Interior designers reveal the biggest Christmas decor trends for 2024
Discover the must-have Christmas decorating trends for 2024: Go big with oversized bows, make it quirky with food-themed baubles, and adopt the maximalist decorating trend for a Christmas that's full of character and flair. Let the countdown to Christmas begin…
1. Whimsical bows
A huge trend last year, the feminine charm of bows and ribbons continue to captivate us this Christmas. Strikingly simple but oh-so-effective, bows offer instant impact, whether oversized or petite. Lisa Cherry, head of buying for Christmas at John Lewis, notes that textural bows in sequins or velvet are especially 'in' this year.
A pretty and elegant choice, use oversized bows in place of a star or angel as your tree topper, tied onto tree branches, or used for bunting, or use smaller ones to tie napkins and decorate taper candles.
'At Habitat, we love the idea of putting your own personal spin on decorating. One look we've been loving is mini ornaments or bells fastened to brightly-coloured ribbons to create an eye-catching arrangement that can be hung on walls, or better yet, a centrepiece for the Christmas table,' says Sarah Spence, celebrations senior buyer at Habitat.
2. Warm spicy shades
Warm spicy shades will rule this year. House Beautiful's key decorating trend taps into an indulgent and contemporary look that is every bit luxe, cosy and captivating. Layer soft velvets and boucle fabrics in warm shades and team this with brass and marble finishes for a glamorous look. To create a warm glow, candlelight will make your space feel festive and inviting, adding charm to period and modern interiors alike. Don't forget to add scents of cinnamon to fill the air with a warm, spicy, and comforting aroma to match.
3. Sculptural paper decorations
Paper decorations are high on the agenda this year. Up the ante with pleated and folded sculptural designs, and garlands that feature looped or draping chains. Mini paper trees remain essential for sideboard and tablescape styling, or hanging from doorknobs. As one of this year's signature decorating styles, paper really can do it all (and it's recyclable, too).
4. Joyful maximalism
The more-is-more approach continues this Christmas with bold, colourful trees. Think merry and bright by taking a dopamine approach to decorating that delivers on fun and optimism. For a fanciful festive take, opt for a hot pink tree or tap into autumn/winter's shade du jour – burgundy.
Searches for red Christmas trees spiked as early as August, with Pinterest revealing that the unexpected red theory was influencing Christmas decor moodboards. This year, Habitat has launched an on-trend burgundy tree, as well as a hot pink alternative from Argos, while John Lewis has also debuted its first ever pink Christmas tree.
To nail the look, take a leaf out of the double drenching playbook and mix shades of red and pink in all its glory across furniture, accessories and ornaments. 'The traditional Christmas hues of berry red and green are timeless, but this year’s tonal decorating trend is great for those looking for something more daring,' says Abi Wilson, head of buying - celebrations at Habitat.
Cassandra Leisz, creative director at Ruggable, talks us through how to make these bold hues work with traditional festive colour schemes: 'The rise in interest for pink and red Christmas decor suggests people are looking for a classic Christmas style that pops. Pair bold colours, such as hot pink, chartreuse and teal, with traditional festive tones like fern green and candy apple red. These palettes boost your mood and emphasise the cheer of the season as you gather with loved ones. For added sparkle, incorporate touches of gold and warm lighting, finishing with festive motifs of bows, baubles, snowflakes and stripes for maximum charm.'
5. Sweet foodie-themed baubles
The quirky baubles adorning trees this year are scrumptious sweet treats, delightful delicacies and tasty tipples. Foodie-themed tree decorations are the most popular, reveals John Lewis, with the retailer's Battenberg slice felt tree decoration topping the bestsellers list. The fondant fancy, Quality Street tin and disco ball cherries also make the list.
'Single baubles are selling like hot cakes and, appropriately, this year’s front runners – fondant fancies and Battenberg slices – wouldn’t be out of place in the Bake Off tent,' says Lisa Cherry.
Need more foodie inspo? Look to Fortnum & Mason's tasty-looking cake stand decoration or 'take a bite' of this mince pie bauble from Selfridges. Pizza Express has even launched a lifelike replica of its snowball dough ball, topped with a festive dusting of ‘icing sugar’ and finished with a golden ribbon. Shop the limited edition bauble via the brand's TikTok shop.
6. Nostalgic magic
The festive season is all about creating moments of joy, warmth and togetherness, and nostalgia is at the heart of this. Marking a return to traditional Christmas decor, opt for rustic reds, forest greens and glimmering golds to evoke a quintessential Christmas.
Not sure where to start? Look to your dining table. ‘For many of us, Christmas is the epitome of nostalgia,’ says Sam Deeble, furniture and home interiors expert at Woods Furniture. ‘Perhaps there is a specific decoration, scented candle, or family Christmas ornament that ignites feelings of nostalgia for you, so finding a way to incorporate that sentimental piece in your festive tablescape can achieve this trend.'
You can embrace this classic look more widely throughout your home by curating vintage decorations and pieces that align with your family traditions. Nutcracker ornaments alongside old crockery, passed down tablecloths, statement poinsettia arrangements, snow globes and needlepoint fireplace stockings will provide warmth and nostalgia, evoking the best memories of the past.
‘To ensure you master a timeless, nostalgia-filled look this Christmas, decorate a real tree, refresh your linens and softgoods with plaid tartan patterns, style your gathering spaces with taper candles, heirloom treasures, and vintage finds, and keep your favourite Christmas album on repeat for maximum festive vibes,’ suggests Cassandra Leisz.
7. Supersized decor
Making a statement has never been bigger, both in and outside the home. Play with scale by embracing larger than usual baubles, hang big decorations from windows and mirrors, create a focal point above a sideboard by grouping giant honeycomb paper decorations and supersized stars, and dress empty corners with tall freestanding ornaments, all of which will add a playful vibe to your space.
Also consider how you can add wow factor to your garden. The popular Holiball is a larger-than-life inflatable bauble that's suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
8. Crafted and considered
To counter the negative environmental impact at Christmas (on average, households end up with three bin bags of non-recyclable rubbish during the festive season), be a little kinder to the planet. This year, the focus continues to be on artisanal, handcrafted pieces including paper, wood, recycled glass, wool felt and papier-mâché, that can be reused and cherished for years to come.
Broste Copenhagen has launched delightful cotton paper decorations in efforts to reuse redundant materials or recycle waste. Cotton paper, created from fibre waste from the textile industry, is soft to the touch, acid-free, durable and versatile, and makes for a lovely, considered Christmas decoration. Meanwhile, online homeware store Nkuku prides itself on ethical, eco-friendly and beautifully handmade pieces. Its Christmas range is full of the most gorgeous decorative accessories which combine timeless design with traditional skills and natural materials.
9. Disco fever with a touch of glam
Amp up the glitz and glamour because Christmas is taking a retro twist this year: think disco balls, glitter, sequins, tassels and iridescent decor. Whether you want to bedazzle a whole room or add a few subtle touches that sparkle, this trend will put you in a feel-good mood and see you well into the New Year.
With a nod to music and a return to the iconic disco era of the 70s and 80s, weave in retro ornaments such as microphones, records and animal prints. Homebase's Disco Fever trend perfectly encapsulates this trend: 'Tonal blues and silvers complemented with hot pinks and neon lights bring this joyful collection to life for that nostalgic feel-good mood,’ explains Samuel Platt, creative design manager at Homebase.
You can also get the look with the M&S Party Starters range that presents a 'dancefloor meets house-party aesthetic to bring the feel-good vibes', from a disco ball candle to an iridescent light-up star tree topper. For the ultimate party vibe, add a drinks trolley and deck it out with all of your bar-making essentials.
10. 'Show trees' aplenty
An emerging trend last year was the two-tree household (a picture-perfect tree alongside a novelty fir for children), and this looks to increase for 2024, for those who have the space. The team at Habitat reveal that more than one in 10 Brits (12 per cent) are actually planning to have three or more Christmas trees in their homes this year, with Christmas decorations spreading from the living room to kitchens, the hallway and even bedrooms. And 13 per cent are even planning to decorate a tree especially for their pet, with more than one in 10 having done so in the past.
But, more trees doesn't necessarily mean big trees. 'Introduce a cluster of mini trees for a festive look with a lot of impact,' suggests Sarah Spence. 'Mixing and matching various colours, sizes and frosted finishes adds depth and dimension into a space. Incorporate these trees in all rooms of the house, from the kids' bedroom to the hallway, and spread the festive cheer from every corner, big or small.'
11. Fabulous doorscapes
Decorating outside the home has become our new favourite tradition. With sales of wreaths and garlands both rising, according to John Lewis, doorscaping (and porchscaping) will remain a key trend this year. Think double wreaths, oversized bows and festive light displays – but keep it festively chic.
12. A cottagecore Christmas
Proving itself to be much more than a fleeting trend, the cottagecore aesthetic continues to dominate, but what does a cottagecore Christmas look like? For the festive season think flowers, baskets, elegant vintage accessories and a real Christmas tree, of course. An abundance of flowers is key to this look – whether wild, potted, cut, dried or on prints. Pair this with dainty ceramics, festive home-baked sweet treats, and vintage or antique decorations for that whimsy, subtly rustic and homely feel that nods to the charm of the English countryside.
'The cottagecore colour palette is delicate, soft, and inspired by nature. To create this look in your home, play around with a mix of soft pastel highlight shades such as blush pinks and combine them with base tones of earthy green, cream, beige, and soft grey,' says Tobie Lewis, paint & interiors expert from V&CO.
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