Yahoo Lifestyle Top 5 Christmas Decorating Trends for 2024, According to Designers
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When it comes to Christmas, we tend to shy away from trends around here at Country Living, and most designers agree. “We don’t believe in—or celebrate—trends,” says designers Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke of Madcap Cottage. Jason notes, “It’s all about being timeless and looking to the past to reinterpret the present and future.”
With that in mind, we still believe that your home and its decor is an ever-evolving expression of who you are and what you value. And, there’s simply no better, or more joyful, season to flex that expression than Christmas.
So whether you’re pining for nostalgia, looking for a fresh take on a tree topper, or just looking for affirmation that it’s not crazy to put a Christmas tree in your kitchen(!), you’ve come to the right place. With the help of our favorite designers and style experts, we’ve identified five of the biggest country-friendly Christmas decor trends this year that you can easily incorporate into your own holiday decor. Remember, more really is merrier.
1. Ribbons and Bows Galore
Nothing is more quintessentially Christmas than ribbon, but thanks to fresh interpretations bows are feeling decidedly now as evidenced by these pretty and playful powerhouses finding their way into our tabletop decor, Christmas card designs and back into our hair.
“It is absolutely ‘The Year of the Bow,’ ” according to textile designer Heather Taylor of Heather Taylor Home. “People have really embraced the sweetness and femininity of the trend.”
The beauty of the bow is the range of scale—you can go oversize and use a large bow as a tree topper or in place of a wreath, or you can go with take a more diminutive approach and add smaller-scale bows to literally anything—candlesticks, gooseneck sconces, stems of a champagne coupes, the stem of a rosemary topiary (you get the picture). Bows work especially well on trees as a soft foil to more classic round Christmas balls.
For a fresher, more modern look, try playing with proportions by making smaller loops and letting your tails extend a few inches longer. Also, save the satin for your Christmas presents and instead try a velvet ribbon with frayed edges.
RELATED: The Best Christmas Tree Ribbon Decorating Ideas For the Prettiest Tree Ever
2. Non-Traditional Color Palettes
Every designer we spoke to offered a different take on a holiday color palette, but according to designer Emily Henderson the most important rule is that there are no rules. “Use whatever colors make you the happiest,” she encourages. “This year I really leaned into blues and maroons in addition to green and a little red.”
“I love the cozy nostalgia of red and green,” says Heather, “but we’re always playing with a mix of color to make the holidays feel fresh. This year I’m obsessed with combining burgundy and pink.”
The good news for red and green traditionalist is that simply adding an unexpected pattern can also breathe new life into your existing Christmas decor. “We are mad for traditional red-and-green hues but with an unexpected floral-patterned twist,” said Jason. “Our classic Cottage Grove fabric pattern, for example, captures a timeless floral in a rich geranium red hue paired with cool green shades that plays beautifully at Christmas.”
3. Homespun Paper Accents
As beautiful as gilded garland and glitzy baubles can be, there’s nothing quite like a home that’s decked out with happily humble, handcrafted holiday decor. And this year, the homespun holiday muse of choice is paper. Whether it’s a mantel draped in paper chain garlands, windows peppered with hand-snipped snowflakes, or Christmas crackers atop your holiday place settings, the simplicity and warmth of these handmade trimmings can’t be beat.
“There’s something very British about paper chains,” says Audrey Gelman, founder of The Six Bells. Paper chains became popular in England during the Victorian era, when they were made from scraps of items such as newspapers and songbooks. These days, leftover craft paper or wallpaper scraps are a nice way to repurpose what you already have. “I also like that they’re inexpensive and a fun art project with kids,” says Audrey. So, if you too dream of a Little Women Christmas, grab a pair of good scissors, turn on Hallmark Channel and make some handcrafted memories.
RELATED: Charming Christmas Decorations to Transform Your Home Into a Winter Wonderland
4. A Nod to Nostalgia
The desire to have a merry meander down memory lane is strong during the holidays, and so is the pull to personalize your Christmas decor with meaningful family heirlooms and vintage items. Besides, nothing store-bought can ever rival the hand-me-down charm of beloved vintage collectibles. “We love using our grandmothers’ plates upon the Christmas dinner table,” says John.
Few holiday rituals are as steeped in tradition as hanging ornaments on the family Christmas tree. “I like to think of a Christmas tree as a scrapbook and each year we choose a few new ornaments that describe that year,” Emily says. Christine Carney, Director of Design for Blackberry Farm Design, thought of another fun way to nestle in nostalgia when she created a tree at High Hampton, a mountain resort in Cashiers, North Carolina, that she filled with small framed photos of previous guests, family, and friends of the property. “Some of the people on the tree have been returning guests for many years, and it is so special to include them in our holiday decorations,” she says.
So save those homemade ornaments and kitschy keepsakes and don’t let anyone tell you that there’s not room for just-one-more vintage shiny bright.
RELATED: Here’s How Much Your Favorite Vintage Christmas Decorations Are Worth Today
5. Trees are Branching Out
Gone are the days of the singular, focal-point tree in the house. This year, every room in the house is calling for its own touch of tannenbaum. Audrey says a little mini tree in their upstairs bath is a must, while Heather makes sure the dining room gets holiday cheer. “Last year I decorated it [small tree] with homemade pine cone and [dried] orange slice garlands. The result was very cozy and personal,” she says.
Christmas trees in kids’ rooms have been growing in popularity for years, but why should the little ones have all the fun. “We adore a Christmas tree in our bedroom,” says Jason. “Why not? It’s like falling asleep in a fairyland. Pure magic.”
Country Living Senior Homes & Style Editor, Anna Logan also shares that kitchen Christmas trees will be everywhere this year. “Kitchens are becoming more and more personal, and I see that continuing with holiday decor,” she says.
As primary trees have moved towards feeling like a perfectly imperfect mishmash of traditional ornaments and homemade touches, these smaller Christmas trees offer the perfect opportunity to unify your display around a theme.
RELATED: The Best Small Christmas Tree Ideas With Big Holiday Spirit
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