Jennifer Sheahan: The joy of renting Christmas decorations
I spent all weekend dragging down the Christmas decorations, and I am stiff from hanging them up. I love Christmas, I love the decorations, and I love how my house looks now, but I wish someone else would do it for me. Well, as it turns out, days too late; unfortunately, somebody will. Not only that, but they’ll take them back down again and then bring them away, so I don’t even have to store them.Why did I never think of renting Christmas decorations before? I rent lots of other things, including my clothes (thank goodness Happy Days is back open), and when I think about it, decorations are the most obvious rentals of all. Maybe you have been renting your Christmas decorations for years, but residential holiday decoration rental is a brand-new concept to me, so indulge me as I marvel at the wonder of my newfound discovery.Why rent? The real question is, why have I not been renting them this whole time?! Why am I storing boxes of baubles in a house that my father charmingly refers to as “so small you have to go outside to change your mind”? The only reason is that I didn’t know these magical Christmas rental companies existed. Did you?Who rents decorations in Ireland? Offices and cafes and shops and restaurants have been doing it for years, of course, right under our noses. It never occurred to me that homes could do it too, though I have wondered where some of the more spectacularly decorated homes have been storing their full-sized sleighs and 10-foot Santas during the rest of the year. Jennifer Sheahan's decorations and flat Christmas tree. Picture: Moya NolanIt makes sense for any home, really, but especially for anyone renting or living in their home temporarily. It is perfect for anyone who has just moved into their home and can’t be bothered with putting up decorations while you’re still unpacking boxes, and it can be a great way to let you try out different decoration styles before committing.Where can I rent them? While plenty of Irish businesses turn up with a quick Google, there are actually very few that cater for the residential market, not just corporate decor. The ones I found are: Christmas Creations, based in Dublin (Christmascreations.ie) and Christmas Fairy Decorators (christmasfairydecorators.com). Anyone looking for a business idea — here it is on a silver platter. The market is only growing for such a service!Baubles from April & the Bear.I spoke to Jamie from Christmas Creations, who offer a full service from design to installation and removal after Christmas. They will come to your door, pop up your tree, hang the wreath, and fill your mantelpiece with enough sparkle to make Michael Flatley jealous if that’s what you’re into, and they can take late orders up until around December 10. You can also go for a DIY option — a rental decorations package delivered to your door, ready for you to style and install yourself.Sound good — what are the benefits? Less clutter and storage are enough for me to be sold. Professional design is another— shopping for Christmas decorations can be expensive and stressful, and having someone design it out for me is very appealing. I also love the idea of mixing it up every year if I so choose, because the same old strings of tinsel can dull after a few years. That also makes it more sustainable — renting means decorations are reused across different homes and businesses every year, reducing waste. Finally, there’s a maintenance element to decorations that I can’t be bothered with — broken lights and bent tree toppers are things that are annoying to fix, so I love the sound of someone else doing that for me.Any downsides? Of course, renting isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Decorations can feel deeply personal. Sometimes you want the wonky star your child made in junior infants or the vintage crystal reindeer from your granny’s house. A good designer can work those elements in, or going the DIY package route can let you do that yourself. But if you have built up, or are planning to build up, your own curated look over the years, then this won’t be for you. There is also a higher cost associated with hiring someone to design, install, and remove your Christmas decorations; it is, of course, cheaper to do it yourself. Also, some people just don’t like renting things full stop, preferring ownership, and that’s fine.How much are we talking? Prices are specific to each job, and vary hugely depending on the size of the home you want to decorate, the extent of the decorations, whether a tree is included, whether design and installation is included, etc. Expect rental packages to extend to several hundred or more for full professional installation and styling. It’s smart to book early — diaries tend to fill up by mid-November, though last-minute orders are often possible.See it in action My fascination with this topic led me to the TV show Holiday Home Makeover with Mr Christmas. Interior designer Benjamin Bradley spends a few months every year solely focused on designing and decorating people’s homes for Christmas. If you’re looking for a fun and easy watch to inspire your decorating this weekend, this is it.
