LA PSICOLOGÍA DE LAS DECORACIONES NAVIDEÑAS.

Las decoraciones navideñas son más que un adorno festivo: transmiten señales sociales.
Las decoraciones navideñas no solo traen alegría, también cuentan historias sobre las personas.
Las casas con decoraciones navideñas parecen más sociables y cálidas para los extraños.
Las casas ordenadas y habitadas con una decoración festiva transmiten señales más fuertes de apertura.
Las exhibiciones festivas pueden fomentar las conexiones y el sentido de pertenencia en el vecindario.
Last weekend we delighted in the annual ritual of preparing our home for the festive season. With a personal preference for understated elegance, I like to keep things simple. My go-to choices are classic fairy lights, ornaments, and baubles, all within a carefully curated colour scheme of silver and purple. Yet, I soon realised this wasn’t going to cut it. My 4-year-old helper kept asking for inflatable snowmen and life-sized, twinkly reindeer!

While I haven’t (quite) given in just yet, my daughter’s demands led me to reflect on the importance of holiday decorations. Reviewing literature on the topic, I stumbled across an interesting study from 1989, which suggests that holiday decorations are far more than festive embellishments. Decorations may be sending quiet messages about the homeowners and provide insights into their personality and sociability.

Christmas decorations as social signals
In a psychology experiment about holiday decorations, researchers from the University of Utah asked 58 undergraduate students to evaluate a set of 16 photographs, depicting different American homes and front yards. Photos included homes with or without Christmas decorations and homes belonging to residents that had self-reported either low or high levels of social interactions with their neighbours. Participants were asked to rate the sociability of the homeowners based on the photos, noting cues like decorations, upkeep, and the overall "lived-in" look. They were also asked to provide open-ended comments explaining their impressions. The study produced some interesting findings.

Decorations as social cues. Participants consistently rated homes with Christmas decorations as more sociable and cohesive with their neighbours than undecorated ones. Decorations seemed to enhance the home's “warmth,” giving an impression of a family that values connection and community involvement.
A surprising twist: Unsociable homeowners shine brighter. Interestingly, homes belonging to less socially active residents were rated as more open and sociable when decorated than the homes of their more social counterparts. For these less sociable homeowners, decorations appeared to act as an invitation—a way to express a desire to connect with neighbours or signal openness despite limited interactions.
Additionally, it was found that participants’ impressions weren’t formed by decorations alone. Elements such as a home’s upkeep, its “lived-in” appearance (like visible footprints or open curtains), and its overall neatness played a significant role. Decorations amplified these impressions, but they were just one piece of a broader picture. A well-maintained home with thoughtfully placed decorations appeared welcoming, while a messy or neglected home didn’t benefit as much from festive flourishes.

Finally, one group of homeowners received particular attention in the study: so-called “residents in transition.” These were people who didn’t know many of their neighbours but expressed a desire to form connections. By decorating their homes, these individuals effectively communicated openness and an interest in neighbourhood integration. Their efforts didn’t go unnoticed—research participants consistently described their homes as more sociable and inviting than those of non-decorating, unsociable residents.

How to harness the power of holiday decorations
The study’s findings offer several practical insights for anyone looking to foster a sense of community through their home’s appearance this Christmas:

Deck the halls with purpose: Festive decorations signal sociability, but they work best when paired with thoughtful touches like an inviting entryway or neatly trimmed landscaping.
Keep it lived-in: Open curtains, visible signs of activity (like cars or lights), and personalised touches (such as wreaths or garden ornaments) can make a home feel approachable and warm.
Neatness counts: A clean, well-maintained exterior communicates care and attention, which observers link to friendliness.
Stay consistent: Decorations are most effective when they align with other cues, such as the home’s design and upkeep, to create a cohesive message of warmth and openness.
Beyond the lights: What this means for communities
While the findings stem from a relatively small piece of research published over 30 years ago, it is likely that the results still hold true today. Decorations appear to act as a bridge, fostering connections in neighbourhoods where people might otherwise remain distant. For communities, encouraging festive traditions like coordinated street decorations might even strengthen bonds and create a sense of belonging.

For individuals, the message is clear: what you put on display matters. Whether it’s Christmas lights, a front porch swing, or simply a well-maintained yard, these visible signals help shape how others perceive you and your home’s role in the neighbourhood. Christmas decorations don’t just bring joy; they tell a story about the people behind the door—a story of community, connection, and sometimes, the hope for more. So, as you hang your lights this year, consider the message they send and the connections they might help you build. I think I may just have to re-think my own approach to seasonal decorations and add a few additional twinkles to our front door.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/es/blog/la-sorprendente-psicologia-de-las-decoraciones-navidenas