The holidays are upon us, and for many that means dusting off those Christmas decorations in the back of your closet. But if you live in a rented space, decorating can be a bit more of a challenge. Since hammering nails into walls is generally forbidden in rentals, the use of command hooks is the go-to method for mounting holiday decor. But they can only hold so much weight and will damage walls if not properly installed. And for tenants, damaging property is a big no-no, as it may trigger deductions from your security deposit.
One solution for people who want to deck the halls but are reluctant to commit a hammer to the wall is to hire a firm that offers christmas decor rentals. For a fee, companies will store your decorations in a warehouse you never see; install them for you, often while you’re not home; and then quietly disappear when the season ends.
Some of these services are aimed at commercial clients, but others cater to apartment dwellers who want a festive holiday look without worrying about what their landlord will think or how the work might impact their next tenant’s ability to rent the property. Byron and Karen Hagan are one such couple. The Brooklyn residents hired Kristen Parness, who also teaches high school English when she isn’t wearing her Santa outfit and dancing around with a squad of elves, to set up their 6-foot fake tree in their luxury condo.