Top 9 Holiday Decorating Trends

Nine holiday decorating trends are leading the way: rustic naturals, moody jewel tones, reusable decor, maximalist layers, vintage retro pieces, wintry blues and whites, personalized touches, mixed metallics and cozy cottagecore. Pick one as your base and borrow from one or two others. That’s how most pulled-together rooms really get done.

Updated November 4, 2026.

If you’re like me, the decorating starts before the boxes even come down from the attic. You’re already picturing which corner gets the tree and which shelf gets cleared for the village. Whether you love vintage charm, clean and simple, or an all-out sparkle explosion, there’s something for everyone in this year’s trends. After enough holiday seasons of trial and error, a few things are obvious. Mixing two looks beats committing to one. Natural stuff looks better in photos than shiny plastic. And the things you make yourself are what people remember. Most of us have stood back from the tree and moved the same ornament three times, so go easy on yourself.

Earthy naturals with a rustic twist

Natural materials are leading this year: warm woods, rough textures, muted greens. It’s less glitz and more bringing the outdoors in, and the room feels calm and grounded because of it. Reclaimed wood, jute-wrapped ornaments and eucalyptus garlands look simple without looking bare. Tuck in some pinecones or evergreen sprigs and you’re done.

Moody jewel tones for a luxe look

Red and green will always have a spot, but deep emerald, midnight blue and a little plum make a tree feel richer and more grown-up. Add velvet, gold and glass baubles and the look is bold, not loud. It’s a bit darker and a bit more mysterious. Those deep colors also glow against string lights, which is most of the fun.

Sustainable, reusable decor

More people want to cut down on holiday trash, and there are good ways to do it. Anyone who has hauled a bag of torn wrapping paper to the curb knows how fast it piles up. Look for ornaments made from recycled materials, garlands that break down after use and fabric ribbon instead of single-use bows. Some tree farms rent potted living trees and take them back after the season. Small swaps like LED lights and a real wreath add up without changing the look much.

Maximalist layering for full rooms

Minimalism has its place, but more is wildly fun too: layers of ornaments, string lights, oversized wreaths and every nook holding something festive. This one’s for people who want color, pattern and plenty of whimsy, not restraint. Try a pairing you wouldn’t expect, like teal and pink. Then stack the garlands and ornaments instead of spacing them out. Anyone who has untangled a string of lights from last year’s box knows to keep a spare strand around.

Vintage pieces with a retro twist

Nostalgia hits hard at the holidays. Classic tinsel, bubble lights and ornaments with a 1950s and ’60s look are back. They make wonderful conversation pieces, and people pick them up and ask where you found them. Mix them with newer things for a “something old, something new” feel instead of going all in on one decade, so the room feels like home and not a theme park.

Wintry blues and whites

Snowy white and icy blue are the way to go if you’re dreaming of a white Christmas. They turn a room into a calm winter wonderland, like a snowy landscape. Drape white garlands across the mantel, add soft white poinsettias and swap gold for silver. A flocked tree finishes it, especially with clear glass ornaments, white fairy lights and maybe a few crystal icicles.

Personalized decor that holds up over the years

Monogrammed stockings, ornaments with family photos, a little village with figures that look like your relatives. Everyone loves the idea of decor that feels like an extension of the family, and once you have a few of these, you get it. Most of us have a box of ornaments we keep because of who gave it to us, not because it matches anything. It’s an easy look to pull off, and it makes everything feel one of a kind. It’s also the one most likely to still be coming out of the box five years from now, because it doesn’t depend on a color going out of style.

Metallic accents, mixed rather than matched

Gold, silver and copper are back, and bigger, adding the sparkle every holiday setup needs: oversized gold wreaths, silver branch garlands, copper candle holders. Mix the metals instead of picking just one. That’s what makes it glisten from every angle and look fresh instead of like a matching set from the store. Metallics are great for brightening up a darker room and adding a little glamour, too.

Cozy cottagecore for a slower holiday

Cottagecore is the cozy, fairy-tale look, all about simplicity, comfort and a bit of old-fashioned warmth: knitted stockings by the fireplace, handmade ornaments, tiny woodland animals tucked into the garland. Pile on chunky blankets, faux fur throws and a few candles. Now it’s a room you want to curl up in with a mug of cocoa, not just walk through.

Holiday decorating trends FAQ

What is the biggest holiday decorating trend this year?

If I had to pick, it’s earthy natural materials and deep jewel tones. Wood, jute, eucalyptus and pinecones on one side, emerald, midnight blue and plum on the other. Reusable, lower-waste decor is right behind them. The rooms that look best usually pull from two of these instead of going all in on one.

How do I mix trends without my room looking cluttered?

Pick one trend as your base, like natural wood tones or a jewel-toned palette. Then bring in a second only through accents, such as one metallic finish or one set of personalized pieces. Rooms get cluttered when three or more color schemes fight each other. Two that get along look planned.

Are sustainable holiday decorations worth it?

They make the most sense for things you’d otherwise toss every year. Fabric ribbon you can reuse instead of single-use bows, LED string lights, a real wreath and ornaments made from recycled materials all keep working season after season. Some tree farms also rent potted living trees and take them back after the holidays.

What decorating trend lasts the longest?

Personalized decor, like monogrammed stockings and custom photo ornaments, tends to come out year after year because it isn’t tied to a color that goes out of style. Natural and vintage pieces hold up nearly as well, since they lean on materials and memories rather than whatever palette is popular right now.