new trends and ideas emerge to make your home feel warm and inviting for the season.
But if you’re considering selling your home before the year is out, you might consider forgoing decorations to maintain a clean, uncluttered aesthetic, according to real estate agents, designers and even real estate agents. Jessica Alba.
Introducing a Ralph Lauren Christmas
If you’ve been scrolling through TikTok this year, you’ve undoubtedly come across many posts touting the season’s decor style, also known as the “Ralph Lauren Christmas” aesthetic.
It’s a mix of classic holiday colors combined with simple elegance. It’s also a vibe that’s very easy to replicate.
“The characteristics of this style are classic and timeless,” explains Manuella Moreiraby Manuella Moreira Interiors. “Think traditional patterns like plaid and gingham, heavier and cozier textures like wool, and rich, saturated colors like deep red, forest green, navy blue, khaki and cognac. Metals are also important, especially antique brass, which adds that sophisticated and heritage-inspired touch. All together, it’s a look that feels collected, layered and effortlessly elegant.”
That said, creating the aesthetic can potentially be incredibly easy with items you already have in your home. But if you don’t, the pieces you need might stand the test of time.
“The key is choosing pieces that will transition easily year after year,” Moreira adds. “Classic ornaments in matte antique gold fit beautifully with many palettes and styles. Warm and neutral Christmas lights also work universally and never feel dated.”
If you’re on a budget or are just someone who likes to have a brand new decor every year, one of the easiest ways to get in on the trend is to wrap gifts in checked paper in shades of blue, green or red, or use sturdy deep blue paper with a checkered ribbon.
“These are easy elements that you can replace every year and still capture the Ralph Lauren look,” says Moreira.
Sell your house during the Christmas period
If you’re considering putting your home on the market before the end of the year, you may be in a unique position to sell very quickly.
Historically, selling your home in the winter months means less competition and more interest from serious buyers.
But that also doesn’t mean you have to stop living in your home to sell it. Cara Ameera real estate agent at Coldwell Banker in Los Angeles and Florida explains that decorating for the holidays can actually be a plus.
“A home that is tastefully decorated in a warm and inviting way can be attractive to buyers,” Ameer explains, adding that it helps buyers imagine themselves in the space.
Decorations such as a beautiful wreath on the door, a dining table with Christmas decorations and a tree trimmed with “a matching pattern of colored balls” as in Ralph Lauren’s Christmas motif are typically “welcoming accents” that buyers appreciate.
Don’t go overboard
“Too much decor that is overwhelming, distracting or tacky can cause buyers to focus on that instead of the home itself,” Ameer warns. “You don’t want to hide your home’s features with decor so buyers can’t see it or appreciate it.”
She adds that if you’re in the early stages of listing your home and may have to wait until the new year to run it through MLS, you should take photos before your decorations show up.
“Keep in mind that it may be better to take photos before the holiday decorations go on the market so they don’t look dated after the holidays, especially in the spring. If that isn’t possible, you may need to have another set of photos taken if the house remains on the market after the holidays.”
How the magic of Ralph Lauren can sell your house faster
To understand the potential power of Ralph Lauren’s Christmas aesthetic, it might help to look at a high-profile example from this summer.
After her divorce from Cash WarrenJessica Alba put their $10 million Beverly Hills mansion on the market. In the listing description, the agent made sure to highlight the home’s unique aesthetic.
“The interiors are inspired by Ralph Lauren, light and bright, and beautifully proportioned,” according to the description. “This classic estate is a truly outstanding property offering luxurious living in an exclusive location.”
Whatever ultimately sealed the deal, the home sold for nearly double the purchase price — closing at $18.2 million for the seven-bedroom, 8.5-bathroom estate.
Was Ralph Lauren’s aesthetic responsible? Maybe we’ll never know. But as Moreira explains, the emotional resonance of the style is real.
“More and more people are longing for comfort, warmth and a sense of familiarity at home, and Ralph Lauren captures all these feelings effortlessly,” explains Moreira.
“Its aesthetic is iconic and recognizable to so many people. I think people are drawn to it because it evokes nostalgia and creates an environment that feels grounded, inviting and comforting in a season when we naturally look for those emotions.”
