It’s that time of the year! Shiny ornaments, lights, family heirlooms and treasured keepsakes come out of storage. A tree becomes your style statement.
No doubt, 2025 has been the year to express yourself. This year’s holiday season is no exception. If you can dream it, there are probably ornaments and other decorative elements that will help to establish your vision.
Who knew that when we photographed holiday décor in November 2024 from a professional perspective (Heritage Design Interiors in New Holland) and from the viewpoint of a homeowner (Andrew Tran, who decorates as many as 14 full-sized trees each Christmas) that we’d be getting a preview of 2025 trends? Yes, we photograph much of the November-December a year ahead of publication. After all, it would be difficult to find homes decorated for Christmas in July or August. But, with more and more people decorating earlier and earlier (apparently, November 1 is the new “it’s not too early” benchmark), that may soon change!
What follows are the hottest holiday-decorating trends for 2025-2026 (it seems that people are leaving their trees up longer, as well!). Cookie-cutter looks? Not this year!
Castlecore: Think opulence, grandeur and Old World. “The look is defined by colors such as gold and burgundy, as well as velvet and bejeweled items,” says Anita Yoder, the owner of Heritage Design Interiors (HDI), who adds that no doubt this particular holiday look is being inspired by interior decorating elements such as tufted furniture and color drenching.
Ralph Lauren Christmas: As seen at Andrew’s home … What Outlander fan wouldn’t want this for Christmas! Actually, plaid is going to be huge this year and for the holidays it’s being referred to as the “Ralph Lauren Look.” Think hunter green, bright red, navy blue, tartan plaid (pillows, ribbon), metals (silver and pewter) with a patina, seasonal accessories and swags and garlands galore. Apparently Gen Z is gaga over the look and the feeling it evokes.
Bows: The choice is yours … oversized and dramatic or petite and sweet. “I like to tuck ribbon and bows into trees,” Anita says of the bow trend that was first spied on fashion runways and seems to have struck a chord with younger generations. When it comes to wreaths and swags, “I love to use two or three different ribbons that coordinate to make an impressive bow,” she notes. “The mix of colors, textures and patterns adds a fun twist to a plain bow.”
Multi-colored Lights: Those who love vintage will welcome this return to color. Even faux trees are offering the option of white or multi-colored lights. “You’re going to see multi-colored lights everywhere,” Anita predicts.
Get Personal: Whether you like whimsical, traditional or glam décor, this is your year to indulge! “Buy what you like,” says Anita. As for Andrew, his love of designer clothing is reflected in the Burberry-clad tree that is seen on the cover of the November-December issue of LCM.
Bold, Nontraditional Colors: Think pink, turquoise, orange, blue, purple, buttery yellow … “Orange is the hot new color,” says Anita. “It’s made the transition from the runway to home décor, including holiday,” she explains of how color trends emerge. “I understand the new iPhone with the orange case is backordered for weeks.” As for Andrew, he paid homage to the color last year with a vintage-inspired vignette at his home.
Antique and Vintage: The look is both old (nostalgia) and new (sustainability). Are you searching for vintage items such as Shiny Brite ornaments? Look for them at antiques shops, flea markets, consignment shops, holiday shows, bazaars, etc.
Memory Trees: “This is huge,” says Anita of mixing ornaments you’ve collected (or inherited), with homemade items and even souvenirs of your travels on one tree. “It makes for a very personal tree. I like to see this theme used in a family room,” she says.
Metallics: “Anything gold” will be a recurring theme this holiday season. “I love the look of combining gold and bronze,” Anita notes, adding that metallics bring the glow factor to décor.
Trees in Every Room: No, not floor-to-ceiling specimens; table-top trees of all sizes and made of metal, glass and other materials can bring a subtle holiday touch to any room. That applies to guest rooms … a touch of Christmas will add a warm and welcoming feel to any guest room. As seen here, Andrew adds trees to his guest rooms; this design harkens to the Victorian era, as it is decorated with dolls, creamy-hued ornaments and gold cording.
Garland Goes Big: Fluff up a garland with ornaments, picks, lights, tinsel (it’s back) and natural elements to create a wow factor for staircases, mantels, doorways, etc.
Animals: While deer still rule, Anita reports that bears have staged a comeback. You’ll be seeing both of these forces of nature depicted in ornaments, accessories, dinnerware and outdoor décor. “Bears are perfect for a lodge look,” Anita points out. Andrew utilizes deer of all sizes throughout his house at holiday time. Birds are also popular.
Blue & White: Those who love Coastal décor (or Penn State) will be glad to know that blue-and-white color schemes will be on trend for the holidays. HDI had a room at the shop geared to the color scheme last year, while Andrew decorates his white tree with Wedgewood ornaments.
Artsy & Artisan: From ornaments and other holiday décor, there’s just something about items that are handcrafted. One of Andrew’s trees is decorated with wooden ornaments made in Germany.
Don’t Forget: Decking the halls extends to staircases, mantels, tabletops and chandeliers!
Tying it Together
Heritage Design Interiors: Nontraditional colors, gold, glitz, ribbon, natural elements and birds were used to create this tree.
Andrew Tran: Crystal and gold were used to create an elegant formal dining room that is perfect for Christmas dinner or a New Year’s celebration. Eliminate the tree and it exudes wintery vibes.
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