12 Christmas Decor Trends For 2024, Experts Reveal

‘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.

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Velvet Tree Bows

Pink Velvet Bow Christmas Decoration

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.

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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).

Paper Petal Origami Wreath

Hanging Lokta Paper Star Set

Modernist Geometric Paper Christmas Decorations

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.

Argos pink Christmas tree, and Habitat furniture and accessories

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.’

Habitat 6ft Snowy Christmas Tree – Burgandy

Pink Mix Unlit Christmas Tree, 7ft

KI Store 6ft Flocked Red Christmas Tree

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.

The bestselling Battenberg bauble

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.

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Orange Half Slice Glass Decoration

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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.

Christmas Tree Snowglobe On Drum Base

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.

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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.

Cotton paper decoration by Broste Copenhagen

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.

Pri Pri Sari Large Star Fabric Tree Decoration

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Ian Snow Recycled-Textile Car Christmas Decoration

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.

Shop disco-themed Christmas decorations at M&S

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.

Iridescent Circle Dot Streamer Garland

Disco tassel Christmas decoration

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.’

St. Petersburg Pre-lit Christmas Tree

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Faux Christmas Tree – Large

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.

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Studley Rattan Cone Outdoor Christmas Decoration Trio

Outdoor Solar Pre-Lit Garland

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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Olivia Heath is the Daily Editor at House Beautiful. Heading up all things digital, Olivia loves nothing more than uncovering tomorrow’s biggest design trends and sharing the best decorating tips, small space living solutions, and houseplant care and gardening advice.

Week by week Olivia compiles the most stylish high street homeware buys to help you get the look for less, and showcases the best makeovers, as well as the hottest and most unique properties on the market. She also loves covering some of the biggest events in the calendar, including all the action from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Colour of the Year forecasts from Pantone to Dulux, and exclusive previews of all the new Christmas collections before it hits the shops.

Olivia has been writing about homes and interiors for the past seven years, and her work has also been published on House Beautiful US, Elle Decor US, Country Living, Good Housekeeping, Red, Prima, Town & Country, Elle Japan, Modern Living and Micasa Revista.

Prior to joining House Beautiful, Olivia worked at Reveal magazine, where she reported on celebrity and entertainment news by day, and attended showbiz parties and red carpet events by night!

Olivia has an MA in Journalism with an NCTJ qualification, as well as a BA in Journalism and Media & Cultural Studies.