Homemade Christmas ornaments are a Christmas tree staple, especially if you have kids. If your kids are adults, it’s time to pass along those ornaments on to them for their own trees.
Sort and pack them gently, with a special card about what they meant to you and give them this Christmas. You may see a tear or two as you let them start their own decorating traditions.
While you’ll see that there are ‘trendy’ colors for this year, nostalgia is making a huge comeback, post-covid. Perhaps out of necessity since the cost of living has gone up.
Or maybe it’s just aging, where decorators harken back to their youthful days. Whatever the case may be, you can’t go wrong with basics in traditional red, gold, and green.
It took me a minute to work this out, but you'll see these Gonks everywhere this year and likely for some time. They're perfectly perched on mantles, stairwells, under trees, or by fireplaces. And they come in all shapes and sizes - from traditional to trendy and everything in between.
You don't have to go overboard with the Gonks, just pick up a few on discount and fling them around for an instant lift to your current décor. Plus, they make great conversation starters. "What's a Gonk?" your guests will ask. And you can reply with a knowing smile. So go ahead and jump on the Gonk bandwagon - everyone else is doing it!
Rose gold, pinks, and Barbiecore are having a huge impact this Christmas, and it’s easy to embrace without going broke. Maybe take a smaller tree and convert it with some spray-painted old ornaments, inexpensive ribbons, clear lights, and silk flowers.
The result is over-the-top gorgeous, but only YOU know what you spent to make it that way. All those hours scrolling Pinterest and Instagram for DIYs are really starting to pay off...
When I tell you I spend more time worrying about my mantle than my tree, I mean it. Mantles have become the hot new focus that defines your whole home’s vibe. The mantle is the place to carefully curate your look- and it doesn’t have to be expensive.
Decide what you’re wanting- bougie, natural, elegant, whimsical and go for it. You can find foliage of all categories along with small plate mirrors, lights, candles, and baubles to reflect a beautiful mantel piece worthy of Southern Living.
Don’t shy away from the large, vibrant, weird colors like fuchsia, lime, purple, mustard, and cyan this Christmas- there’s a reason you’re seeing these in the market. They are playful and contemporary- invoking optimism.
It’s the mix of textiles and pieces- from tassels to balls to cheerful laser-cut shapes that are creating a stir on the table, your tree, and various other locales around the house.
The candy cane is seeing a lot of representation this year, just slightly altered into deeper reds, pearly whites, and all matters of silver and metallics in between. They’re also taking on a myriad of shapes that aren’t the traditional hook, but in reality, they’re all styled the same.
The patterns are varied as well into polka dots, chevrons, and the craziest stripes- but at heart, the candy cane remains a steadfast theme in holiday décor.
After years in hiding, the white tree is bougie again — with pops of color decorating the branches like navy, black (yes, black!), and Victorian blue and gold. Flocked trees have waited decades to come back around, and everyone has them.
If your tree is still green, consider a can of flocking that can be shaken off in the next few years when the flock goes into hiding again.
The new solution in the holiday world is the Christmas tree band or holiday collar — a column that goes around the bottom of your tree. These tried to break into the market in 2020 but got sidelined by covid.
They’re out there now, people, in every conceivable format to match whatever your holiday theme is. And expect them to stay around a few years until folks get savvy to the idea that the skirt is more than just something to cover the legs of the tree - it’s to keep the carefully wrapped gifts off the ground.
With eco-friendly-minded individuals shopping this year, you should consider whether every gift should be done up in expensive wrap and ribbon (unless you’re southern). We wrap.
But everyone else is creating a “green Christmas” by eliminating single-use paper and opting for tea towels, recycling old maps, painting cardboard boxes, baskets, envelopes, and a variety of other holders to give stuff.
Don’t be afraid to take pictures of your current year’s décor so you can remember where you put everything. It’s important to you and your family who will be helping you next year or to find a new place for something that didn’t work out so well.
Keep a note on your phone of what you liked and didn’t. Doing this will also mean you have room for more decorations that you have your eye on!
If you’ve previously decorated by theme, like Americana or Victorian, you may be SOL. Swap out your themed trees this year for a classier color palette. But you don’t have to throw everything out.
You can repurpose those old decorations with glitter, spray paint, and a little creativity to create beautiful color palette trees that will make your neighbors swoon with envy. Just be careful not to spray over anything sentimental or valuable.
Don’t forget to represent in your neighborhood. You can do it inexpensively or go completely overboard, but make sure you invest wisely in long-term, sensible décor that you can use over and over.
Collapsible trees, solar lights, fun characters, and signs are great. You can change your décor year after year by pairing it with that year’s theme in the form of an updated wreath.
You can’t turn around in 2022 without bumping into snowmen, snowwomen, snowpeople, and deer of all sizes. Maybe it’s global warming, or maybe it's just the universal appeal and simple structure of snowpeople and hoofed mammals in general.
Whatever the case may be, you need a few tossed into your home décor this year, on the tree, or set around anywhere other than candles (as snow people are likely to melt).
As much as we love tradition, there's no denying that technology has made our lives a whole lot easier in many ways. For example, LED Christmas lights are much more energy efficient than old-fashioned incandescent bulbs, and they last a lot longer too. Now, there's a new product on the market that takes things to the next level: Light Up Ribbons.
This is basically a ribbon with built-in LED lights, so you can easily add a touch of holiday cheer to any tree, wreath, or garland. And if you've got an old-fashioned unlit Christmas tree in your attic or garage, light-up ribbons are the perfect way to give it new life. So go ahead and add a little bit of fun and whimsy to your holiday decorating this year with light-up ribbons. You'll be glad you did!
There's something so special about vintage mugs that lets us reflect on a simpler time. Looking at one of my mom's mugs takes me back to my childhood when every moment seemed full of possibility and joy. Vintage Christmas mugs bring nostalgia like no other!
We can practically feel the warmth of a crackling fireplace as we take that first sip from one of these classic festive mugs. Red, green, and white will never go out of style when it comes to Christmas cheer, and they look absolutely stunning sitting on shelves this holiday season.
“Bless our hearts,” “Noel,” “Merry Christmas,” “Merry and Bright” — whatever the sentiment you want to convey, chances are there’s a Christmas sign waiting for you at Amazon, At Home, Home Depot, Lowes, or Marshalls. Take care when choosing your sign and how it's displayed.
Always opt for the simpler design versus the trend of the year: i.e., metal signs, reclaimed barn wood signs, plastic signs, banners, framed sentiments. It’s likely something that you’re going to live with for a while. Make sure you LOVE IT.
What do you do with leftover tinsel garlands and velvet bows? Use that garland to wrap gifts or hang ornaments. Give those bows away. Purge, DON’T pack it back up. If you haven’t used it in several years or it's old and ratty, it’s time to purge.
You can donate your unwanted items that are still in great shape and recycle or dispose of the rest. A good rule of thumb: if you can’t “use it,” neither can anyone else.
You can pack by zone, by item, by color. But make sure you’re labeling what you’re packing. My rule of thumb is to pack everything I used for a year and label it “Christmas 2022,” and if I didn’t use it, pack it in another box.
This way, you easily remember what you did without scrolling 1,245 pictures over the last year to remember.
Lights are the number one cause of family disturbance over Thanksgiving, right after the pie that was eaten and the games that should have been won.
Make sure you have Christmas light storage on your to-do list now while supplies are still available. Well, all know that throwing them in the bin and hoping for the best next time is so last year.
If you saw something that you said, “boy, I sure like that”, take a snapshot and store it in your notes app under Christmas 2023.
This way, you’ll be able to recreate what you saw by buying the items either on clearance this year or early on next year when they become available. A planner is always wiser during the holiday season.
Finding the perfect décor to show off your Christmas spirit doesn't have to be a chore! Believe it or not, one of the best things you can do is buy traditional, plain old-fashioned ribbon bows. Not only are they better for your bank account than some of the glitzier stuff, but they look great anywhere in your home!
Put them up around windows and doorways, along staircases, on mantles and fireplaces — literally anywhere. Whether you choose coordinating colors or prefer something fun and whimsical, ribbon bow decorations that let their statement shine through without any need for electricity are where it's at this holiday season.
Christmas trees are staple decorations for the festive season, but it’s time to move beyond the traditional! That's why animal Christmas tree ornaments are awesome - they add a unique twist to your holiday decor!
Whether it’s an overzealous reindeer, wise owl, a peaceful dove — these wee wonders can spruce up any atmosphere in an instant. They’ve already become super popular in the fall, and now, decorating with animals is just becoming a natural thing! Embrace all the joys of Christmas and pick up some animal Christmas tree ornaments today.
It looks like the tide is changing when it comes to Christmas trees this season. Where once towering evergreens were used for decking the halls, now there's a new way to do Christmas decor: thin trees! Even famous folk are getting in on the trend and scaling back their tree game.
While most of us might take offense at the thought of such a skinny tree, we have to admit that there is something stylish about minimalism. After all, less is more...right? So if you’re looking to upgrade your holiday decor this year, why not consider trading in tradition for something less—like a barely-there tree!
It’s time to make your Christmas tree look like Santa's workshop! Add a little texture to your holiday decor with some fur and burlap. Imagine having a white fur garland gleaming its way down the tree; it'll look great when paired with festive fur stockings.
Even better, add a magical touch by wrapping some soft burlap ribbons around the tree; it's perfect for snuggling up around the fire with hot cocoa. Spruce up your home this winter by incorporating different textures on your Christmas tree; the results are sure to be marvelous.
Have you ever wanted to outshine even that gorgeous home featured on the cover of Southern Living? Now you can, just by decorating your Christmas tree with a little gold! Gold is such a luxurious and sophisticated color that you'll bring an element of elegance and class to your home.
And if you favor sparkle and shine, ornaments with a hint of gold will be the perfect addition to your tree. So this holiday season, don't be afraid to let your Christmas tree join in on the fun - make it look bougie enough for Southern Living to feature it!
Making your Christmas tree unique and personal is a great way to express your own individual style. And if you feel like thinking outside the box, why not try something totally unexpected? A tree out of books, ribbon doodles, driftwood — these aren’t just eye-catching (and kind of awesome) designs.
They also make quite a statement. Your friends and family won’t be able to take their surprised eyes off of your thoroughly original arrangement. Go on — be creative! Make this Christmas one everyone will remember.
With Christmas fast approaching, large yard ornaments seem to be the latest trend in celebration decorations. We’re all used to seeing the inflatable Santa and snow people, but what else is increasing in popularity? Actual ornaments that either sit in the yard or decorate a tree in your yard!
We’ve also seen a huge number of giant snowflakes and candy canes. Heck, you can even make massive candies in wrappers or suckers in wrappers! Their impressive size is only doubled in awe when you throw some Christmas lights on them. This is a super fun trend to do with the kids too.
This Christmas season, it seems like little holiday villages are taking over! Whether you're witnessing them in a small version on people's work desks or dotted along the walls of a family's living room, these quaint villages have become a surefire way to add some classic Christmas charm to any home.
If you're still searching for ways to make your holiday extra festive and bring a bit more old-fashioned sparkle into your home, why not hop on this popular trend and snag yourself the perfect little holiday village? After all, when it comes to twinkling Christmastime magic in miniature form, why settle for anything less?
Blue ornaments are all the rage this year, and boy, have they made a comeback! They look particularly sensational on flocked trees, making it a great pairing when both trends come together. Talk about being stylish - blue ornaments for one and a flocked tree for two is definitely making a statement in the holiday decorating market!
Whether you're rocking blues with creams or turquoise with white, this trend is full of possibilities and can take your decoration from ho-hum to haute couture. So, let's raise a glass of eggnog to blue ornaments that are here to stay this holiday season!
